Michael Edwards

A workshop? More like a laboratory – the chemical and psychological kind. I mean traditional woodworking analogies still apply. Dexterity, measured planning and good old-fashioned elbow grease certainly are found there, in a sense. But so are Bunsen burners, Erlenmeyer flasks, possibly even double blinds and placebos.

The philosophical, the moral. All these things I have seen come into play in the workshop. The ability to dish-out and receive criticism on your work and others’ is essential.

From my perspective, it’s really just been neat to hear the thoughts others have about your work. After the initial nerves and insecurities, after those subside, the power of the workshop as a vehicle to propel your writing craft forward becomes very apparent. Writing in isolation, my previous mode of practice, has nothing to go back to.

Basically, anything and everything happens in a workshop as it does in life. And a workshop can make your writing come to life – as long as you are willing to let it. In my view, so worth it. You will grow as a writer and also as a human.