How To Survive a Writer's Workshop

Michael Medlen  
Yes, the time is upon. As we lay in our beds at night pondering the weight of the soul and perhaps how we'll surivive the dreaded writer's workshop in the morning, may I be of some assistance?

Yes, the time is upon. As we lay in our beds at night pondering the weight of the soul and perhaps how we'll surivive the dreaded writer's workshop in the morning, may I be of some assistance?

Don't Go!

No, seriously!

If you absolutely dread writer's workshops, or worse, have no respect for the criticism being offered to you, don't go.

This isn't to say a writer's workshop can't help you grow as a writer or make valuable connections in what is one of the hardest fields to break into, but it's true.

Why go when you won't get anything out of it?

But I Really Want to Go!

Fine.

By all means, attend. But remember, depending on the members of the group, you might want to come prepared with a heavy armor. Because while some workshops can be a positive and rewarding experience, often they tend to be full of giant egos and toxic writers looking to question every leap of logic and slip of tongue when it comes to "writing" they don't like.

And while the opionions of others matter, often they're just that: opinions.

But I digress...

Better yet, find a mentor...

That's right. Why waste your time on a workshop that's going to be full of unpublished writers when you can spend valuable time looking for a mentor, and better yet, finding your own muse.

No one knows your work better than you do, so again, unless you'll built with iron thick skin, why are you bothering with the opinions of others?

But I Like Writer's Workshops!

Ah, then again, go. And better yet, listen to the criticism being offered and pick and choose what you want to fix with your writing.

After all, is this site not about critiquing?

Are we not here to become better writers?

Fine... So How Do I "Surive"?

The real key to suriviving a writer's workshop, if you're so brave as to dare let someone else read your writing, is to find your worst critic.

Next, listen to him/her.

Because honestly, they're probably the only person who's going to transform your writing.

Yeah, you'll get the usual "likes" and "loves", maybe some suggestions on how to fix that cliche or illogical plot twist, but unless your critiquer is someone who's looking to improve your writing, you're never going to get anything out of these suckers.

Unless, and just maybe, you find a group that really is focused on encouragement and developing your skills.

In which case, stick with it.

And better yet, make some colleagues in what has to be the loneliest profession in the world.

 

Until next time folks,

Newbie Critiquer...

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