Attending a writer’s workshop is just one of many ways to become a better writer. If you don’t only read poetry, but you read about the poets, you’ll soon realize that there are both poets that are reclusive, and have been lucky enough to create and find success in singularity, and that there are others who found like-minded creators in their communities. The latter found success via the company that they kept.
Whether you fit into one category or the other, I recommend the writer’s workshop to everyone so much so, that I have an entirely different blog highlighting 6 Reasons YOU NEED TO ATTEND a Poetry Workshop. Please click on that blog to find a helpful infographic that compliments the information. You can also watch the video below.
Here are 3 Types of Writer’s Workshops you can expect to attend.
1. Generative Workshop
This workshop aims to generate new material; hence the name. This is the most general variety of writer’s workshop. This is where the workshop leader will have a focused theme planned. A poet or several poems that fit a theme or style will be discussed, afterwards a prompt will be introduced. For anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, all of the workshop participants will break out into a writing session where they are allowed to travel off and create an agreed upon time. When everyone reconvenes, the workshop leader will ask about participant experiences and there may even be a time to share work.
I particularly like this style because I always leave with one or two poems (or great ideas/ phrases, at least!) It also takes me out of my usual writing routine where I’m being influenced by the point of view of another poet.
2. Writer’s Workshop
This workshop may take place over a couple of days and it is because it’s more labor intensive than the generative workshop. In this workshop, several days before it begins, you will be requested to bring several poems to the class. Here, everyone will go around and present their work so it can be critiqued by the workshop leader and the other participants.
This is good because you get several different sets of eyes on your paper and this workshop aims to critique your writing. If it is conducted appropriately, the participants will tell you what is working in the poem and will give constructive criticism as to what will make your poetry better as well.
3. Craft Workshop
This is very similar to workshop number two, the difference comes in the types of conversation that is had. This type of class focuses on the techniques of poetry— paying attention to a certain kind of poetic element that the workshop leader is very well-versed in. The whole entire class can be structured around a particular subject with the aim of your own poetic development at the end.
In this workshop, I’ve experienced workshop leaders both working from the participants’ existing materials or generated material from the workshop.
With workshops that take place over a span of several sessions, more time is spent on each individual as well. This means that your poem can get 45 minutes to above an hour of individualized attention.
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