Workshopping Resources

Workshopping Checklist

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Below is a checklist of things that you should consider when offering feedback on other people’s work. Remember that, no matter how good the story is right now, your goal is to answer this question: How can the story be improved?

Some things to consider offering feedback on include:

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  • DESCRIPTION: Are there interesting, vivid descriptions? Don’t just use adjectives – think of other more interesting/complex ways, such as metaphors and similes. Show, don’t tell!
  • SENSE IMAGERY: Has the person used a range of different senses in their descriptions? Can they find ways to incorporate others effectively? Pay particular attention to how setting is established.
  • DIALOGUE: Is it easy to follow who is talking? Is the dialogue laid out correctly (i.e. is each new character’s dialogue in a new paragraph, so that we can easily follow who is talking)?
  • PARAGRAPHS: Are paragraphs used correctly (you should have a new paragraph when there is a shift in focus or the ideas discussed)? Is there a space between each paragraph? Are there any very long paragraphs, or too many short paragraphs?
  • PUNCTUATION: Have you used commas when you should have used full stops? Does every sentence end with a full stop and start with a capital letter?
  • SPELLING: Are all words spelt correctly? Look for typos and common mistakes (e.g. “it’s” when it should be “its”, “alot” instead of “a  lot”, etc).
  • PLOT: Does the plot makes sense? Are there any gaps that need to be filled for things to make sense?
  • CHARACTERS: Are the characters interesting, understandable and believable? Remember ‘show, don’t tell’: it is always better to learn about a character through seeing them do things (i.e. their actions), rather than just being told that they are funny, kind, mean, etc.
  • CUTTING: Good writing is about what you put into your story, but great writing is about what you cut out. What isn’t necessary and can be cut out, so that our focus is left on the necessary and good stuff?

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Finally, remember to comment on what you liked about the story: people need feedback on what they do well, as well as what they can improve. They may have stumbled upon something you love without even realising it!