In the rush to uncover our characters' motives, sketch out the emotional arc of a story or simply write from one end of a poem to the other, the setting can sometimes receive short shrift. Setting, at its best, moves beyond mere backdrop to become a force for transformation within poetry and prose. From landscape to the particular circumstances surrounding our characters to the color of the wallpaper in a room where someone has just fallen in love, setting has the potential to shape narratives, put pressure on images and characters and to make our work hum with specific aliveness.

Satisfying to both read and write, setting merits the attention through guided exercises, discussion and an exploration of texts and images that use setting in compelling or innovative ways. All genres, including memoir and creative nonfiction writers, are welcome in this workshop.