 |
| St. Michaels - June 16, 2013 - Photo by Jan Bowman |
Having just returned from yet another summer writers’ workshop, I have thought about my own experiences in a range of workshops over the past few years. I find that most reviewers are kind, thoughtful and helpful. A good reviewer does not attempt to make the author’s work his story, but rather, respects the vision the writer has for his or her story.
But after a workshop, one
of a writer’s most challenging tasks is to know what to use
and what to ignore from a writer’s workshop peer review, for not all
writers are our peers. Some are at early stages of their development and might
not have the insights of those who have spent more time and energy getting
in touch with the process.
If one has suitable
peers who read carefully and offer thoughtful reactions to a piece of writing, then
much good can come of having skilled peers offer insights. So what are some
traits of a good workshop reader? My friend, Daniel Mueller, writer and teacher, suggests these steps as part of his review process. He says...
 |
| Sunset at St. Michaels - June 16, 2013 by Jan Bowman |
It is helpful to read
the work thoughtfully and then give it a little time before you read it a
second time, because this allows you to reflect and offer clearer insights.
Then analyze the work on three levels: structure, character(s) and the
idea or theme, and the language used to achieve an overall effect. And during
the actual workshop discussions think about the work in terms of how it works -
with specifics. What works for you as a reader? And what confused you as a
reader? This is not a time to tell the writer how to “fix” the work. That
is the writer’s job and any changes a writer makes must accommodate the vision
of that writer.
About Jan Bowman
Jan Bowman’s fiction has appeared in
numerous publications including, Roanoke Review, Big Muddy, The Broadkill Review, Third Wednesday, Minimus, Buffalo
Spree (97), Folio, The Potomac Review, Musings, Potato Eyes and others. Glimmer
Train named a recent story as Honorable Mention in the November 2012 Short
Story Awards for New Writers. Winner of the 2011 Roanoke Review Fiction Award,
her stories have been nominated for Pushcart
Prizes, Best American Short Stories, a Pen/O’Henry award and a recent story
was a finalist in the 2013 Phoebe Fiction Contest; another was a 2012 finalist
in the “So To Speak” Fiction Contest. She is
working on two collections of short stories while shopping for a publisher for
a completed story collection. She has nonfiction publications in Trajectory
and Pen-in-Hand.
She writes a weekly blog of “Reflections” on the writing life
and posts regular interviews with writers and publishers. Learn more at www.janbowmanwriter.com or
visit blog:
http://janbowmanwriter.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment