My Number One Class Reco: Round Robin
This month I share my all-time favorite writing class, and how I use it to reset and prepare for a new season of writing.
I’ve had a creatively intense and productive spring. My storytelling muscles are aching in that satisfying way. I’ve just completed consecutive workshops (Writing Friendship and The Writer’s Hotel), written a new short story, and continue to revise my novel-in-progress. Plus, I’m in the homestretch of Application Season (applying for residencies, fellowships, and contests), and am anxiously awaiting those results. For a writer, this achey feeling can be the perfect excuse to put down the pen, become disconnected from characters and stories, and convince ourselves we’re actually not cut-out for this writing business. While I will take a little break, I’m going to do what I’ve done for the past five years when I’m experiencing story fatigue. I invite those of you who are new and emerging writers to join me!
Starting June 6th, I’m attending my all-time favorite writing class: Round Robin. It’s facilitated by Kathy Garlick and Allison Landa, and offered through the The Writing Salon. That’s the first place I took a creative writing class back in 2016. I’ve done Round Robin over a dozen times since then, and it’s helped me start and build momentum on many short stories and longer works, prevent writer’s block, and relieve strained writing muscles. Round Robin is conducted entirely by email—you don’t even have to Zoom. It takes about 30 minutes a day. The June session lasts three weeks, but other sessions go up to eight. The facilitators are friendly and accessible.
Here’s how it works, according to The Writing Salon:
Daily writing and partner exchanges are crucial to the foundation of the course. Each Sunday, participants receive writing prompts for the upcoming week. A sample prompt might be “apple” or “I haven’t forgotten.” Participants are expected to commit to the class for 20-30 minutes each day, with 10-12 of those minutes going toward their own writing and the other 10-20 minutes toward partner responses. New partners are assigned on a weekly basis.
To me, Round Robin feels like being on vacation where someone else manages the writing logistics. As Kathy says in her introductory email, “Round Robin works almost magically.” I return to this class because I consistently:
Develop new story ideas, or make progress on existing projects
Exercise close-reading and critique skills
Practice letting others see my imperfect work
Receive only positive feedback
Meet new writing friends
I’ve recommended The Writing Salon and Round Robin to many classmates over the years, and I’m always delighted when members of my writing community join the roster. I hope to see you in the next Round Robin, or a future session.
Find all my writing class recommendations for new and emerging writers, and what I’m up to this month, on my WriteGuide.
The scene of my brief writing break before diving back into story with Round Robin.
