Workshop Etiquette For Giving Feedback

Receiving feedback on your writing can be exciting, but it can be just as intimidating—especially in a workshop setting. Instead of perusing comment-laden copies of your WIP one at a time and at your own pace, workshops can feel like you're in the hot seat in the middle of a coliseum because you've got several people voicing their opinions at once. It can be a lot to take in.

I've been in my fair share of writing workshops, albeit limited to structured classroom settings and more casual critiques with writer friends, though many conventions and retreats offer workshops as part of the itinerary.

Workshops often rely on a blend of unspoken and explicitly stated guidelines to keep things fun, fair, and flowing smoothly.

This is one of two posts highlighting workshop etiquette.

Critique The Writing, Not The Writer

This is one of the things on this list that I would deem more of a rule than a guideline.

You may have heard "Separate the art from the artist" or "Death of the author." In terms of writing, it's the idea of analyzing and engaging with a piece of literature apart from its relation to its author, letting it stand on its own. The same holds true for pieces you're critiquing in a workshop.

When you're providing feedback, keep that feedback to the writing itself. Avoid commenting on the writer themselves.

Remember That It Isn't Your Story

Writing workshops are all about helping your fellow writers improve their stories. Remember, that does not mean snatching the reins out of the writer's hands and catering their story to better suit your individual tastes.

Trust me, I've been on the receiving end of that, with it being a poetry professor in college completely rewriting one of my pieces to match his style without my knowledge until he dedicated half a class period to his changes, never haning done that to anyone else prior during the semester or again after—and long story short, there's a reason I've pretty much never attempted to write poetry again!

Feedback in a workshop should be suggestions, not commandments. That's why one writing professor (different from the poetry jerkwad) had us use phrases like "As a reader, I..." and "Maybe you could..." in our peer workshops. Her general rule was Could over Should and that's something I still implement in my critiques.

Be Clear And Specific

When you're critiquing someone's WIP, it's best to leave detailed, actionable feedback.

Comments like "this is good" or "I like this" can definitely be a confidence booster in the moment, but they're not the most helpful in the long run.

Giving specific feedback about why something worked for you as a reader or fell flat gives us more to work with in the next draft. It doesn't need to be a three-paragraph essay, but if something stands out as you're reading, or it relates to a specific thing the writer is looking for in the workshop, that little extra can go a long way.

Be Timely With Your Feedback

Workshops don't work when there isn't feedback to discuss!

If you're critiquing a writing sample, be sure to get it in on time. For one, it's just the right thing to do. You've made the commitment to read and critique, so you've got to make good on that.

That, and workshops aren't as much fun when you aren't able to contribute to the conversation in the same capacity as your peers.

Depending on your workshop's arrangements (e.g., leaving feedback on individual copies of the document in a shared Google Drive like my writing group does), it may also allow the writer to look at feedback in advance and prepare follow-up questions.

Things do come up, of course, so if life gets in the way, be sure to let the writer know—and still provide your feedback when you're able!

Don't Hog The Talking Stick!

Workshops are about collective feedback. Often, it's the patterns in feedback that highlight areas of a WIP that need a little more refinement. Group discussions offer new perspectives that can deepen your own interpretation of the work.

Don't hog the talking stick. Allow your peers the same room to speak freely as you'd want to. Don't butt in, even if you disagree* with their comments.

*Unless they're being intentionally disrespectful or uncool...

There's also the possibility that your peer's comments can be helpful to you, even if your piece isn't the one being critiqued that day; that's also why I enjoy listening to book reviews, which you can find more about here.

Follow All Rules And Guidelines (Even Those Not Listed Here)

Obviously, I cannot speak to every workshop out there, but I know this much: every workshop has its rules and guidelines. Like I mentioned earlier, my writing group's workshops open the floor for the writer to ask and answer questions, whereas the ones I did in college asked that the critiqued writer be a silent participant.

No matter which side of the feedback you're on, it's your obligation to abide by the rules of the workshop. They're in place to facilitate respectful conversations, keep those conversations on track, and make sure everyone gets all they can out of the session.

Because even if your writing isn't being critiqued that day, there's still plenty of insight to be gleaned from a successful workshop!

What pieces of etiquette for giving writing feedback would you add to this list? Do you have any fun memories or horror stories from writing workshops you've participated in? Tell me all about it in the comments!