Guys, one of the best things you can do for your own writing is to learn how to give feedback on the work of others. Giving constructive feedback requires an understanding of literary basics. For me, a lot of that was learned by being part of various writing classes where we reviewed each others work. Listening to the feedback that more experienced writers give can help you key into the important aspects that need attention in initial and intermediate drafts of a story because the general question will usually go along the same lines no matter the story in review.
I have always loved writer's workshops because I love hearing the ideas that my fellow writers come up with and providing feedback is something that I genuinely enjoy doing. I've noticed that I often learn as much from these experiences as those I might be responding to. The author is worried that their characters lack real, deep characterization or they just feel flat when you read them - in brainstorming ways that issues like this, that every author struggles with at one time or another, the solutions are often ones that I can apply in my own work.
Workshops are amazing events that facilitate communal education and learning performed by each member in turn. I'm working with some friends now to try and set up our own now that we're no longer students with professors and classes to create that environment for us and I highly encourage anyone else to make their own as well. It can be any size you want [I'd probably recommend at least 3 people though] and the great thing about setting up your own is you don't have to include that one person who was always ragging on your stuff in class just because they were a jerk - we've all met that person.
On a side note, this game has stolen my life for the past few days. So while I recommend it, proceed with caution if you have anything that actually needs doing.
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