Please respond with one number — either 5, 4, 3, 2, or 1.
5 being “strongly agree,” and 1 being “strongly disagree.”

1.  I am satisfied with the workshop leader’s teaching skill. 5
2.  I am satisfied with this workshop leader’s communication skill. 5
3.  I learned a lot from this workshop leader. 5
4.  I would recommend this workshop to others. 5
5.  I would take an advanced version of this workshop. 5

1. What did you enjoy about the workshop? Please explain.

I enjoyed the give and take of the Chat, as well as learning about creating fiction. I thought as time went on we found much to appreciate about the places we’d been as Peace Corps Volunteers, and the opportunity to learn a bit about places far from where we’d been.It was exciting to see each new posting, whether it was perfect or not, we learned something.

2. How could the workshop be improved? Please explain.

I need more time for each assignment, but that’s due to my own horribly hectic schedule. It seemed that most people found time to write and re-write their pieces. Their pieces seemed quite worked over and thoughtfully-composed.

3. What were the reasons you signed up for this workshop?

I’ve always been a lover of fiction and nonfiction, and I hoped to learn the techniques of a discipline somewhat foreign to me, though I have done some nonfiction in the past, including essays on peace and justice.

4. Did this workshop provide information that was valuable to you? Please explain.

Yes, it did, and I’m eager to get going on my own story as soon as I return from Italy. I especially learned about dialogue, though I don’t do it well yet. I’m looking forward to learning about pacing—which totally escapes me in the nonfiction we’ve been doing.

5. How did this workshop compare with other training you have had?

I thought John and Marian were very attentive to us, and supportive to those of us who are beginners in fiction and non-fiction writing. I think that perhaps I do a little better in a live class than in a cyber class, but I might be making excuses!

6. Was the workshop a good value? How does it compare with the cost of other workshops you may have investigated?

It was a fair price and not overwhelming for those who are on a budget. As an example, I regularly take classes at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. Each class costs around 450 dollars for the class and another 400 for the lodging. The classes are everyday during the six days of each conference, and we have a three hour class each day.

7. Please write any comments you have about the teacher? His presentation format? His communication skills?

I thought the teacher was terrific, very patient, sometimes funny, yet letting us know where we needed to absorb a new skill.

8. Do you have any comments about the weekly written Lessons? Assignments? Writers’ interviews?

I like having the written version of the lessons as well as the preparation John gave us for the upcoming lesson. I did enjoy the interviews, and I think I’ll take a look at them before I go back to my own writing.

How was the timing of these?

Good, just when we were tired of our own mistakes and frustrations, we could look at the samples and see what they’d done that we could absorb.

9. What are your thoughts about the computer on-line aspect of this workshop?

Well, I’m a favorite of being in the live classroom where you can see your students and your teacher, and talk to them without cyberspace, but I got used to it as we went along.

About the effectiveness of the weekly forums and feedback system?

Feedback was fun for me. I liked having the chance to appreciate the feast of well-chosen words I found in my colleagues writing.

About the effectiveness of the weekly evening one-hour chats? The day of the week, the time of day? Please explain.

Again, I’m usually near dead at that time of night, but I tried to keep up, and some comments certainly managed to get into my head.

10. You participated in this workshop with other people. Was their feedback a benefit or not? Please explain.

Mostly, they were very helpful. It’s hard at first if you’re a novice to know how to respond to sophisticated suggestions that you’re not able to understand. Not much of that happened though—I thought most of the comments were helpful even though I couldn’t quite figure out all of them.

11. The leader provided feedback on your writing. Was this a benefit or not? Please explain.

I always looked for it, and found our leader to offer what I needed to hear. He’s clearly someone who knows his subject, practices his subject, and can explain how to write fiction.

12. Please write any other general comments you have about the workshop that will be helpful to us.

Fun and exciting and new!

13. May we publish on our website, Peace Corps Writers, your name and quotes from your comments about this workshop as a way to inform other RPCVs of the value of this course?

Yes, if you wish.

14. Please provide your name.

Margaret Szumowski