I happen to be taking a graduate course on science fiction, which is the genre of the story I plan to pursue for my thesis. I recently listened to a video she posted on the role and value of feedback, during which I reflected on all the ways that I did experience feedback in her course. It was really helpful to review her approach after having faced critique from an interesting assortment of students.
She feels like workshops are one of the best parts of the program. I don’t know that I agree. Here’s the thing: Not everyone in a workshop is willing to give critical feedback first. When the critical stuff rolls in (as it should) those comments can polarize the discussion. Students often try to be too nice or too critical without thinking about the text as a stand alone thing. Part of that comes from what they know or don’t know about the work.
She encourages students to give background information on the piece. I am always excited to do that when it isn’t chapter one, but if it is that opening moment then I want the readers to take it in cold. Still, this was an important takeaway. Context is the seat of writing. If people understand what I am trying to do and where I am coming from, I think the feedback will probably be better and more directed towards what I am trying to do with the work itself.
Criticism is kind of scary, but I don’t want my classmates to be gentle. I want the work to be bulletproof. It hurts. It hurts really bad sometimes, but I feel like that pain is also a moment of growth and understanding about the work, about your voice, and especially about the things you are doing that aren’t really translating to the page.
I want to work on being more critical in my feedback in a gentle way. I recognize how sensitive I am as a writer and I want to respect other’s sensitivities. I want to deliver information that can be helpful while being mindful of that fear that is associated with the critique.