WRITERS HELPING WRITERS
Can We Form a Helpful Meaningful Writers’ Workshop on Zoom?
I’d like to. You?
Writing can be a lonely sport. Often is.
Also, without the perspective provided by others, one can fall into a series of traps, thinking one’s work is better than it really is, or failing to progress and grow as a writer, overlooking flaws, even fatal ones. More traps await the unwary isolated author.
I’ve been there, am there, and want to break out.
You?
Here’s the Concept
- “Meet” on a schedule via Zoom or similar shared platform.
- Form a manageable-sized group of respectful, thoughtful, sensitive writers interested in using group feedback to improve their writing.
- Each meeting is used to “workshop” a work-in-progress by a group member who volunteers to have his/she/their work worked on.
- Non-participant, observer-only, writers not allowed. In other words, one must have one’s writing “worked on” by the group AND must actively provide feedback on the writing of others.
- No group “hijackers” allowed. Everyone gets to play equally in this sandbox. (We’ll give you the “hook” if you try to dominate the group.) 😀
- No arguing, bickering, tit-for-tat, etc. Best response to any feedback is “thank you.”
- The group’s purpose is writing improvement, not making more money writing or understanding more about promoting one’s writing.
Structure
- A few days prior to each meeting, one writer’s work-in-progress gets circulated to group members.
- Group members “read ahead” and come to the meeting prepared to provide meaningful feedback.
- Written comments — ??sent via email?? — on the chosen writer’s work would trail the meeting.
- Each group member MUST provide written and verbal feedback to the writer.
- Group can change over time to best serve its members’ needs.
What I’d Like From You Now
- Kindly tell me why this concept will fail
- Suggest ways to improve the concept
- Suggest ways to ensure workshop success
- Suggest ways to improve the structure
- Indicate your interest in participating, or lack thereof
Full Disclosure
There was a time when having my work critiqued felt like my infant son had been kicked down a long flight of non-carpeted stairs. Those days are LONG gone. I like my stuff torn up, butchered, metaphorically bloodied by red editors’ ink. You get the picture. I REALLY want to become a better writer and focused feedback seems like a big part of the path there. I’m also sensitive to the fact that my feedback style may not be a good fit for everyone.
Authentic, honest, helpfully-oriented, from the heart and a place of love, all about the work not the person who did the work, seems like the right feedback posture to me.
At this point I have no idea about how to select/assemble the group.
Least favorite phrases (AKA the kind grandmother comment on one’s writing)
“I like it.”
“That’s nice.”
Roz Warren, Tina L. Smith, Sarah Paris, Christopher Robin, Kelly Eden, Holly J See, Dr Jeff Livingston, Toya Qualls-Barnette
