Workshop Tips and Guidelines For workshop sessions to be successful, it’s important for everyone to come prepared and participate energetically. Feel free to propose debatable ideas and views, and likewise feel free to courteously contest the ideas and views of your classmates or instructor. Please remember as well that I keep careful records of attendance and participation.
To Writers Take notes! You’ll need these for the brief reflective essay which is due after each of your workshop sessions. You’ll need to:
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summarize the feedback you received, explaining what you learned about the strengths and weaknesses of your writing;
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explain how you plan to revise the piece in question, based on the feedback you received;
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address the possibilities and directions for future new work which came out of the session;
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put your thoughts into the larger context of your overall progress and development as a writer. Each workshop session/reflective essay is worth 10 pts. The purpose of the essay is to help you think about and best use the feedback you received. The purpose is also to show that you were attentive to the class's responses and that you have applied those responses to engaged, ongoing revisions of your work. Due date: no later than the last day of class, After the class has conscientiously discussed your work, please don’t reply with, “I just whipped this thing out in two minutes and don’t really care about it.” Turn in materials that you’ve worked hard on and do care about. Otherwise, it’s not worth our time. Remember: just because you didn’t intend for something to be in your poem or story doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Likewise: just because you DID intend for something to be in your poem or story doesn’t mean it works. Kick your ego personal out the door, learn something, and have fun. To Critiquers
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Read workshop pieces thoughtfully and thoroughly ahead of time. Jot some notes as memory aides.
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ALWAYS balance compliments with suggestions for improvement.
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Try to draw on class discussions, exercises, lecturers, etc. I.e., apply what you’ve been learning.
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Reflect and draw on the “art perspectives wheel” which we had up on the board the first week or two of class.
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Don’t forget: your turn is next! Kick your personal ego out the door, learn something, and have fun.
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