Open Nonfiction Workshop · Writing (School Of The Arts)
As with other workshops, most of the learning occurred as we practiced our craft of writing and received feedback not only from the professor but our fellow classmates. I am always in awe of the caliber of writing my classmates possess and appreciated the feedback I received from them and our professor. My writing is stronger because of it.
I learned how to manage myself in a class taught by a creatively confining professor. I read material that had been included many times in prior classes, which are there are benefits too, but is disappointing. I practiced changing my style in order to respond to the one style that the professor was giving positive feedback to in order to protect my grade. This came after being told the style i was exploring and challenging myself, something I was wrong in figuring was welcome in a collegiate workshop, will not garner success and was unnecessary. However, this was actually quite beneficial because I learned that in reaction to a professor who is confining a class to one style of writing I have the ability to switch up my style. I learned that if this class is any indication of what "real world" writing is I will be going to business school as soon as possible.
I learned how to prepare critiques, talk about writing, read like a writer, improve my storytelling, and pitch to editors.
This workshop was an overall detriment to my education. Professor Yeh is an objectively poor instructor and his workshop only taught me how to produce creative work for a grade.
My writing, and ability to think about writing, improved significantly. 1 Columbia University: Arts & Sciences Fall 2021 Course: WRITUN3200_001_2021_3-ADVANCEDNONFICTIONWORKSHOP : WRITUN3200_001_2021_3 - ADVANCED NONFICTION WORKSHOP Instructor: James Yeh
how to push and challenge our ideas of writing and themes, high points etc. Really good feedback in class from students and professor that he facilitated from the beginning.
Take this class if you want real feedback from students and professor - this is not for the faint of heart and it can get very real, but that is what we are here for and I am a better writer afterwards.