Nonfiction: Creating a Sense of Place

Designed for both experienced and beginning writers, this class focuses on evocative writing grounded in a strong sense of place and setting in both fiction and memoir. We will analyze the development of setting in the work of writers such as Annie Proulx, Mark Doty, and Reynolds Price, and discuss how they reflect the life and rhythms of their home regions. Then we will work on drafts of our own place descriptions about the worlds we come from, working off of photos—or maps, or any other keepsakes you wish to bring to the class—memories, and our own imaginations. By the end of the class, you’ll have developed a sharper sense of place, developed a vignette using the techniques discussed in class, and received feedback on your short work in progress. 

Part of GrubStreet's Elements of Craft series, dedicated to exploring craft issues on a deeper level. For more on this series' offerings, click here.