coordinating workshops that guide writers through a project start to finish, also known as developmental workshops, is outrageously rewarding, while generative workshops are a great environment for sparking something new or bringing up ideas that writers didn’t even know they were having. occasionally, i get the chance to lead a retreat somewhere beautiful, and the combination of being somewhere new with other writers can honestly create fire on the page. that's incredibly exciting to be part of, as well.
the following testimonials come from the director of a library that hosted my workshops and a participant who later became a client:
Virginia Watkins held a number of intimate writing workshops at Scoville Memorial Library with a focus on memoir and fiction. The participants found her guidance and the format of the sessions to be both fun and effective, not an easy feat. Several of the people who attended spoke of how they were able to bring a project to life after many years and how fulfilling that was. Her style was also praised by those who had been in writing workshops before. Some even hired Virginia as an editor to continue their process. After each workshop, I was always asked if the Library would be repeating the program; I highly recommend her workshops. Claudia C.
I first met Virginia when she led a writing workshop hosted by my local library. She was warm and welcoming yet made it clear to the dozen attendees that we, aspiring writers, would be receiving criticism, as well as praise for our efforts, assuring us that the forum for critique would be honest and respectful. Her skilled and forthright manner, combined with her upbeat personality, convinced me that I wanted her to work with me to bring my long in the making manuscript to fruition. Pieter L.
