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I've been workshopping every semester for the last two-plus years. And every time I get very nervous and anxious about it to the point I almost feel sick over it. I know workshopping is designed to help the writer, and a lot of the time it does. I even think it helps me in the long run. But sitting quiet while you're writing is torn apart is hard for me. It's not that I don't want the feedback. I appreciate it very much and have learned a lot from the other students. I don't know if I am just doubting myself or what. My writing has improved greatly over the past few years, but there are a bunch of really great writers in my class. I'm not trying to compare myself to them. It's just that knowing how good they are seems to add some weight to their comments for me. It's just that some of them are soooooo good. I guess you could say I am a little intimidated by how good my classmates are and what they will think of me after I hand in my next piece. Why do I still feel this way? I have been in so many workshops, but I just can't seem to ever calm my nerves about it.
I did an online workshop that was not through school and I was fine with that. Maybe a little anxious, but nothing close to how I feel about the classroom workshop. And I'm in a writing group outside of school where we less formally discuss each others work, but it's usually done over wine and cheese, and feels more like I'm hanging out with friends. Don't get me wrong. My writers group is full of all serious writers and the online workshop was challenging in a good way. But the classroom... It's just really hard for me. I've been working on this piece for a few weeks. It should be ready to workshop, and it probably is, but that won't stop me from slaving over it even more right up until I have to hand in. And then there is the week when everyone is reading it which is when the self doubt is probably the strongest. And then it's time. The workshop. When it's over (even if everyone hates my story), I feel fine again. I guess the good news is I will graduate.
Have any of you experienced high anxiety over workshop? Any tips on how to calm myself down?
I did an online workshop that was not through school and I was fine with that. Maybe a little anxious, but nothing close to how I feel about the classroom workshop. And I'm in a writing group outside of school where we less formally discuss each others work, but it's usually done over wine and cheese, and feels more like I'm hanging out with friends. Don't get me wrong. My writers group is full of all serious writers and the online workshop was challenging in a good way. But the classroom... It's just really hard for me. I've been working on this piece for a few weeks. It should be ready to workshop, and it probably is, but that won't stop me from slaving over it even more right up until I have to hand in. And then there is the week when everyone is reading it which is when the self doubt is probably the strongest. And then it's time. The workshop. When it's over (even if everyone hates my story), I feel fine again. I guess the good news is I will graduate.
Have any of you experienced high anxiety over workshop? Any tips on how to calm myself down?