Workshop Questions - for the author and reader

Questions for the author:

Answer these questions in general:

• How do you make yourself want to write?
• How do you create authentic characters instead of generic ones?
• How do you keep readers reading?

Answer this specifically in regard to the workshop manuscript:

• What are you looking for feedback/help on?
• What story/message/etc are you trying to tell?
• What are you hoping the reader gets from your story?
• Who do you think your audience would be?

Questions for the reader:

Overall story experience:

• How does the title contribute to the story experience?
• Does the movement of the story feel organic?
• How does the transformation depict the 5 story elements?
• Is the story being told or revealed?
• How does the setting contribute to the overall experience?

Character:

• What do the characters in this story want?
• Does the story have life such as a transformation in the life of the character?
• What makes the characters relatable? If not relatable, how does that impact the story?
• Was there anything that seemed out of place/character?
• What does the character learn/change? If not, why not?

Plot

• Where does the story tension come from?
• Is story pacing intention? Effective?
• Consider the end. What about it satisfying? Is anything missing?
• Why does the story matter?