Survey Says

Thanks to everyone for filling out the survey to help us improve the structure of the NRAS Writers Workshop. It may not come as a surprise that the group was pretty evenly split on the topic of writing exercises. However, just about everyone was in favor of continuing with the critiquing sessions—even if they didn’t want to have their own work critiqued, they were willing to offer feedback to other writers.

So, here’s the compromise that we’ve come up with: if you downright detest writing exercises (or if you’re just running late), feel free to show up at 7:45, just in time for refreshments, followed by two critiques (at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.). This approach seems to fit well with our “drop-in anytime” philosophy.

In addition, many of you expressed an interest in breaking down into smaller critique groups, possibly by genre. Logistically, that is more than Heather and I can handle at the moment, but we invite you to do so outside of the monthly Writers Workshop. We can bring this up at the January gathering, or you can post a message on this blog to invite others to join you in a smaller group.

The dates of our next three meetings (Winter 2010) are: January 19, February 16, and March 16. The critique slots have been filled for January and March, but the two February slots are open. Please let me know if you’d like to sign up for one of those spots.

And please save the date of Saturday, February 27, 2-4 p.m., for our first Author Series, with Randy Susan Meyers (The Murderer’s Daughters, St. Martin’s Press, January 2010).

Happy Holidays, everyone, and see you in the New Year!