DeScribe

"Writers need readers. The best aspect of writing workshops is that they provide amateur writers with readers. These readers are mostly other amateur writers, but they are readers, with very different types of critiques.

Take notes on these critiques.

You, however, as with professional writers, must decide which of these critiques are useful and which you can make use of.

You also learn by critiquing the writings of other writings. You learn a lot about writing by reading the works of other amateur writers and critiquing their works.

You should have guidelines for critiquing. You can express your general opinion. But you should also be specific about such elements of writing as characterization, dialogue, storyline. Or if poetry, the use of imagery and metaphor.

You should also have a purpose in the writing workshops-this is to help to improve your writing and help you to become a better writer.
Also, note that an important aspect of writing as any art is to know how to handle criticism. Writing workshops can help you learn how to do this.

What is your purpose for taking a writing workshop? Does the workshop fulfill this purpose?"

Source: http://www.helium.com/tm/81239/writers- ... ct-writing