FAQs |
Hosting a workshop |
Writing Resources |
Previous Workshops |
About Us 
______________
TWO DAYS LEFT TO CRITIQUE! 
______________
The
More Metaphor, Please! Workshop closes for submissions, with a final count of
64 participant entries. You've probably seen these entries popping up in your devWatch folder, and now...it's time to do something about it.
Critique Week: 
The workshop is
far from over, guys. Last week, we wrote and read and commented and wrote some more. This week is all about workshopping!
All members are strongly encouraged to participate, even if you don't have something in our gallery for this workshop. The idea is to spend the next seven days reading and critiquing.
________________________
The deviations submitted! 
________________________
The Way This Works:Members enter their deviations into the #
Writers-Workshop with the goal of developing and exploring their writing skills. How will they be able to do that? With
feedback.
The challenge:
1. To return the favor to all the wonderful workshoppers who stopped by your entry and left their thoughts.
2. To leave two or three comments (or more) for every one you receive. On your honor!
3. To thank commentators and critics for their time and sincere enthusiasm.
4. To go that extra mile and comment on entries that challenge you, and on the entries that do not have all that many comments yet.
You guys create the workshop experience! Make it a good one.______________
"Well, what if I don't feel like I can give a good critique? What if I can't think of anything to say? I can't critique -- it's art! The writer will hate me!"Firstly,
anyone can give great feedback. All it takes is reading carefully and being thoughtful. If you're confused somewhere, say so! If something strikes you as strange (or wonderful), tell the writer! A "critique" is often a fancy and intimidating word for "opinion". Point out the things you liked, the things you didn't, and why and how you think they could be changed.
And no, the writer won't hate you. Far from it!
Every writer who entered the workshop entered knowing there would be critique and revision involved.Here are a few resources that can be a great help if you're still nervous:
_________________________
So what are you waiting for?Work-shopping is as much about the revising and critiquing as it is about the writing. A few critics and workshop submissions will be featured in the closing journal.
Meanwhile, for the next week, I and the wonderful #
Writers-Workshop staff and contributors will also be reading through the pieces and offering up our own thoughts and feedback.
_____________________
Miscellaneous Notes:
I realize that I may not have made something clear at the beginning of the workshop and this may have led to some hurt feelings or misunderstandings.
A decline is not a judgment call on the quality of the submission. Nor should it be seen as anything but a normal part of the workshop and the submission process. I've declined quite a few deviations that were amazing pieces of writing, but just did not quite fit the parameters of the workshop.

If you're didn't get a chance to submit before the deadline but would still like to use this workshop as a prompt, feel free to leave a link in a comment on the journal entry. It
won't be part of the workshop proper, but it's still a nice way to share what you've written.
These are only to share. Feedback priority goes to the entries in the workshop gallery.
If you revise your piece during the workshop, please
include the original (first draft) version in the same deviation (I.e. use your artists comments section or the bottom of the deviation.) This will make it easier for you to see progress and for the critics to help you out and not repeat themselves.

_____________________
On Accepting Critique
Always thank the critic. Even if you do not like the critique, remember that the critic has taken time to offer his/her sincere opinion on the piece.
If you do not like the critique, it is not necessary to mention so or be otherwise hurtful. Simply thank the critic and move on without making a scene of it. You can always ignore suggestions -- after all, that's all they are.
If you are unsure of what the critique means, just ask the critic what s/he meant. Building rapport with your critic is one of the best ways to survive in a workshop and to learn. If you want examples, ask. Similarly, if you like the suggestions given, mention it. Critics have feelings too. 
If you feel that the comment left by a critic or workshop host is inappropriate, please don't hesitate to contact #Writers-Workshop via a note.
_____________________
Onward to Critique Week! Let's stretch our fingers and get to typing. And most importantly, let's have fun doing it.
Thank you!
=
nycterent