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Creative Writing Workshop

Workshops

I never attended classes or workshops because I thought:

1. that I would curl up and die if I had to read my work to anyone,
2. that criticism would paralyze me,
3. that my limited time would be better spent writing,
4. that no one can teach you to write.

Now I’ve changed my mind. I think it’s a really good idea to join a workshop if you can find one you like. This is because:

1. you’ll have to show your work one day, so you might well break through the pain barrier now (or you could keep your work locked in a drawer for ever…)
2. constructive criticism from friends, or brutal criticism from editors, is vital,
3. sometimes people write more in half an hour in a workshop than they would in a day twiddling their thumbs at home (deadlines and fear are highly motivating),
4.  no one can teach you to write, but they can help you to think about writing.

If you can’t find a workshop, or don’t want to join one, then you can do a huge amount online.

Try US sites like Wired for Books at Ohio University http://wiredforbooks.org/

Both NPR and the BBC produce weekly podcasts of interviews with authors. Or just Google interviews with authors that you are interested in. Best of all, buy the Paris Review collections of interviews with authors.

Most importantly, whatever fiction you read, read it critically and think about the techniques you want – and those you don’t want – to use in your own writing.

Click here to read all 11 pages of the Creative Writing Workshop