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Survey of members’ ideas on GWG workshops

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More topics in the comments

• Crime writing and psychological thriller• New writing such as verse novels, verse memoirs,

flash fiction, sudden fiction, and short stories • Creative non-fiction, essays, blogs• Architecture of a fiction novel• Short story writing and playwriting• Writing for the stage• Self-publication how-tos• Nonfiction self help• Children's stories

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Question 4

Please describe your ideal workshop day.

39 responses

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Ideal workshop day: timing§ Begin at 9am, coffee break at 10.30, lunch at 12.30, coffee break at 14.00,

finish the day at 16.00.

§ [T]he morning session could stand to be one more hour. There are often interesting topics that seem to speed by in two hours. Maybe we could trade half an hour or so of lunch time.

§ Two 2.5-hour sessions with an hour break in between.

§ Input 9-11, individual work session 1-3, feedback 3-5.

§ Morning GWG workshop, afternoon master class (shorter lunch)

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Ideal workshop day: substance• Small group opportunities to really work and produce something of value.

• Small group, constructive spirit, experienced workshop leader

• In critique sessions, more time on feedback from the instructor than participants

• Short reading/talk by writer, writing prompt and exercise, reading in pairs or small groups, positive and constructive feedback, then opportunity to read in bigger group.

• More use of a whiteboard. Points [are more] clear and engraved in memory.

• Theory + practice. New ideas/angles/possibilities. Synergies with illustrators/painters, etc.

• A question and answer session

• Interactive

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Please name three of your "dream instructors" you'd like to have teach for the GWG.

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Dream instructors 1§ Anne Korkeakivi§ Marion Winik§ Margaret Atwood§ Every one is a dream.§ Susan Jane Gilman§ Susan Tiberghien§ Jonathan Franzen§ Robin Wall Kimmerer§ Elif Shafak§ Billy Collins (or Laura Kasischke again)§ Barbara Kingsolver§ Anne Waldman - performance poetry§ Michelle Bailat-Jones§ Kathryn Price, the author of "On Editing: How to Edit Your Novel"§ Anna Burns (Milkman)§ Dave Eggers§ Anne Lamott

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Dream instructors 2§ Anne Korkeakivi§ Sharon Olds for poetry, verse memoir, psychological poetry§ Irene Graham§ Paul Auster§ Laura Kasischke§ Kate Atkinson§ Michael Connelly§ Anne Lamott§ Susan Tiberghien§ Susan Tiberghien§ Susan Tiberghien§ Marilyn Robinson§ Sylvia Plath§ Anne Korkeakivi§ Neil Gaiman§ Ellen Bass§ Maria Popova§ Anne Lamott

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Dream instructors 3§ Laura Kasischke§ Sue Gilman§ Anthony Anaxagorou (one of the best we had)§ Mary-Jane Holmes§ Someone who has tried to be successful but has so far failed§ Toni Morrison§ Mia Cuoto§ John Irving (or Mary Pecaut)§ Jess Walter§ Susan Tiberghien§ Jason Donald on long-form fiction§ A well-respected writing instructor from a UK MFA program?§ Sally Rooney (Normal People)§ A TV series screen writer and how that works§ Stephen King§ Juilet Romero

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§ Mark Doty for lyrical poetry§ Murakami§ Michael Hulse§ Julian Barnes§ James Patterson§ Susan Tiburghien§ M-J Holmes§ Anne Lamott§ Zadie Smith§ Keats§ Philip Pullman§ Pascale Petit§ Krista Tippett§ Barbara Kingsolver§ Naomi Nye

Dream instructors 4

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Dream instructors 5Naomi Shihab NyeJason DonaldDavid MametSomeone who can facilitate energetic group discussionBell HooksOrhan PamukElizabeth Gilbert (Or Susan Gilman)Janice GallowayWallis Wilde-MenozziSusan T on personal essaySusan Tiberghien (always)Margaret AtwoodPhoebe Waller BridgeMario Kaiser

Martin Crucifix for depth poetry, verse memoirSusanSusan Tiberghien/Wallis Wilde-MenozziIan McEwanJohn GrishamAnne K. (from this year)Martha BeckStephen KingRimbaudAnne BishopDorianne LauxDinty Moore (again)Pico Iyer (you said dream!)Lee Child

genevawritersgroupThank you for your great ideas!

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