Making the Most of Writing Workshops

WHAT can work shop participants do to create an open, equitable, encouraging, and positively challenging workshop experience for themselves? Our time in writing communities is important. The past few years have made that abundantly clear. If we have the opportunity to work together (in person or virtually), we should be conscientious about how to best use that precious time. Here are some of my tips on how to do this:

Have fun! Prepare to enjoy the experience of your workshop. Search for moments of joy, grace, and humor in the conversation. Let these buoy you through the more challenging parts. Ask your fellow writers where find moments of joy, beauty, humor, gratitude, pleasure in your work. Too often we focus on the difficult and painful, on the parts that “could use some work” or that cause frustration. Help yourself and your cohort communicate pleasure as frequently—perhaps even more frequently—as you communicate pain. Last night I watched starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. is in the title. It’s not supposed