Tip: Workshops, Part 2

Some of you may in fact be wondering how to follow my advice in the posting below about what to look for in a workshop. How the heck are you supposed to know ahead of time? In practical terms, here's what you can do. If it's a class you've signed up for, go to the first one (when you can still get your money back if it's not for you!). Does the instructor talk about ground rules for the workshops? What are those ground rules? Do they talk about a safe environment, and how to give genuinely useful criticism? If not, do they plan to? You can ask at the break or after class if they don't bring this up. If it's a conference you're attending or a writer's group you're thinking of joining, call up and ask the person in charge. Are there ground rules for the workshops? Are they clear? What are they? Are the instructors or workshop leaders told what they are, and expected to follow them?

This is your money and/or time, and you are entirely entitled to this information. At Warren Wilson, there were clear, simple, school-wide ground rules for workshops, and virtually all the instructors were careful to make sure they were followed. And we all got plenty of hard-nosed criticism, too. It just wasn't destructive.

So there.

And hey, don't forget to scroll down to see my pal Robin Maxwell's dates for readings and gigs (in green - get it? Ireland, green?) in Northern California, Southern California, and Chicago for her new fabulous book, The Wild Irish!