Nonverbal Communication: The Downside of Online Writing Courses



The first week of Craig Clevenger's 200 Proof Storytelling writing course is over.  Reading material consumed, Sexy Beast case study completed and first writing assignment turned in.   The experience has been intense.  The excitement of meeting everyone and learning from Clevenger is a few days has left my head spinning. 
Over the weekend, the class was divided into critique groups.  Each of us were in charge of critiquing our groups' dialogue assignment.  What a great idea!  Not only can I take in the lectures from the comfort of my home, but I don't have to travel anywhere for the workshop.  
Wrong!  Reading a peer's work and making comments isn't too hard.  When I have more to say than the comments written on the writing I find myself in a jam. My feedback felt light and unhelpful.  In a more traditional setting I'm afforded the opportunity to verbally explain myself to the writer.  In the online classroom, you need to ensure you include everything in the written feedback to avoid a tedious back and forth conversation in the forum.  I prefer the instant verbal interaction, but I adapt well.  
Another problem I faced when critiquing was figuring out how to present the feedback.  Should I write on the submission or create a separate document.  Should I type my comments directly next to the line I'm referencing, or should I put everything at the end?  Is there a way to go line-by-line in the margins of a word document like you can with Google Documents?  I was too tired last night dig into research, so I chose to write directly next to the line I was commenting on.  


This process helped me keep track of where I was in the piece.  I think I could have been more thorough in my feedback.  A summary at the end expressing everything else I wanted to say could help.  I'll do better next time.    


The third problem, more of a set back really, with the online critiquing was feedback lost in transference.  Two group members sent me their critiques on my .rtf formatted document.  Upon opening the file I only saw my dialogue scene sans comments.  Do I need to view it in another program?  I hope I'm able to remedy the situation.  My partners took the time to read and comment on my work.  Their feedback is valuable to me.  It's the only way I'm going to improve.  
The whole process was a bit frustrating for me. I feel powerless over the different variables.   More practice with written communication, I'm sure, will improve my feedback and experience.       


What process do you employ when critiquing work online?     
  

Comments

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said…
With the person that is editing my novel, I just send her a chapter in Microsoft Word and she sends it back to me in like a month or so with the editing marks made in the document. It's been working well thus far. Have you ever tried Skype? You could do feedback through Skype like the kind you are used to with a video feed and even sharing your desktop.
February 24, 2011 at 12:22 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

L is for Location, Location, Location

Image
Source Readers look to novels to escape reality. An author’s words take them to distant lands. But a well-described location can do more than just take the reader on a trip away from home. It plays an important role in creating atmosphere and describing characters. The strength of location in a story transforms the setting into another character. Characters and setting rely heavily on one another not only to create images in the minds of readers, but also to describe each other.  A character reveals information about a setting. Their traits lead them to specific towns, cities, bars, schools, etc. A well-developed character personality can create the milieu. An uptight individual probably lives in a very neat and organized apartment. A character concerned with the environment might have a vegetable garden planted in the back with a recycling bin and compost heap. A young, single girl might feel stuck in family-oriented suburbia. Now, the...
Read more

Insecure Writer's Support Group:Overwhelmed

Image
Source My road trip to Boston at the end of August arrived just in time to relieve me from the constant head banging on the wall between me and my writing, blogging and freelance career. The permanent knot on my forehead, bald patches and a jaw that clicks every time I open my mouth has transformed me into a monster you might catch in the dark alleyways of Gotham City. I overdosed on advice in writing magazines, on writing-related websites and blogs. If you peek through the windows, you catch me wandering around the house strung out, too jittery to sit down at my laptop. As an information junkie, I hoarded writing techniques, strategies and prompts. I shoved them into every available space in my writing toolbox, reminding me of an overly prepared-style of packing. Overstuffed. I would sit on the lid to force it shut if it weren’t for the motivational quotes spilling over the sides keeping me from latching the damn thing. Then I come across an article contradicting th...
Read more

E is for Erasure Poetry

Image
rattle.com April is National Poetry Month . So, I thought I'd give  erasure poetry  a try. I chose an article about dating and race in The Philadelphia Inquirer .  Reading through the article, I underlined words that caught my eye. Then, I created a poem and title from my found words. Unfortunately, it was easier to type the words than scan the article. Enjoy! Talk About Dating First contact          Attitudes affect the messages Cut off from the real world          See the imbalance Healthy partners          Work together, no exclusions
Read more