tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912938826526390929.post5834744415778918788..comments2023-03-16T18:37:15.684+11:00Comments on Speculating about fiction: WorkshoppingTraceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10932807900624163063noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912938826526390929.post-21328394835154007562007-10-14T12:31:00.000+10:002007-10-14T12:31:00.000+10:00I agree with lisa66. As a student, I am more than ...I agree with lisa66. As a student, I am more than happy to have my novel workshopped. I want to know what's vague, what's not working, etc. But sometimes I feel that others in the class aren't so keen - and I come out of the session feeling like I've been taken as patronising, or a bitch, instead of constructive. <BR/><BR/>I like to have the pieces at home so that I can read through a few times. The first read is just a straight read: what's the story about. The second read I mark any structural or character inconsistencies with a Post-It Note. Then I leave it for a bit. Later I read through again and mark these up on the page. <BR/><BR/>Like lisa66, I couldn't do this if I had only heard the text read aloud, or have twenty minutes of class time to look at the page. When I've workshopped this way, it has just been a waste of time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912938826526390929.post-79058184591893574972007-10-14T09:13:00.000+10:002007-10-14T09:13:00.000+10:00Totally agree. If you're not workshopping effectiv...Totally agree. If you're not workshopping effectively, it is a bit of a waste of time. First year students need help - they need to hear how the teacher comments to guide their own responses (but of course the teacher needs to be good at commenting! and the teacher you're referring to...)Sherrylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04405534589743973581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8912938826526390929.post-41151073822876115232007-10-13T23:13:00.000+10:002007-10-13T23:13:00.000+10:00As a student I agree that the first two methods ar...As a student I agree that the first two methods aren't that helpful.<BR/><BR/>When I am reading a piece, sometimes it takes me a while to work out why something is not working for me, or why I like a certain part so much. My first reading is usually to get a gut feeling about the piece and I try to ignore niggly things like spelling errors, and even awkward phrasing. My second reading I try to focus more on why certain parts are working or not and the third reading is for the niggles like spelling etc. I can only do this if I have a decent amount of time. There's no way I could give useful comments after hearing the work read aloud once. <BR/><BR/>Also, not all workshoppers are equal! If you are in small groups and are unlucky enough to get a group where not everyone pulls their weight then it's a waste of time. Personally, I want to hear the teacher's comments on my work!<BR/><BR/>I can't believe anyone could teach novel writing without including workshopping. I learnt so much from reading and workshopping the work of others. Also, writing is a tough business. I think having my work critiqued in class helped toughen me up!Lisa66https://www.blogger.com/profile/09569945644915986227noreply@blogger.com