TECH FOR WRITERS
Remote Learning
In the first of a two-parter, Alex Davis offers a how-to guide to running your own digital writing workshop
Alex Davis
Well, 2020 was certainly a long year, but for many of us writers one of its rare bright spots was the sudden growth in online writing activity. We saw a whole host of virtual performances, virtual readings, even entire writing conferences and conventions moving to a ‘virtual’ format. And for many people, a wide variety of online workshops also became available.
In the spring and summer, even I was a little dubious about the virtues of this new kind of writing workshop, but once I started to try my hand at them I found them really enjoyable, ultimately running more than one a week throughout the second half of 2020. While you may not get quite the same kind of audience interaction or participation, there are benefits – such as the fact you don’t need to leave home, the fact you can run or attend a session from anywhere with a truly global reach, the extra access it offers to people who many not typically be able to make ‘physical’, face-to-face workshops. I honestly expect the format to stay around for a good while after lockdown and remain a permanent feature for authors.
If you’re looking at this exciting new scene wondering how to get involved, this article could be for you. In this two-parter we’ll explore some of the platforms for online sessions, the admin requirements and the different approaches as a workshop leader that can help you make the most of this thoroughly modern medium.