"Writers rarely agonize over genre, content, tone, structure, clarity, and correctness unless their writing has real personal significance: that is, when the consequences of having written actually matter to the writer." - Mem Fox in Radical Reflections: Passionate Opinions on Teaching, Learning, and Living
Format and Expectations
View the video by Terri Morris entitled "A Day in the Life of Our Writing Workshop" to learn about Focus Lessons, Writing, Conferencing, and Sharing Time, the core components of a workshop. Especially important during writing time, behavioral expectations known as "Workshop Ways" are in place to establish the right environment and maximize productivity; writers should use quiet voices, avoid (causing) distractions, and write - everybodywrites!
The Writer's Notebook
A key component of Writing Workshop, the Writer's Notebook serves as a writer's "play book" and "practice field"; your Writer's Notebook is a place to gather lots of ideas that appeal to you and participate in the writing process - the essential brainstorming, drafting, and revising involved in being a writer, and authoring polished, published pieces for purposes and people beyond yourself. Check out Ruth Ayres's movie about ways you can use your Writer's Notebook to gather ideas in your life.
