Workshops... I workshop a great deal. They keep me in touch. Otherwise, I might fall off the edge of the world. Figuratively of course (I know the world is not flat). The problem with Workshopping is, well... there are a lot of things that are wrong with workshopping. Its supposed to be an educational moment, always keep that in mind. Keep an open mind.
When one leaves their writing confines and comes out into the real world (reality?), you leave your Creativity Freedom behind. It is like you have now been boxed up.
You are with several other people who are also in that box and in order for the instructor (who is also a writer, but considered to be a better writer) to instruct. You all need to be on the same page. Now, I'm not saying there is no creativity. Creative moments come in workshop when you are given an exercise and you are unleashed for 10, maybe 15 minutes to write something prompted. Then back in the box for organized sharing.
I have to admit though, something happens to you during this period of time, whether it be for a weekend, a weeklong, or longer. I can't really explain it. Maybe it was that--out of all that crap that was spewed during that time period, someone said something that changed how you viewed some element of writing. Of the storytelling.
Then you are released from the box at the close. You return to your creative space. Away from the group. Away from the classroom. With you, came that one little thing that you are now going to be able to use. That one little obscure thing that can't be seen until someone who reads your stuff notices the change in your words upon some page that you diligently slaved over. Then your work blossoms. Like a flower that last year was only pink, but this year it emerged with its petals laced in crimson.
There was evolution. There was growth. One little thing that changed, everything.
When one leaves their writing confines and comes out into the real world (reality?), you leave your Creativity Freedom behind. It is like you have now been boxed up.
You are with several other people who are also in that box and in order for the instructor (who is also a writer, but considered to be a better writer) to instruct. You all need to be on the same page. Now, I'm not saying there is no creativity. Creative moments come in workshop when you are given an exercise and you are unleashed for 10, maybe 15 minutes to write something prompted. Then back in the box for organized sharing.
I have to admit though, something happens to you during this period of time, whether it be for a weekend, a weeklong, or longer. I can't really explain it. Maybe it was that--out of all that crap that was spewed during that time period, someone said something that changed how you viewed some element of writing. Of the storytelling.
Then you are released from the box at the close. You return to your creative space. Away from the group. Away from the classroom. With you, came that one little thing that you are now going to be able to use. That one little obscure thing that can't be seen until someone who reads your stuff notices the change in your words upon some page that you diligently slaved over. Then your work blossoms. Like a flower that last year was only pink, but this year it emerged with its petals laced in crimson.
There was evolution. There was growth. One little thing that changed, everything.
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