Questions for Quick Workshop

1. What are the essays about (i.e. Bowling, relationships)?

2. No, really. What are they actually about?

3. What's most compelling in these pieces and why?

3b. What's confusing to you? What do you need to hear more about in order to understand?

4. Is there a writerly persona shining through? What can we say we know about each writer from this piece alone? Don't just think about content. Yes, we know that Ben went bowling this weekend, but is there something in his language that tells us about him, too?

5. If these pieces needed to be extended, how would you suggest that the writers went about that? What kinds of memories could they include? Are there rich descriptions of people and places? To what extent do you want to know more about, for instance, Palmer Bowl or Daniel?

6. Do the writers ask themselves questions?

7. Does the writer assume that we know what's being talked about? How can we help them counteract that?

8. To what extent are scenes blending with commentary? Should there be more commentary about the scenes, or more scenes on which to comment?

9. Does the writer show us how he/she feels or merely tell us?

10. Who/what do you think of when you read these essays? Are you competitive like Ben? What are your thoughts about relationships? Do they coincide with Lindsey's? If you had to write an essay based on the topics introduced here, how would it begin?