Witness: Writing on a Changing Landscape, Environment, or Place
with Tamara Dean
February 21, 2026
Length: 1-Day Workshop
Open to AllVideo-Based
Original price was: $115.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.
Original price was: $115.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.Enroll Now
Writing can help us bear witness to places transformed by extreme weather, disaster, or development. It can reconcile us to change while strengthening our bond with the land and its inhabitants.
This workshop is for writers who feel tethered to a place in complicated ways—through love, grief, nostalgia, concern, or responsibility. We’ll treat place not as scenery, but as something living and responsive, shaped by human choices and natural forces alike. You don’t need a clear argument or polished idea to begin; curiosity is enough. What matters is your willingness to slow down, look closely, and let the writing follow what the place reveals.
During the session, I’ll guide you through crafting vivid, compelling depictions rooted in a place that matters to you. We’ll explore techniques for immersing readers in place-based experience and capturing the personal and ecological shifts unfolding within it. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a draft ready to evolve into a story, essay, poem, or longer work—one that speaks to the place that speaks to you.
Who This Course is For
Writers of all levels and genres are welcome. Together, we’ll foster a spirit of curiosity and generosity—no formal critique, just shared inspiration.
Learning and Writing Goals
Learning Goals
By the end of this workshop, you will have:
- Learned how writing about place has evolved from the Industrial Revolution to today.
- Recognized how and why place-based writing can affect the author and reader deeply.
- Discussed effective techniques for writing about the natural world as demonstrated by well-known writers such as Ada Limon, Barry Lopez, Roberta Hill, and others.
- Examined the personal and profound impact of environmental change through writing.
Writing Goals
- Practice different methods for generating prose or poetry drafts.
- Convey place-based experiences and emotions that resonate deeply.
- Depict a cherished landscape in vivid, compelling ways.
- Compose a draft for an essay, poem, story, or longer work.
- Outline a roadmap for developing your draft into a polished, publishable piece.
Zoom Schedule
We will meet on Zoom on February 21st from 2:00-5:00 PM Eastern.
Workshop Structure
This is a three-hour, single-day workshop that blends discussion, close reading, and guided writing. Writers will receive a short packet of five brief place-based pieces to read (optional) before the workshop begins.
During the workshop, we will:
- Introduce key ideas in place-based writing, from the Industrial Revolution to today.
- Discuss the assigned readings, focusing on what stands out and what techniques writers may want to emulate.
- Sketch a meaningful place quickly and informally, capturing its most salient features.
- Learn two generative techniques for writing about place.
- Write in multiple guided rounds using a sequence of place-based prompts.
- Pause to reflect on emerging material and identify areas for further exploration.
- Discuss revision strategies for developing place-based work beyond the draft stage.
- Share questions, challenges, discoveries, and next steps in a closing Q&A.
Throughout the workshop, writers will be encouraged, but not required, to share individual challenges, revelations, and resolutions revealed during the session as a way of supporting themselves and each other.
Original price was: $115.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.Enroll Now
Student Feedback for Tamara Dean:
Every course I’ve taken with Tamara Dean has been invaluable to my writing journey, and this one was no exception. I love the way she talks about writing! It’s both craft-centered and inspirational. “Do the work!” AND “This is why we do the work.” Jennifer Green
Each time I take a course with Tamara Dean, I’m taken by her ability to deliver on the offering of the class and then some. She speaks with authority and clarity and presents well-developed, directly applicable exercises and resource material. And her interest in participants’ growth is obvious. Holly Starley
It was an honor to spend time with such a committed and earnest group of writers. The discussions were great. Tamara Dean is fabulous. Well read, full of information, organized and encouraging. The best. Victoria Kohl
Tamara Dean’s Writing with Consistency and Courage workshop transformed my writing practice. Her approach is both compassionate and practical, providing the tools I needed to stay motivated and overcome self-doubt. Tamara created a supportive and inspiring environment where I felt empowered to take risks and push my boundaries as a writer. The strategies Tamara shared have become an essential part of my daily routine, and her genuine encouragement helped me find the courage to write more boldly. This workshop is a must for any writer looking to build a consistent writing habit and embrace their creative voice with confidence. Christina Strasbourg
Just like a flash piece, this class packed in everything I needed to learn in four weeks. Suzanne O’Brien
The class was encouraging. Tamara has a very professional, comforting, calm way about her. Her voice is amazing. 🙂 I most appreciated the tips on keeping the writing going, especially the ones she shared on the handout, and some of the metaphors/visualizations about writing that she and other participants shared. Molly Preston
This short course really helped me. I was stuck and feeling low, and the class gave me some useful strategies for getting unstuck. I’m feeling more positive and enthusiastic about my writing project now. I started working on it again. Anna Moncovich
I am sure what I learned in this workshop will continue to help improve my writing… it opened up so many new ideas for me. Valuable workshop. Outstanding, responsive instructor. Thanks again, writers.com for offering such engaging classes. Carol Schoder
This short course really helped me. I was stuck and feeling low, and the class gave me some useful strategies for getting unstuck. I’m feeling more positive and enthusiastic about my writing project now. I started working on it again. Anna Moncovich
Tamara was well organized and kept what was a fairly large class on task so that we completed all the planned assignments without feeling rushed or shortchanged. She had excellent suggestions for writing new materials as well as revising it, and offered several peripheral articles. Her handouts were all clear and welcome reminders of the material covered in the class time. Cari Ferraro
Tamara organized a phenomenal workshop. By discussing the topics during, then implementing their main points through practice during the sessions, as well as for homework between, I noticed an uptick in my writing. By looking at a project I’ve toggled for nearly two years and touching it from different angles per Tamara’s guidance, I had several breakthroughs. I credit Tamara and her workshop for this success. Liz W.
Inspiring, encouraging and challenging. Tamara’s classes create a space that gives you courage to explore deeply, elevate your work and write from the heart. Suzanne O.
In a caring and respectful way, Tamara provides an enjoyable deep dive into the craft of writing. Her workshops are clear enough to be useful for beginners and substantial and intelligent for seasoned writers. I had numerous revelations taking me to a deeper understanding of what I am trying to write. Ursula R.
It’s been said; When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. Tamara’s clear and concise writing advice was a godsend. Her ability to find and focus on a key factor that can change your essay from an everyday humdrum one to an extraordinary one is nothing short of a miracle. More so, is Tamara’s talent to encourage us to “Get it all down,” to keep writing despite the giddy-ups of spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Then, and only then, she’ll remind us, show us, and lead us..to go back rewrite, revise, and review until our masterpiece appears. Jane S.
February 21, 2026
Length: 1-Day Workshop
Open to AllVideo-Based
Original price was: $115.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.
Original price was: $115.00.$100.00Current price is: $100.00.Enroll Now
