Thoughts on the Workshop Process

I've mentioned before that I have my own workshop critique group. It's made up of 4 other writers whose writing and insight I admire, people I know I can learn from. We meet about once a month to talk shop and workshop each other's writing. This morning I submitted a new essay.

By the time I submit an essay for workshop I have already worked through several drafts of it, done all I can with it, and - not to toot my own horn - I am pretty sure it's already perfect! You think I would have learned by now, but without fail every single time I get carried away imagining the other writers saying, "This essay is perfect! No notes! It's ready for publication immediately!" 

Spoiler alert: in my many years of workshopping that has never happened. This morning the other writers were encouraging and saw that I had put in the work, but they asked some great questions that made me realize there was still work to be done. 

And this morning I remembered that after workshopping my own work I am always really thankful for the insight of my peers but also really tired. A mix of anticipation, of realizing there is still work to be done, vulnerability hangover, processing all the emotions swirling, and untangling all the new input. 

In past seasons of life I would have pushed right through to the next thing, wondering idly why I was so worn out. There's always more to do. But art takes the time it takes, and every part of the process is an opportunity to learn something. Today I can firmly say that for me, tending to that post-workshop letdown, and beginning to integrate the feedback is part of the work. And that maybe I'm tired because workshopping is a vulnerable, big thing that deserves to be celebrated, even when an essay isn't done yet.

So I decided to have lunch outside on a beautiful spring day, where I took some time to integrate the feedback, and to recognize that I did something pretty big today, and that I am working toward something that is important to me.

Writers, what are your thoughts on the workshop process?

p.s. - this is my determined face