SFF Workshop

[World Builder]

As I as trying to go to sleep last night, an idea struck me. Would anyone be interested in organizing a writer's workshop? I'd be up for it if others are. Haven't worked out all the kinks in my head yet, but it'd probably be an email list, maybe just a thread akin to the Book of the Month Thread in the other sections of the forum, one writer submitted story up for discussion a week. Not sure how to determine exactly which story is up for discussion though. If its a email list, then it'd be easy to take turns. If its a thread open to the whole forum, I could foresee it getting cluttered quickly. Any suggestions? Hopefully, there's not something formalized like this already in place that I just missed.

[Mock]

Sounds interesting. You might just have your first minion.

[Dazzlinkat]

Sounds cool. Another minion hehe.

[Liathano]

Count me in too, maybe it will give the motivation I have been lacking lately!:rolleyes:

[MrJims]

Count me in three!

[World Builder]

Glad to see there's some interesting in this. Anyone have any suggestions on the format? Still torn between using a thread or using an email list. Perhaps there's some alternative I'm neglecting, as well.

And, Liathano, I've found that workshops are often great motivation. I've written entire stories in one night because of workshop deadlines. It's one of the reasons I wanted to do this.

[TheGhost]

Some of us tried this a couple years ago.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sffcg/

Didn't get going very well, obviously. Not sure why.

[Taramoc]

I'm interested too, mainly for the same reasons as World Builder.

In terms of format, I think the key is planning ahead. I don't have a lot of time in my hands so I'd like a system that gives time to write but with strict deadlines. Maybe something like this:

-week one: one member submit a story, another member is named "lead reviewer", everybody has one week to critique the story
- week two: another member submit a story, a new "lead" is chosen for this new story, critiques of the first week are offered (either through a forum, group or even instant messaging if there is interest) with the understanding that the "lead reviewer" HAS to provide a meaningful critique of the work
- week three: a third member submit a story, critique of the first story are closed (to avoid endless discussions), critique of the second story are discussed (again the "lead" has to provide something)

and so on...

This gives any member a number of weeks equal to the total members between having to submit a story and the same number of weeks between having to offer a critique.

This system guarantees that at least one story per week is there to discuss AND there will be always at least one meaningful critique of any story submitted.

If we prepare the schedule way in advance, everybody knows when they have to turn something in with enough time to plan for it or even to correct it if needs be (e.g. if they can't make it for whatever reason, they may be able to trade their spots with someone else).

What do you guys think?

[World Builder]

I like your suggestions, Taramoc, in general. I do have a few concerns. First, I want to make sure I got the sequence correct:

Week 1: story A submitted
Week 2: Story A discussed, Story B submitted
Week 3: Discussion of Story A closed. Story B discussed. Story C submitted.
Week 4: Dicussion of Story B closed. Story C discussed. Story D submitted.
... Repeat as necessary ...

I can work with that, but Week 1 seems a little light. Not sure how I feel about starting this out with nothing to do. I'm sure we can find some group activity then. Perhaps, just a simple get to know each other exercise, add some context to the critiques.

Also, I like the idea of critique leaders. What do you think of making it two leaders per week, the person who submitted before you and the person submitting after you. This would make it so everyone does at least 2 in-depth critiques per round of stories. (eventually i would like to get it so everyone does in-depth critiques just out of habit, but I know from experience you can't even get in a writing course all the time. I'll cope.)

[MrJims]

Nice, very nice.
The frame work is going up great. I have two points to add.

1. There should be a grand pooh-bah, I find you always need one when your without.


2. Story parameters. Word count, acceptable violence, sexuality, etc. At least a rough idea of what's to be expected.



and now, angry face :mad: