Image Credit: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos.
I don’t know about you but these days I split time into two categories – pre-pandemic and post-same. I recently ran a workshop for the Association of Christian Writers’ Flash Fiction Group on leap years. One thing coming from that was in recalling the last Leap Year Day was 29th February 2020! Much has changed since then, hasn’t it?!
One positive thing to come from the pandemic was the increasing use of video conferencing via Zoom and the like. It made certain events possible. Ironically it has led to paying gigs for me as workshops. I hope that continues!
I also enjoy going to online workshops. This post looks at the advantages and disadvantages of these. There are differences compared to the in-person ones though both are useful to writers.
I will share tips on getting the best out of online workshops. The ACW Flash Fiction Group is something I run on a monthly basis. During the year as a whole I run other online workshops. They are fun to do, useful, and, as with all forms of writing work, good preparation and rehearsal is key. There are no shortcuts but this applies to all writing.
Advantages of Online Workshops
These include:-
No travelling or accommodation costs though some online workshops do charge a fee (which pays the tutor, cost of Zoom for the host etc). Charges generally are reasonable.
You can join in with workshops you can’t get to in person for various reasons, including distance, so more topics of interest are open to you.
Many online workshops offer the chance to have a recording of the session if you can’t make it to the date and time specified. This is often the way with workshops run from the States. I often register for those on topics of interest to me and play these back at a time to suit me. Even where this isn’t on offer, most state what the UK time will be for the session start and you can plan accordingly.
It gives you a chance to try a writing topic. If you decide it’s not for you, then you would only have lost a couple of hours at little expense (and there are free online workshops too so there you would just lose out on some time).
You can form connections online. Sometimes that can lead to other writing gigs. Has happened for me.
Often you can pop questions in the Zoom chat box. Many workshops then will look at these questions towards the end of the session. A question and answer session can be a great way to wrap up a writing workshop. It can also give feedback to the tutor as to what people want to know. That could be useful for other workshop ideas.
If you get a recording, you can refer to this time and again. (I’ve only known the odd one or two where you can play something back for a limited time but people do always say what is the case here).
On a lighter note, you can provide your own favourite refreshments so no more worrying about whether the coffee or tea on offer is up to scratch. You know it will be!
If you are running online workshops, these can be an additional source of income. Also you have the opportunity to plug your books (usually towards the end of a session. This can lead to book sales. I’ve often found directly after any event I’m involved in – online or in person – I find a spike in sales on my Amazon page). Also those coming to your sessions want to know the tutor’s background for the excellent reason they want to know your experience with the topic. Showing them your printed works reassures.
Writing groups often have guest speakers. Being able to do this online gives them more opportunities to get people in and that helps the writing group to expand their range and to keep things interesting. Costs are relatively low. It would be far more expensive to have to pay someone’s accommodation and travel expenses (and it would be unfair on the author concerned not to offer something here. You should pay people for their time).
Disadvantages of Online Workshops
I can’t think of many but in the interests of balance I would list the following:-
You get a real buzz and creative inspiration from being with other writers in person. It’s not the same when you’re online. That should be recognized but it helps to see online and in person workshops as two different beasts meeting differing needs. Not everyone, for a variety of reasons, can get to in person events. The online ones are an invaluable alternative.
On a lighter note, you do have to provide your own refreshments so if your coffee or tea are not up to scratch, you do only have yourself to blame!
There is something special about going to a writer’s retreat, an in person event, or something like The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick. You meet lots of other writers in person. Getting physically away to write is enormously helpful for many. Once the workshops are over, there is always the lure of the bar! (Harder to do that at home!).
You need to ensure you have good internet connections and to have a co-operative family so you’re not interrupted in your lovely online workshop with phone calls, the family suddenly needing something, the dog deciding now would be a great time to bark loudly. (Before you ask, Lady is fabulous here, but I usually ensure other family members keep the dog with them or take her out while I’m on or running an online workshop. It helps!).
Making the Most of an Online Workshop as an Attendee
What I have found useful here is:
Doing some research on the person running the workshop and their books. This may lead to being able to ask good questions when the opportunity arises at the event. Questions are useful as I’ve found others will be thinking along the same lines and they’re only glad to see someone else thought to ask first. They can also lead to interesting discussions.
Have notebook and pen(s) to hand. There are bound to be things you will want to note down (especially email addresses, web links etc).
For online workshops where I play a recording back, it still pays to take some notes. There is something about the act of physically writing things down which helps to lodge things in the memory. I also keep a folder on my laptop for any recordings.
Do take advantage of any comfort breaks offered!
Some online workshops will charge a fee for you to register but especially if it is on a topic you want to know more about and you don’t think you can join in “live”, then the fee is going to be worth it to you to get the recording. Also generally the fees charged for these will be a lot lower than if you attended an in person event.
Making the Most of an Online Workshop as a Tutor
What I have found most useful here will come as no surprise but is worth reiterating.
Preparation is key. Give yourself plenty of time.
Use plenty of slides. Best to have plenty of PowerPoint slides with information easily readable. Don’t cram in on fewer slides. Information must be easy to read.
Mix up text with bullet points and pictures (ensuring these are your own or are copyright free).
Rehearse your material. I record my workshops on Zoom and play them back. Zoom converts your meeting (with yourself) when you record it and when you end the meeting it turns the file into an mp3. (You can also get a conversion into mp4). When I listen back, I am taking things in as my audience would.
Odd though it may seem to say, I do “hear” where there are gaps which I can then fill on my next draft. It is easy to forget to put a link in or an additional piece of information you meant to be put in and could’ve sworn you had put in only to find you hadn’t!
The act of recording it also gives you an accurate time for the overall workshop. You can use that to plan in comfort breaks or where to split your session if you are doing a two parter (as I will be at The Writers’ Summer School, Swanwick in August).
For my monthly workshops for the Association of Christian Writers Flash Fiction group, I plan my topic for the next workshop almost immediately after I’ve finished the previous one. I also take in ideas for topics from the members. Doing this gives me plenty of time to get material ready.
When you get ideas for potential workshops do jot them down, else you will forget. It helps to think of what you would find most useful (or would’ve done earlier in your writing journey) for ideas.
Be as relaxed as possible. There will be some nerves, rightly so too as you need some adrenaline, but it helps to remember you are there to help other writers develop their writing. There’s nothing to dislike there. I find it helps with the nerves too. I love that aspect. (I also love being on the receiving end of this too).
Conclusion
Online workshops are wonderful. I’ve benefited from many and they are fabulous for giving you a chance to try topics out you might not want to risk the money on going to in person in case it is a “dud”. Limited costs with online workshops mean you have little to lose bar your time mainly.
Given charges (also known as registration fees) are relatively low, this can be a cheap way to invest in your writing and to find out more from experts in their field.
Good news too: some online workshops are free of charge especially those run by companies. My graphic design program, Book Brush, runs webinars. They don’t charge. Sometimes I look these things up. Naturally they hope I will upgrade my plan with them. So far I haven’t! My plan is fine but I have found out useful additional information to help me make the best of Book Brush and all it has cost me is time.
I never want to see a pandemic again but I am grateful something positive came from it. Online workshops are a great learning tool. I’ve learned so much as an attendee and as a tutor.
Related Posts:-
Author Interview: Jennifer C Wilson – The Joy of Writing Groups and Workshops
Read interviews with Chandler’s Ford writer Allison Symes: Part 1 and Part 2.
Read blog posts by Allison Symes published on Chandler’s Ford Today.
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