How is a workshop different from a manuscript review? What's the difference between a lecture, a class, a panel, a caucus, and a bookshop?
Workshop or Manuscript Review? Protocols? Expectations? Recommendations?
Workshops are organized by genre: poetry, fiction, or mixed-genre. “Mixed-genre” can mean whatever the participants want, so there may be a variety of manuscripts in this category. In each category, there are two divisions:
Workshop: Participants share a limited selection of 8-10 poems or 10-20 pages of prose or the equivalent.
Manuscript review: This includes a complete manuscript collection of poems, short stories, or a novel that the author is ready for feedback on. It might be as ready for publication as the author can make it. Or it might be a roughed-out collection, and the author wants impressions from a first reading. Because of the size of such a work, it is important that participants share manuscripts in a timely manner. If you've written an 800-page epic, negotiate with your group how much to share and how much to summarize.
Other Guidelines:
Dates for sharing of manuscripts and how much to share should be decided by groups. Any suggestion made by the conference coordinator is just that: a suggestion.
It's all negotiable. Workshop members are responsible for contacting each other to agree on:
A method for sharing work (email, cloud drive, physical mail).
Workshop protocols (how to offer feedback).
A means and/or place to do the work (each group will be responsible for finding a space to meet. In the event that the workshop is being conducted remotely, groups are responsible to choose and operate the platform that's best for them (zoom, google meets, skype, shouting at great distances, tin cans and string).
If there are issues with a group member (e.g. lack of response, aggression, etc.) please try to work them out within the group. If this does not succeed, then contact the Conference Coordinator.
You'll notice when you look at a schedule that workshop time is allotted on most days during an in-person conference. How and how much of that time is used is up to each individual group. Be mindful to give each participant an equal amount of attention.
We try to limit the number of participants in a workshop to four or five, and for a manuscript review, three or four--but three is probably best and a priority. Preparing to discuss four complete manuscripts is a lot to ask.
Lecture or class or panel or caucus or book shop?
First: all classes are scheduled for ONE hour. Please stick to this guideline, unless you have made arrangements with the conference coordinator for some variation--and then it will appear on the schedule in it's new configuration. Often, the next class takes place directly after the last one, often in the same space, so please be mindful not to go over time. Even if the next class is not sharing the same space, you'll want to close on time anyway so that Wallies can get to the next event in a timely manner.
Lecture: Do you have a paper to read? A talk to give about a poem, story, novel? A craft lesson to give? A compelling story about your own adventures in writing and/or publishing? Lectures are typically structured as a talk given in 30 to 45 minutes, followed by an opportunity for Q&A afterwards.
Class: Perhaps a more engaging strategy might be to facilitate a whole class discussion after a much shorter introductory spiel. The teachers among us likely have a whole slew of strategies to employ for a lively, interactive session. If you know who the teachers are amongst us, don't hesitate to reach out if you would like some tips about how to structure an engaging hour. Generally, give people opportunities to interact, participate, talk, discuss, write, share, draw, or dance. Topics for classes are as varied as the people who are willing to facilitate them. A good rule of thumb, though: don't require a ton of preparation from your attendees. Ask them to read a few poems, sure. A story, okay. A novel--probably not--unless you have convened a group of people for a Book Shop.
Book Shop: Some Wally or a pair of Wallies or even a small gaggle of Wallies might choose a complete book for some deep dive conversation and/or analysis. This is generally structured as a discussion, but there may be (probably should be) a person or a couple of people who will facilitate. Sometimes Book Shops, if the schedule permits, can be stretched out over more than one session. However, nothing prevents a group of especially committed participants from scheduling their own thing--in the way that workshops are primarily the responsibilty of the participants.
Panel: Three or four or five individuals have an item for discussion, a particular writer or work, a writing dilemma, a publishing question, a need that requires addressing, or a big idea for which the panelists have expertise or relevant experiences to share. Panelists often give short takes in turn, and then a discussion is opened up for attendee participation.
Caucus: Three or four or five individuals have an item for discussion, a writing dilemma, a publishing question, a need that requires addressing, or a big idea for which THEY ARE NOT NECESSARILY EXPERTS--but would nevertheless like to present to the group. These sessions are more like open-ended discussions where the assumption is that everyone in the room has potentially helpful and/or wise things to say about the subject. Caucus leaders my facilitate--but it's also possible that they do nothing more than convene the session.
What if I don’t want to go to or teach a class? What if I don’t want to workshop?
The alumni conference is designed to meet your current needs as a writer. Sometimes, the thing that is most needful is simply having the time to write—or to relax. None of the events on the calendar are mandatory. You don’t have to go to classes (although, people volunteering to teach enormously appreciate your attendance!). You don’t have to sign up for workshops. You can do whatever you want to do.
There is only one very explicit participation requirement: if you sign up to give a reading, you must attend all the readings. Only the short-stay people are exempt from this, in that it would be nearly impossible for them to attend a reading for which they were not on campus!
What if I can’t get the workshop that I want?
Please be aware that everyone who wants to be in a workshop will be in a workshop. You may, however, need to be flexible about what kind of workshop you’ll be in and how many individuals will be in your group. It is extremely helpful for folks to be willing to read outside of their genre, so if you are a poet or a fiction writer, please consider being open to a “mixed workshop” as your second choice, where you will read and respond outside of your team. This is most likely only an issue when there may not be enough poets who choose a poetry workshop or fictioners who choose a fiction workshop.
The bottom line is you will be in a workshop if you want one—but the type of workshop you’re in might not be your first choice. And—if groups of a comfortable number are formed, say, four individuals, and there is a Wally or two who wanted a workshop seemingly out in the cold, it would be appropriate in this case to be willing to give one more writer your undivided attention and be okay with a larger group of five or six. This would not work in a manuscript review workshop, however, where THREE seems to be the magic number. In this case, if you prefer a manuscript review and there are not enough writers to create a new group, please consider these options: a partnership manuscript review with a buddy, a mixed-genre manuscript review, or joining a workshop with an excerpt from your manuscript in prose or poetry. There is nothing wrong with bowing out of a workshop or a manuscript review if you believe that it’s not shaping up to be the right thing for you. We just feel that it’s important to emphasize that your first choice in a workshop is not a guarantee.
Similarly, if more people volunteer to teach a class than are spaces in the schedule, you may not be able to teach your class. This is a rarity, but nevertheless a possibility. In this case, the coordinator will make a call based on what they think might be most beneficial to the camp experience, or, they will draw a name from a hat.
Ultimately, in this amazing community, flexibility and humility abound. We can’t always get what we want. It is an acceptable risk we take for the sake of the experience of being together in this amazing way.
Should I apply for a scholarship?
If you would not otherwise be able to attend the conference, by all means apply for a scholarship. Every year there are a number of $500 scholarships and at least one full ride scholarship. Declaring a need for a scholarship is on the honor basis. No one is going to ask you for proof of need. A few caveats: Do not apply for a scholarship if you have been the recipient of one in the last two in-person conferences. And please try not to ask for a scholarship if you are not SURE you can attend.