%title Further Confusion Writing Workshop 2023

## Workshop notes

### Friday --- Critical reading

* Intro
    * Intro self (incl. "this is for MFA" spiel)
    * Allow others to intro
* Ice breaker: what is your least favorite part of your favorite movie?
* Lead into what is a text
    * Books/writing, sure, but also anything that tells a story --- film, games, etc
    * Thus, what is critical reading?
* Intentional engagement with a text, especially with regards to the self
    * Back to ice breaker: how do you intentionally engage with your favorite film?
    * How do we intentionally engage with a text in furry?
        * What do we like in a furry text? What don't we like?
        * Notably, not asking what makes a text furry, that we are furries is what enables us to read into that context
        * Thus, how do we engage with a text that *we* feel is furry *as* furries?
* What goes into critical reading?
    * Layers:
        * Mechanical: presentation, word choice, language usage, writing style
        * Subjective: emotional impact, plot effectiveness, evocative descriptions
* Reading exercise:
    * Pick one of these two categories to pay attention to first and read, then read for the second
    * Critique tomorrow, but preview: we're not tearing a text apart, we're asking it questions:
        * How did we feel the plot worked? Was there a structure? Could we follow it?
        * What was told? What was left out? How did (not) knowing make us feel?
        * What type of language usage was there? Word choice? Style?
        * How about emotional impact? Was the story impactful? Did the mechanics help or hinder us?
        * Was it evocative? Was it furry? Did that work?
    * Be ready to summarize
    * 10 mins to read
    * ~~~
    * Have someone summarize
    * Talk through the mechanical and subjective layers, drilling down into specifics
    * Talk through how the exercise felt
        * was it useful? Tiring? Enjoyable?
* Tomorrow, we'll go through critiquing writing and actually workshop a piece --- one of mine that has already been workshopped and published, so just an example of critiquing for a present author.
* Optional homework:
    * Write a short ~500 word snippet (or pick one already written) to go through a gentle workshop, think about what we talked through today while writing
    * Email it to me and I'll put it online for all to read in the workshop
    * Will be asking how it felt etc

### Saturday --- Critiquing in workshop

* What is workshopping?
    * More important, what is it *not?*
        * Tearing apart a story
        * Tearing down the author (Maslanka story)
        * Editing a piece
    * Talk about your engagement with the piece --- remember list of questions from yesterday
    * Author:
        * Listen to feedback and take in the ways your work affected others
        * Will talk about writing for workshops tomorrow
* Types of workshops and such
    * Silent author
        * How that works
        * Why --- active listening, no shaping responses
    * Participatory discussion
        * Better for pieces earlier in process
        * Feedback as to where to take it
    * The role of the facilitator
        * Prevent stalling
        * Keep on track
        * Pay attention to mood, etc
* Tone
    * Talk to the piece, not the author --- some don't even use the author's name, pretend they aren't there (not particularly a fan, but also stay away from addressing comments to 'you')
    * Talk about yourself, your responses, your questions
    * Changing language
        * Stay away from generating shared values/taste
        * Imagine and invite change
        * We don't want to over-reward author because then it becomes less about creativity and more about writing for success
* Sample workshop:
    * <https://makyo.ink/jump>
    * 10 mins to read
    * Workshop discussion with silent author, then bring author in
    * Discuss how it felt
* Tomorrow: writing to receive critique/actually receiving critique

### Sunday --- Writing to expect critique

* <https://makyo.io/fcww23s>
* Writing and vulnerability
    * Vulnerability in creation
    * The terrifying ordeal of being seen
    * How to manage having one's vulnerability openly addressed
* A lot is on the facilitator
    * Ensuring discussion stays on the work
    * Ensuring *uncomfortable* silence is filled
        * How silence feels
        * How to fill silence if it happens (ask questions)
* Engaging with responses as author
    * Always good to thank, but overdoing can weaken your position in your own eyes
    * Maintain authorial vision ---- everything you get (even negative) is encouragement and opportunity to change, but not a demand
    * Friction and vulnerability:
        * Maintain openness (even physical --- half smile, willing hands)
        * Maintain distance
        * Feel free to maintain boundaries, facilitator is there to help, can guide/move on from topic
* Take notes! Can be overwhelming, so read through and think before blithely implementing
* Workshops:
    * One person summarize and lead in with discussion
    * Try one response at a time vs open discussion
* Reflect on how that felt
