My approach to workshops is to first determine the creditials of the instructors. Thanks to you and Dean this thinking is automatic. Like the others here I filter everything I’m told and weigh it carefully to determine if it’s factual, and if it applies to me and my work.

As an example, we all recieve e-mails from well meaning friends warning us about X, the next big terrible thing being unleashed on us. I immediatley do an internet search to determine if it’s true. 9/10 times it’s false.

To me this means all information must be filtered to ensure its accuracy, and to satisify yourself that author is who they say they are.

Thanks for continuing with this. Very good stuff.

And the anonymous blogger? Are you kidding? I have a delete button! As Bugs Bunny would say, “What a maroon!”

First, the importance of vetting. I have a terrible BS-O-Meter. To counteract that, I ask advice of not just one but a wide variety of friends and experts. You know who you are, and thanks. I also do significant amounts of vetting (that’s the official term for doing the research and asking around to flush out the quacks pretending to be ducks).

Second, for those of you who are vetting any of the above mentioned teachers and authors — named, not anonymous — all are bona fide experts and you would do well to take these classes. Kristin Kathryn Rusch, Dean Wesley Smith, Kevin J. Anderson, David Farland/Dave Wolverton and Brandon Sanderson — write down these names and find a way to learn from all of them.

You guys rock.

Carolyn

Perhaps the complaining author was upset about the dollar figure attached to Superstars? Yah, it’s not chump change. It requires a serious investment. But with the impressive names on the roster of instructors, if I’d not already committed this year’s learning budget to an earlier workshop in Lincoln City, I very possibly would have tried for Superstars. If Kevin and Co. run Superstars again — especially with that lineup — I hope to attend some time. Because I am sure I’d get a lot out of it.