Workshopping as Noun and Verb: Tips for Writers
There are many ways we can workshop our writing, but first, let’s talk about what “workshopping” means. To “workshop” can be both a verb and a noun; can be used to describe something we are doing or somewhere we are going.
The term “workshopping” as a verb is often used in writing communities to describe a generative, casual editing process. Sometimes this is done with close, personal friends or trusted advisors. Sometimes we pay professionals to “workshop” our pieces with us. Sometimes we use online groups, apps or platforms, but in general, the term “workshopping” refers to working on a particular piece or idea in any stage, with the hopes of making it better.
Do you have to “workshop” every single piece? Absolutely not! Sometimes we write something that is perfect the first go-around. Or, sometimes we write something that we conclude after reading it over that it should never see the light of day… both are fine!
If you are interested in workshopping, here are some examples of how a writer might workshop a piece:
During the idea stage
Perhaps you’ve got a great idea for a novel, but you mostly write non-fiction. You think the idea is good but there are more than a few plot holes and you need some serious character development. You might contact a few friends in your writing community who have experience writing great fiction and ask if they can “workshop” some ideas with you. This might be done casually over a zoom call, or in a more formal setting.
In this example, it’s a good idea to ask your colleagues ahead of time if they would like an credit or recognition for any ideas that may transpire during your session.
After your first draft
So you’ve got a great idea and now you’ve got an even better manuscript… now is that time where you may want to hire a professional editor, or you might have some fantastic beta readers lined up. This is all part of “workshopping” your work — you’ve got a team of people behind you to give suggestions (and sometimes criticism) all in the name of improving your piece as a whole.
Your editor or proofreader should be open to “workshopping” with you. I always ask someone this before I hire them. I ask if they can include “Workshopping Hour” in our contract, so that after the edits have been officially submitted, we can hop on a call (or grab a coffee if they’re local) and talk about their ideas face to face. This may not be something you require, but it is a good thing to ask before you sign any deals with editors!
When something just isn’t quite right
We’ve all been there. Sometimes when you read something out loud to yourself dozens of times, it’s hard to really hear it. This is a great time to “workshop” your piece with someone you trust. I often call a friend and say, “Hey, can I read something to you and then you tell me what you honestly think.”
In this situation, be prepared the take criticism and feedback with an open heart, and sometimes during this stage of workshopping, the best advice is to STOP workshopping and just let the words breathe for a while, untouched.
Now there is one more aspect to workshopping, and this is where “workshop” becomes a noun — attend a workshop! A workshop on workshopping? Perfect!
There are plenty of options out there for online spaces where you can workshop your work. These might be filled with other folks who are just like you, but make sure you do your research first. If you’re primarily looking to work on unfinished poetry, it might not be helpful to sign up for a workshop geared towards fantasy novel character creation (or… maybe it could be?!) Another good idea is to look for workshops led by artists whose work you admire, or who have something in common with you. Ask your writer pals if they are currently attending any workshops that they really enjoy, or if they have in the past. Don’t forget to ask them what they loved about it — they might have loved it because every thirty minutes the host broke out their guitar and sang a song to break the silence, which might not be your thing!
Sometimes we sign up for workshops that don’t turn out exactly as we expected them — this is a great time to ask the facilitator if they are open to workshopping their workshop. I typically do this via a kind, upbeat email that says something like, “I really value what you’re offering. Are you open to some feedback on my individual workshop experience so you might better serve people who are like me?” In my experience, workshop hosts are almost always willing to hear feedback on their offerings.
So there you have it — workshopping both the noun and the verb!
