New Writer's Workshop with One-on-One Coaching

I've created a new writer's workshop on Fet. Yesterday I suggested two options: A feedback-driven workshop to wrestle with the practicalities of writing, or an inspiration-focused group with creative exercises. I’ve decided to combine both of those experiences. You’ll be able to choose which exercises you do, which writings you post, and how quickly you work through them.

Feedback will be the thrust of our work. We will learn by doing. The format will be stretchy. You can turn it into an intensive bootcamp or take it slowly. You can focus on whichever format suits your needs at the time.

### TLDR Breakdown:

Your workshop will include

* One-on-one coaching.

* Public feedback on your personal writings.

* Exercises to learn which environments inspire you the most.

* Creative exercises to loosen you up.

* Recommended reading to address strengths you need to build or genres you want to explore.

* Tools to control your bad writing habits.

You can do as many exercises as you prefer as quickly as you prefer. Just a few important points:

* I do not push. Creativity is a delicate animal. Discipline can kill it, so you will choose your pace. I might make suggestions, but I will rarely set deadlines.

* This is not a class. I will assign the occasional poetry collection or novel based on your work, strengths, and weaknesses, but feedback and exercises will create your primary learning structure. We will learn different writing tools in practice, but I will also watch your personal journey and work with you on an individual basis. Growth is the point.

* This process will take as long as you choose. It will be as intensive as you prefer.

How to Join

I'm going to be charging $20 a month via the "Writer's Workshop" Once you've joined, you can drop me a request to join this Fetlife Group [https://fetlife.com/groups/293407

Please note that if you've been on one of the writing tiers on Patreon for a while, you will receive group membership and coaching at no extra charge. Just send the group a request and drop me a message to tell me you've come from here.  This is a far more dynamic environment, so it's worth moving over.

Long Version

> One-on-one coaching to work on your writing on an individual basis and guide you on your journey.

> Feedback

Feedback is a great way to learn how well your writing is working for you. I’ll ask you to give and receive feedback because criticising others’ writing helps you to become more aware of your own. You’ll be allowed to request feedback on writing exercises as well as your personal work. The workshop’s goal is to climb into your readers’ heads and find out what they’re thinking as they read. That process works for all genres of writing, and you’ll be exploring them in your own work.

> Finding your writer’s heart

It’s possible to force yourself to write, but I don’t recommend it for work that requires inspiration. You’ll produce better work if you create the conditions that cause your writing to come to you. To write well, you must live well, so we’ll be doing regular exercises to find the best conditions for you uniquely. You’ll go forest bathing. You’ll do long walks. You’ll go places you wouldn’t usually go. You’ll find out what lifestyle gives you your best work.

> Learning better writing habits

You’ll learn habits like becoming observant of the world around you, turning your inner critic off and on at the appropriate time, and destroying self-judgment.

> Tool Diets

If you overuse a leg, the other one gets weak and you ultimately walk with a limp. The same goes for overuse of writing tools. If you ever become over-reliant on a particular mechanic, you will be barred from using it for a limited amount of time so that you’re forced to explore other tools. This should teach you how to use your crutch in a more balanced way. Everyone hates this exercise. I love it. Sorry. This is important.

> Reading

You can only learn to write if you love to read. I’ll assign short reading projects for the group and set related exercises for those who prefer to learn this way. That writing will either be in the public domain or reproduced in the group itself. I’ll also be working with each of you individually, so you will probably get assigned a full poetry collection or novel occasionally. I’ll choose this reading based on your strengths, weaknesses, or literary interests. If you can’t afford reading material, I will assign work that’s freely available. Again, you will do this at your own pace.

> Your Daily Journal

A journal is one of the most important tools you have. There are no rules—that’s the point. Your daily journal does two jobs: It gives you the opportunity to write in a creative, judgement-free environment, and it gives you the discipline to write something every day. You won’t workshop this writing or show it to others. I recommend you keep this space free of criticism. That means turning off your inner critic. The latter isn’t easy to achieve. It’s a discipline you’ll have to maintain for the rest of your life. If you’re using your journal correctly, you’ll notice that you become more observant in your day-to-day life.