More tough love – get a workshop

Because this is a blog all about support, I will spin this positively.

You need a writer’s group. You need a workshop.

Just that word, “workshop,” has the feeling of transition to it. You don’t take a piece of wood and smile and say it’s a chair. No, you take it to a workshop and work on it. When you enter a workshop, you’re saying, “My story needs work.” You’ve already accepted that.

Within this group, you will meet with peers and have them look at your manuscript. They will point out the flaws and hopefully do so in a constructive manner, making the story better and you a better writer. Hopefully they will not say, “this is awesome, no notes here!”

What you do not need is a pro-writer’s opinion.

Many writers have blogged about this. Some more harshly than others. But the boiled down response is:

• I have my own writing to do.
• I have people whose writing I already need to crit.
• I don’t like to work for free.
  
• If I said yes to everyone, I’d have no time.
• You likely don’t want a real crit; you want me to lie and tell you it’s awesome, which puts me in an uncomfortable position, as I’m the bad guy no matter what I say. Lying doesn’t help you, and the truth will make you frustrated and angry, if you’re not ready for it.

So yeah. Before you ask a pro to read your story, think about how much time you’re asking a stranger to give you, ask yourself if you’d ply your craft for free, for a stranger, for several hours. Ask yourself if you want a real critique or if you just want to be coddled. And then go get a writer’s group. You’ll be better off.

OK, if this positive post wasn’t enough for you, if you’re thinking, Yeah, but maybe it’ll be different for me,  then read the following: I will not read your f****** script (obviously strong language here – this is all tough, no love), I will not publish your book, and What to Know Before You Ask Me to Read Your (Unpublished) Work.

How do you find a workshop? Locally, check at libraries, or go to NaNoWriMo.org and see if there are local groups gearing up for the grand race in November. That’s a great place to find a group. Online, just Google search for writer’s groups. There are several. Look for ones with password protection, and some require yearly fees. Those are often worth it, because it can mean they have considerable benefits.

But yes, please don’t ask people you don’t know for critiques. They’re busy, many are trying to make money with their writing, and you may not be sure what you’re asking for.

(New ISBW tonight!)