Ask writers to submit writing samples before the workshop. Distribute the samples to the workshop attendees. Instruct everyone to review the writing samples before the workshop to save time. Students can wait until the workshop to read each others' work, but that takes a lot more time and leaves less space in your workshop for revisions.
Discuss setting. Each fictional story must have a rich, detailed setting or settings of several places in the story. Have students write out all the specifics of the places in the story. No matter how far students are in their fiction writing, exercises that identify different elements of a well-crafted story, such as a detailed setting, serve as references as they write and revise their stories.
Instruct students on the different types of point of view, including first, second and third person. Discuss the importance of an author's voice. Each writer should have a clear narrative style. Identify points in the writing with a strong voice and point out any weak areas.
Ask your students to write out a list of characters. Each character should have a name, age, clear back-story, and important role in the story. Have students write down all the details of their characters' lives and how they relate to each other so that they can reference this information when writing for consistency.
Teach your students about the different types of plots. Have them identify which type, or types, they use. Stories can use a combination of plot types. Plot timing is one of the most important aspects of fiction writing. How quickly events happen in the story affects how the reader feels when reading. Check that students begin their novels with a fast pace and then vary speeds throughout the novel. Slow points should be thoughtful.
Tell students to begin with an important event. Start with the birth of a character, a conflict, or an action that sets up the plot of the story. Resolve the conflict or finish the action by the end, such as the death of the character or finding a lost item. Provide any background information that explains how the conflict started in a short synopsis. Advise writers who have a long flashback scene to instead summarize the crucial information.
Review each student's work one by one. Let the class give their feedback on the elements of the story as the author takes notes. Add your own criticism last. Point out strong points, such as character development or timing, and point out weak points, such as poor dialogue or the need for a more exciting beginning.
Give students time for revisions and answer individual questions about how to improve. Perform another round of peer critique.