Witnessing Landscapes: Nature Writing Masterclass

Humans are often the only actors in a story, with place and landscapes little more than a stage upon which human activity is performed. Sally’s aim with this generative three-hour masterclass is to redress this.

Through targeted prompts, writing exercises, readings and discussions, participants will be encouraged to re-imagine their relationship with the natural world as she guides them in new ways to think and write about place and landscapes so that they become drivers of a story and not a passive or barely seen background presence.

Throughout the masterclass, participants will learn ways to create compelling metaphors, add layers of meaning to a story by the places their characters move through or inhabit, increase tension and drama, set mood, and direct character motivations and actions by the way they engage with the natural world.

The readings, prompts and writing exercises encourage participants to examine their connections to the natural world first through the senses (sight, sound, taste, smell or touch), then move beyond these to the emotional, physical, political and philosophical realm. As the masterclass progresses, participant’s perceptions of these connections shift from a sensorial experience to a felt experience, and culminates in imagining nature beyond the human.

This interactive masterclass is open to writers at all stages of their practice. All participants need bring with them to the session is a passion for the places that sustain them and a desire to write about them in new and meaningful ways.

Sally will be In Conversation for a talk about her new book People Like Us on Wednesday 21 October, 6pm. Bookings for this event can be made by calling the Library on 6333 6281.