Enough politics. Let’s talk about workshopping.
I really liked how the interview went with Mary (go read it, I’ll wait) and thought I’d put my two cents in about why I like running my work though the meat-grinder that is the Hamsters.
What I get out of it:
- It accelerates the time it takes to get critical distance from the work. When revising it is important that you see what you actually put on the page, not what you thought you put there. That only comes with distance, and I find having a half dozen people misunderstand the same paragraph is a good way to shift right into editing mode.
- It gives me focus. When I plan a rewrite, there’s always some points that I think need work. Sometimes it confirms my suspicion, but many times I find that a group of people ignore the problems I see, and focus on something completely different. It allows me to let go of issues that may not actually be problems.
- It gives me a deadline. If I’m having problems producing, announcing that “sure, I’ll have something for the next workshop,” gives me a little kick in the pants. Doesn’t work all the time, but enough times to be useful.
- It broadens my outlook. I’m more likely to take risks, because whatever I do with structure, style or my characters, I have a bunch of people whose opinions I trust to talk me off the ledge if I do something stupid.
Tomorrow I’ll go over what I think writers should be looking for in a critique group. (either forming or joining)
4 Comments
Jack Cheiky · March 25, 2009 at 2:28 pm
so, what is the current hamster status? so many people have moved, and whatnot. who’s still around, and who’s driving the bus?
S Andrew Swann · March 25, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Still around, Mary still driving. Just had a bunch of new recruits (though one set commute from PA so we’ll see how long before the commute kills them.)
From your era we still have Me, Mary, Geoff, Astrid, Levin, Charlie, Paula. . . who else you remember from round then?
michelle · March 25, 2009 at 11:14 pm
What about Bonnie, Pat, Marie and oh, I guess the rest are newer.
Mary Turzillo · April 12, 2009 at 10:43 am
I like reading new fiction before it gets in print. It’s true, it may be unedited, but it’s still exciting to see and comment on stories before editors get to see them.
I’m really glad you find us useful. Geoff says I’m too much about the positive, but I do think it’s useful to tell people what does work in addition to what doesn’t. There’s always the fear that if somebody doesn’t reinforce the positive that it will get lost on the cutting board.
And in case you haven’t noticed, I can also be quite blunt (if not savage) when I think something doesn’t work.
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