Writing Workshops

[cathschaffstump]

I’m thinking about writing workshops. I’m thinking about applying for Viable Paradise in 2009, provided I can get some material together after I’ve written Hulk Hercules. I think, if I were accepted, I could get the college to cover the majority of Viable Paradise.

I think about the idea of joining a writing group, but I think that to some extent it would get in the way of my writing time, so I think maybe that’s not my best idea while I am day job writer(TM).

Another thing I would be interested in is a writer’s retreat. There’s this really interesting workshop called Blue Heaven that would be a good model for one. Again, it would be good to write first, and organize later. So no, I can’t plan a workshop. Stop it!

I’ll just think about Viable Paradise, then, and try to take some anti-inflammation medicine for my Type A gland, which is trying to swell into the time I’ve carefully carved out for writing.

Can anyone weigh in on Viable Paradise, or Clarion West, or Blue Heaven? What do you think of these kinds of workshops? Have you found them useful as writers? I haven’t been in a writing workshop since 1987 during graduate school, so I’m a bit rusty!

Catherine

Originally published at Writer Tamago. You can comment here or there.

Comments

[ecmyers.livejournal.com]

I just stumbled across your blog, and thought I would comment on Clarion West. I attended the workshop in 2005, and it was worth every moment and every penny. I had reached a point in my writing where I knew I wasn't improving anymore on my own, and I was questioning whether I could really make a career of writing. Immediately during and after the workshop, the quality of my work took a major leap forward, and I had renewed interest and confidence in building a professional career from it. Aside from the skills I learned, I also made a lot of terrific friends and contacts, and CW has created many more opportunities for me in the years since.

That said, Clarion West is primarily a short fiction workshop, so if you're more focused on novels, you might consider a different one. Some of my classmates were novel writers and made a go at short stories, and were still able to glean a lot from the experience.

You also have to be certain that you can take the six weeks off, financially and personally, and whether at your current writing level it would be worth it. For me, it was.

As for writing groups, I understand your hesitation, but being in a group has been great for motivation, setting deadlines, getting feedback, and thinking critically about other people's fiction on a regular basis, not to mention having a peer group of writers to share the joys and struggles with. I have one local writing group that meets as often as we can, sometimes three times a month, and another active online group, all while working a day job and writing whenever I can. Again, we're more focused on short fiction, but we do novel critiques too when people have the full manuscript ready. If you're interested in joining or starting a writing group, I recommend making it as professional as possible, with people interested in the genres you work in. We follow the Milford (Clarion) style, with timed critiques around the table. Organization is crucial to keep things running smoothly.

If you haven't heard of it, you might also consider the Odyssey workshop. Some of my friends had good experiences there. There's also Taos Toolbox, a master level novel writing workshop, and the OWW (http://sff.onlinewritingworkshop.com/).

Good luck!

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

Thank you for giving me so much good information on these workshops, and your feedback on writing groups.


Catherine