The Rules of Workshop
1. If you sign up for one of our workshops, there is no expectation that you have to read every single piece being workshopped that day. However, if you are one of the authors during a workshop with more than just your own piece up for critique, it is courteous to participate in others' critiques as they have participated in yours.
2. Use respectful language and be conscious of the feedback you're giving. It's important for an author to know what isn't working but you shouldn't have to judge their personal values to let them know that.
3. "There is no right answer in a workshop." Everyone has their own unique reading and interpretation of the piece and that's okay! This is a good reminder for authors as well - learning the different ways our works can be perceived (even if it was not as intended) offers some beneficial insight to what your work is conveying to the outer world.
4. Avoid stereotyping the author while critiquing their work. Workshop is a place to assess the work before us and not the author behind it.
5. A reminder to the authors: Everyone at your workshop is here voluntarily. We want to help you as a writer by giving our first impressions and suggestions on your work. Whether you choose to accept our critiques is fully up to you but keep in mind that critiques are not given maliciously and readers won't always understand your work the way you do.
2. Use respectful language and be conscious of the feedback you're giving. It's important for an author to know what isn't working but you shouldn't have to judge their personal values to let them know that.
3. "There is no right answer in a workshop." Everyone has their own unique reading and interpretation of the piece and that's okay! This is a good reminder for authors as well - learning the different ways our works can be perceived (even if it was not as intended) offers some beneficial insight to what your work is conveying to the outer world.
4. Avoid stereotyping the author while critiquing their work. Workshop is a place to assess the work before us and not the author behind it.
5. A reminder to the authors: Everyone at your workshop is here voluntarily. We want to help you as a writer by giving our first impressions and suggestions on your work. Whether you choose to accept our critiques is fully up to you but keep in mind that critiques are not given maliciously and readers won't always understand your work the way you do.