I've just spent four hours with 13 other writers, immersing ourselves in a workshop that involved 'prompt writing': exercises that you get entirely fresh, no preparation, and with a time limit.
The goal is to generate as much material as possible – first draft writing – and the emphasis is on the act of generation, rather than grammar, spelling, or the tasks that come with revision.
This is the fifth such session I’ve organised for the writers’ workshop I run. Despite it being the first day of the weekend (here in the Middle East) we left more energised than when we straggled in at 2pm.
After the 15 or so minutes of writing (or typing) as fast as you can, you have the opportunity to share your work out loud. The electricity felt as people read and heard fresh comments on what stood out from their particular pieces was palpable; if only you could bottle this kind of energy up and have it on hand when you trudge to your desk, alone, at home.
But this energy can be replicated. Perhaps not every day, but by joining a bi-monthly or weekly writers’ group you could get the sustenance you need for those hours of solitary work at the kitchen table or in carefully planned study.
For my next few posts, I will trace how I established the Doha Writers’ Workshop, out of sheer desperation for a writing community in an often physically and then artistically arid landscape. Hopefully you will glean some ideas of how to start a group of your own, or chime in to offer suggestions from groups you have participated in.
For now we will start with founding rule number one: writers may create, rewrite, and edit alone, but every writer needs readers.
Readers who give you feedback or ask clarifying questions are necessary; those who engage your story and offer suggestions are a goldmine. Often it’s best if this group isn’t your mother or Aunt Sally and if you are interested in being published commercially, an established readership is paramount to getting an agent or publisher interested in your work.
Who are your readers? How (and how often) do you receive feedback on your work?
Best wishes,
(Reading & Writing Development Director)
tonyl
thanks for that thats what ill will do right away.right after my heart rate drops below 200 it could have been a costly lesson. thanks for the tip
ricky martin.
Ricky, copy it onto your hard drive straight away, just in case. Little tip, always back up your work somewhere separate. I often just email it to myself, then its stored on the web too.
I nearly had a heart attack this morning. I opened my laptop and was about to start working on my book coffee at the ready. the sun is shining in through the window a perfect morning kids are asleep. then i reached in my pocket for my memory stick hmm not there then i remembered the clothes i was wearing yesterday.
i had put in the wash absolute panic my whole novel is on there i retrieved my jeans from washing machine. putting my hand into the pocket i had washed the memory stick total panic i have inserted key into laptop and it still works .im a lucky son of a ..........