Writing workshops are so cultish and weird. I have taken a few and they always creep me out. It was very mantra focused and vibes focused, rather than like… actually talking about how words create meaning. They never seem to actually want to demand any effort or provide any useful critical feedback. They feel like I’m in a kindergarten class. And the feedback I get is often… useless because it’s so bland and vague and complimentary rather than being thoughtful and critical or suggesting I try something different.

I ended up doing some research on the issue, and it turns out it’s because writing workshop programs in America were basically funded by the CIA in the 50s and 60s and this is why professional writers have these cult-like mentalities and mantras and it was basically a way to promote ‘american’ writing. The whole MFA program thing is incredibly weird and insular.

I wish I could find a writing workshop in USA that was run by a European author, I bet it would be a lot different. Also I am so sick of reading weird emo stories that these writing workshops all assign as examples of good writing.