Suzan-Lori Parks’s Watch Me Work: A Virtual Communal Writing Session

Each session follows a consistent structure. The first 20 minutes are devoted to individual creative work: everyone focuses privately on their own project. The remaining 40 minutes are a live conversation with Parks and fellow participants that centers on process — what people are trying, where they're stuck, and what might move a project forward.

Watch Me Work is explicitly not a critique workshop. Participants do not read work aloud for criticism, and Parks does not answer questions about her past plays or career. The session is designed to provide encouragement, motivation, and practical dialogue about process rather than editorial feedback. If you need dramaturgical notes or line-by-line critique, this format is not structured for that.

The session is aimed at anyone looking to nurture and sustain a creative practice: playwrights, dramatists, writers at any stage of a new project, or those who feel stuck. Because the session's focus is on momentum and process support, writers seeking accountability, quick problem-solving on a scene or idea, or a disciplined block of focused time will find it useful.

Sign up through the HowlRound event page to receive the Zoom link for interactive participation. If you prefer not to join via Zoom, you can watch the session on the HowlRound livestream without signing up.

Public postings list specific dates and time zones for each livestream. Example listings show sessions scheduled across U.S. time zones and European time zones, enabling global participation. Check the HowlRound event page for the next scheduled session and add it to your calendar using provided links (Add to Calendar, Google Calendar, iCal).

HowlRound TV is a free, open-access livestream and video archive project stewarded by nonprofit HowlRound. It focuses on expanding access to conversations and performances relevant to the performing arts and cultural fields. Producers can co-produce events with HowlRound to share work and resources across geographic boundaries.

Expect a quiet, disciplined start: 20 minutes of uninterrupted writing time. Expect a conversational second half where process questions are raised aloud or in the chat and Parks offers responses aimed at helping participants move forward. Expect an environment that prioritizes creative momentum over evaluation.

Why this format matters for writers

For many creatives, carving out uninterrupted time and receiving process-oriented feedback are the two things that most help maintain a project's forward motion. This format combines both: a protected block for doing the work and a guided conversation that can offer new angles, encouragement, or clarity on next steps without turning the session into a critique space.

Visit the HowlRound event page to sign up and get the Zoom link if you want interactive participation. If you prefer just to observe, tune into the live stream on the HowlRound page at the scheduled time.