A writing workshop, be it in-person, online, or hybrid, is only as good as the writers and readers make it. With that in mind, here are a few tips for making it the most productive and positive experience.

General Writing Workshop Tips for the Writer

Provide context. It’s a good idea to provide a little context for your story and any questions you might have about it. For example, if you’re writing a sci-fi romantic comedy, let your readers know so that they can help you make it the best sci-fi romcom in the solar system! Likewise, if you’re struggling with pacing, for example, ask for feedback on it. If you’re trying to write your story from a new point of view, ask your peers how it reads.

List content warnings. It’s a good idea to list anything that might trigger a reader in a workshop. Not only is it just good manners, but it helps readers who might be sensitive to certain issues go into your story better prepared. This, in turn, will lead to better feedback. Writers will have a harder time getting useful feedback if their readers feel blindsided by upsetting content.

Listen and take notes. Avoid jumping in to defend your work or explain something readers didn’t understand. Instead, take notes on the readers’ reactions to your story. If something doesn’t make sense on the page, it means you have to keep working on the story so that future readers understand your concept from the get-go.

Let things sit. You will get a lot of feedback. The most important thing it to take a lot of notes and then…let things sit. Don’t dive into revisions right away. Ideally, you would give it at least a day or two before looking back at the feedback. This will give you time to think through the feedback that is most useful to your vision for your story.

Pick and choose. It’s a good idea to be choosy about the feedback you receive. Not all of it will resonate with you. Take what you feel will help you make strong revisions and enhance the overall quality of your story. That said, if the majority of readers are commenting on something in your story that needs work, it’s a good idea to listen to them.

Read between the lines. Sometimes the feedback you get isn’t what is said, but what’s implied. For example, a reader might say you need to include more one-liners in your dialogue. But that might not feel right for a story that is more drama than comedy. The subtext of their feedback is that your dialogue needs to be punchier and pull the reader in more, so that’s what you should work on.

General Writing Workshop Tips for the Reader

Be curious. Approach submissions with an open mind. Think about where the story is currently and where it could go. If you find yourself stuck on a scene or character, that typically signals a place you could ask the writer to explore more. For example, you might be curious about the backstory of a character or if certain imagery is meant to foreshadow the ending.

Ask questions. Sometimes readers feel like they need to be professional editors in order to give good feedback. That’s simply not true! All writers start out as readers, after all, so you are simply doing what you always do: reading and discussing a writer’s work. If you’re confused by parts of a story’s pacing or the setting, those are great moments to pose questions about the timeline or if the setting is shifting clearly between scenes.

Think about the author’s intentions. This might be a no-brainer, but it is worth pointing out. The best feedback any writer can get is from someone who understands their vision and helps them turn that vision into reality. Telling someone you wish they wrote a literary bildungsroman when their goal is to write a cozy fantasy mystery isn’t all that helpful. But understanding the writer’s intentions will help you tailor your feedback to their vision.

Consider the elements of fiction. When in doubt, start with the basics. Examine the elements of fiction — plot, setting, characters, point of view, theme, conflict, and style. Look for moments in the story where one or more of these elements could be developed more. Similar, point out moments where a specific element is strong.

Point out the good stuff, too. A writing workshop, by its nature, invites readers to look for the flaws in a story. But it is equally important for a writer to know what is working well. It not only gives them confidence in their vision but also a more balanced sense of where they can keep developing their story.

Pay it forward. Again, this one is a no-brainer, but if you want positive, thoughtful, and helpful feedback, make sure to provide that to your peers. No one wants to work with someone who demands a lot of feedback but doesn’t reciprocate. Likewise, think about how you appreciate feedback delivery. Thoughtful and encouraging is always the way to go here.

Written by Maria DeBlassie