Deep humility. A willingness to learn. Trust. This Exclusive Writing Lab on video showcases two writers taking the most frightening and life-changing move any writer can take.
Welcome:
When I workshopped for the first time, I was surrounded by some of the finest writers of our time and the best writing teacher in Portland. I felt like a fleck of dust on the leg of a flea. Nothing. Less than nothing.
Here I am, almost thirty years later, and workshopping is what I do all day long with writers. It’s a method that can go horribly wrong but is also insanely efficient. You can read all about workshopping and our philosophy over at Studio, and you can read about my first workshop, too. But, I want to get to it.
What you see here
We start with a teaching (handouts below). Then the writers, Lori and Amy, bravely share their work. Finally, I comment/teach.
While listening, please make note of aspects of the work you really liked in Lori and Amy’s work. Keep those notes handy. More on why in a moment.
Now, let’s go to work:
Your Turn:
As we all know, writers need peer support to shore up the seemingly negative sense of any workshop. Usually, feedback isn’t intended to be negative, as much as corrective, but no one likes to put themselves out there and then face correction. It’s painful. When writers hear positive comments from their fellows, they are shored up.
Please post your positive takeaways from Lori and Amy’s work in the comments.
🐦⬛ I’ll go first: Lori and Amy have totally unique voices on the page. Each is engaging in its way. Lori’s touching interactions of tenderness between her couple increase our understanding that this life they share is fragile. Amy’s character is endearing as well, with a sense of deep vulnerability when she “checks in” with herself.
They are writing things only they can write.
Keep going, I say. Keep going.
Thanks for being with me, Jennifer 🐦⬛
Handouts:
YOUR TURN: Please post your positive takeaways from Lori and Amy’s work in the comments.
🐦⬛ I’ll go first: Lori and Amy have totally unique voices on the page. Each is engaging in its way. Lori’s touching interactions of tenderness between her couple increase our understanding that this life they share is fragile. Amy’s character is endearing as well, with a sense of deep vulnerability when she “checks in” with herself.
They are writing things only they can write.
Keep going, I say. Keep going.
I learned so much listening to this lesson. Amy and Lori both, in their writing, engaged me in their respective stories. I saw in their writing, and the lessons from Jennifer, how easy it is to slip into exposition born from that keen writer’s desire for the reader to know what we know about our characters and the progression of the story. As a reader, I love writers who contain and constrain and give me, the reader, a chance to make that movie in my head based upon scenes. I am left wanting to know if Twyla is real, and if our beach gal reaches a place of contentment and success on her own. Thanks to our brave writers!