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Rough Draft Reading Lab

Rough Draft Reading Lab
Photo by Anton Formanek / Unsplash

Once a month, you'll have the chance of experiencing the sparkly magic of reading a rough draft out loud to a small community of fellow writers.

We share our work in progress without offering critical feedback to each other. It’s practice for being seen in draft stage and for paying attention to what calls out to us in our own words, without having our voice diluted by other people’s perception. This is not a dig against workshops with feedback. It’s just that I feel drawn to focus on creating space for our new, fresh words to breathe without being immediately snuffed out by another person’s interpretation.

In-person reading lab at the Unmentionables Writing Retreat in June 2025. All people who appear to be crying are actually recovering (or trying to recover) from laughing fits. We did cry a lot, too, though.

If you have a Glitter or Sparkler membership, you can head straight to claim one of the spots for the next lab here. If you currently have a free or Confetti membership, you can upgrade here.

FAQs - Unmentionables Monthly Reading Lab

I’m scared to read out loud. What do I do???

I get it. I won’t tell you it isn’t scary or that the fear is really just excitement. The fear of being seen and heard and known and maybe rejected for your words is not just “butterflies” or “stage fright.” It’s real. That’s exactly why it’s so magical to do it anyway.

I can’t take your fear away, but what I will do is care-bear, love-stare the shit out of you while you read. I’ve been a part of several “curated” group experiences, and understand that one asshole can ruin the whole thing. I take it seriously that you trust me enough with your bloody, little hearts and salty tears, so I try my very best to make this space asshole-repellent.

How long can my piece be?

  • Keep the word count to 800 words max, or about three minutes.

Does my piece need to be polished? No. Just the opposite!

  • Bring a rough draft. Especially when writing something deep, editing can be our way of pulling back because the exposure is uncomfortable. This can result in cutting out the best bits, the juicy parts that will get to your reader. I invite you to leave your writing raw and see how it lands on you when you read it out loud.

Are there any content restrictions?

  • When you're listening to others: There are no content restrictions or trigger warnings. We all participate, knowing that some content may be sensitive, troubling, or activating. Please take care of yourself, and feel free to modify or stop participating when you've reached your limit.
  • When you're reading: You are welcome to speak the truth, however painful. Please make sure that you can hold the heaviest parts of your story without implicitly or explicitly expecting the group to do more than what we're here to do, which is offer undivided attention.

Please do these two things when you read:

  • When it’s your turn, just start reading, don’t qualify your words, don’t provide context. We don't have time for explanations, and your words will stand on their own. If you do start to explain, I will gently interrupt you and ask you to read.
  • Read slower and louder than you think you should. Nerves often make us hurry or mumble or both. It's okay to pause and breathe and then keep going. We do always have time for that.

Please do these things when you listen/reflect:

  • Listen for what touches/moves/stirs you in other people's reading and don't question why, just go with it. We focus on
  • Take notes if you like or jot down specific phrases, concepts, words, images, or metaphors that strike you in some way.
  • You don't have to give reflections, but you are encouraged to do so. You can share them in the chat or verbally. Please keep it short and sweet.
  • When you share your reflections please don't use "I like/don't like" or "You should/shouldn't." This lab is not to tell other people how to write in their own voice. We're all the experts on our own writing. What we can do for each other though is pay attention and notice the parts of the writing where there's energy, tension, emotion, resistance, or insistence. You can try something like:
  • I found theses phrases/lines most interesting/emotionally charged/sticky:
  • I think the core/heart of this piece is...
  • The image/word/phrase/concept that sticks me with me is...
  • This phrase/word has a lot of energy and here is how it is affecting me.
  • The moment in the piece that made me resist/open up/feel moved the most was...
  • I'm noticing these recurring metaphors/images/concepts:
  • I'm noticing these structural elements and here's what I think they do for the piece:

Do I have to be on camera and/or stay the entire time?

  • Being on camera is not mandatory but highly encouraged. I would love for all of us to be in it together, and gifting our full attention and presence to everyone who is courageous enough to show up and read.
  • Feel free to eat, drink, or do whatever you need, though. There will be a pee break about halfway through (or whenever someone really has to pee…).

If you have a Glitter or Sparkler membership, you can head straight to claim one of the spots for the next lab here. If you currently have a free or Confetti membership, you can upgrade here.