Community Guidelines for Workshop

We’ve been over the importance of workshops and the wonders they can do for your writing, but how do they work? What are the guidelines to follow so that you have a productive workshop for your own writing pieces and the other writers around you?

Every writer is different, so the specific requests for workshop notes will be different, but there are general guidelines to follow to make sure everyone has an edifying experience.

Be Respectful

Workshops can be a nerve-wracking experience for some. It makes writers vulnerable by putting them in the spotlight while others critique their work. Above all, the most important thing is to be respectful of a writer’s work. In the same way that we don’t want to assume that the speaker of a poem is a poet, we want to make sure that we don’t assume that the characters in the work represent the writer’s views.

If you are the one offering critique, be respectful with your comments. For example, if the writer wants feedback on the point of view but not dialogue, respect their wishes! Even if the dialogue irks you or you have the perfect advice for how to make it better, if the writer isn’t focusing on that right now, help them in other areas. Workshops are a growing experience for everyone involved, and the best way to learn is to be respectful of another writer.

If you are the writer, be respectful of the comments! While you may want to take the time to explain your side of things and share future ideas, sit quietly and listen first. Take in all the feedback and what it means to your writing. Not all feedback needs to be acted on, but all critique has value because it shows you how people perceive your writing.

Be Open

When workshopping, it’s not always easy to hear comments about your work. It’s not always easy to give comments about another writer’s work. However, in workshops, it’s important to be open with your communication and keep an open mind.

If you are the one offering critique, keep an open mind about the subject matter. Don’t pass judgment too soon or you may let bias cloud your critique. Treat this like you would want someone to critique your work; even if they weren’t a fan of your genre or subject matter, you’d still want an honest review without bias. We’ve all seen those one-star reviews for books that say something like “I don’t like romance novels” when reviewing a romance novel. Don’t be that person.

If you are the writer, be open to hearing honest feedback. There will be people in workshops that adore your work, but more than likely, most people will have constructive criticism for you. If you’re not good at taking it, remember that the other writers are there to help you. Revising your work isn’t always easy, and it can feel discouraging or painful to rewrite or remove portions of text, but it's necessary to grow. Think about how gardeners know to prune back spent flowers: it encourages healthier plants and more flowers to bloom. A little trimming now can make way for great things!

Be Kind

If you don’t agree with a piece, or you just don’t like it, you can find other things to focus on. Everyone’s work is a work-in-progress until published, so there are always things to improve. In college, I received helpful advice after emailing my instructor about another student’s work. Without going into detail, I was raising an issue about the derivative content and how I wasn’t sure how to critique it.

My instructor validated my concerns, saying that other students had brought up the same issue, and gave me this advice: the best practice is to just be kind and objective in your feedback.

While some writers may welcome harsh feedback, that doesn’t give you permission to tear them a new one. Being kind in your critique will go a lot further than being hurtful. Offer examples when possible and remember that they want their work to be the best it can be. If you’re the writer, remember to be kind to your critics. They’re trying to help. Some may be frustrating to work with, and others will be invaluable, but they all point towards the same goal: a refined writing piece.

Putting It All Together

Hopefully, with these guidelines in mind, you’ll be prepared to handle whatever critics say about your work. You’ll also be able to offer constructive criticism to other writers who ask. Being respectful, open, and kind in workshops is key to giving and receiving vital feedback that can enhance your writing.