Place Writing: prompts and poetry

based on a Jodie Hollander workshop I attended in June – plus some of my own ideas!

Firstly, get yourself in the poetry mood by reading some Jodie Hollander …. You can access her poetry at the Poetry Society and Bad Lilies.

Jodie’s workshop focussed on the significance of place in poetry, stating that “Place may be defined as a geographical location, an internal state, or perhaps a poetic meeting of the two”. Place is a crucial but often overlooked element of writing … it’s easy to focus on plot, or character but - nothing happens nowhere. Which is to say – everything happens somewhere. All of our experiences, our thoughts and feelings, are shaped by where they took place. 

You may want to write about the place you are sitting in, right now – or it may be a place from memory or imagination. Either way, it must be specific.

Begin with writing about the physical details. For five minutes, write about the sights, smells, sounds, tastes and textures.