Creative Writing about Place

Last week I noticed a map called Blogging NW Indiana. It's a group map where writing students are submitting their pieces on Places and the instructor is giving critiques in the comments.

We've had people use Platial for storytelling and we've had people use Platial for teaching, but this is a really exciting combination of the two.

I wrote to Allison Schuette-Hoffman, who is teaching the class at Valparaiso University. She responded, "The class I'm teaching is Writing about Place. I've focused most of our readings on New Orleans so the students can see how various writers approach the same place, but their writing assignments will have them reflecting on their own experience of home, culture, geography, tradition, weather, etc. The map is an informal weekly writing assignment, and I'm hoping students will not only keep their writing muscles nimble but will gain a sense of this place that we live in."

The stories are wondefully varied. There's a little piece about running the shore of Lake Michigan. Another one talks about being the last person every night on the dune of Mount Baldy. One of my favorites is about a slow walk through a parking lot with a four-year-old. I also liked the one about sleep deprivation and missed car accidents.