Inky Loons

Workshop Guidelines

How to have a fun and effective workshop

I. Facilitation

  1. Sign-In. Writers indicate whether they have work to share.
  2. Introductions (10 min). Each writer must share their name and pronouns. Optional: Share a themed fun fact.
  3. Prompt or Discussion (20 min). Optional: Read prompt results.
  4. Workshop (90 min). Writers read and listeners provide feedback.We prioritize reading order per this criteria:
    1. Writers who were ready to share last meeting but could not.
    2. Writers who brought printed copies.
    3. Writers who shared on Discord before the meeting.
    4. Writers who arrived earliest, per the sign-in sheet.

II. Sharing

  1. Originality. Work must be written by the author, not plagiarized or written by AI.
  2. Length. Share only 2000 words or fewer at a time.
  3. Format. Either print copies or share on Discord:
    • If Print: Bring 7+ copies.
    • If Discord: Share a .docx or .pdf in the #workshop channel.
  4. Content Warnings. Provide a warning if your work contains sensitive material, such as:
    • Explicit sexual content
    • Violence and gore
    • Self-harm or suicide
    • Any other topic you feel needs a warning
  5. Feedback Requests. Request the type of feedback you're seeking. "Any" is acceptable.
  6. Reading. Read the work aloud. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace.
  7. Time Limit. Reading and feedback is limited to 15 minutes per writer.

III. Giving

  1. Lead with Gratitude. Sharing creative work is a gift.
  2. Suggest, don't instruct. Say "could" and avoid "should".
  3. Be constructive. Describe what worked and what could be improved.
  4. Be specific. Provide concrete examples from the text.
  5. Be relevant. Focus on what the author requested feedback about.
  6. Be respectful. When in doubt, assume good intentions.
  7. Be patient. Raise your hand before speaking. Don't speak over others.

IV. Receiving

  1. Listen. Let the feedback giver finish before speaking.
  2. Don't be defensive. All feedback is a gift, even if it's hard to hear.
  3. Take or leave it. Some feedback will be more useful than others.
  4. End with gratitude. Thank everyone for their time and input.