{"product_id":"writing-with-plants-animals-ecosystems-workshop-online","title":"Writing with Plants, Animals, and Ecosystems: A Generative 6-Week Zoom Writing Workshop with Miranda Schmidt Starts on Saturday, January 16th, 2027","description":"\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eBegins Saturday, January 16th, 2027\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Saturdays, 1:00PM–3:00 PM ET\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e🌍 \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClass Times by Time Zone: \u003c\/strong\u003eLos Angeles (PST): 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM \/ Chicago (CST): 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM \/ New York (EST): 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM \/ London (GMT): 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM \/ Berlin (CET): 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eAny questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstructor Bio\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eInstructor Miranda Schmidt is the author of the novel \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eLeafskin\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003e (Stillhouse Press, 2025) and the poetry chapbook \u003cem\u003eThe Cemetery Cure\u003c\/em\u003e, which just came out from Dancing Girl Press.\u003c\/span\u003e Their writing circles folklore, ecology, and queer magic and has appeared in \u003cem\u003eTriQuarterly, Orion, Electric Literature, Catapult,\u003c\/em\u003e and more. With an MFA from the University of Washington and a PhD from Bath Spa University, they have taught creative writing at Portland Community College, the University of Washington, the Loft, Portland's Literary Arts, and the Portland Book Festival. Their newsletter and teaching project, \u003cem\u003eWriting Toward Nature\u003c\/em\u003e, explores methods for bringing the more-than-human more deeply into our writing craft. Miranda lives in Portland, Oregon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMeet the Teaching Artist: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003ca rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Meet the Teaching Artist: Miranda Schmidt on Noticing, the Carrier Bag, and Writing with the More-Than-Human\" href=\"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/blogs\/news\/miranda-schmidt-writing-with-plants-animals-ecosystems\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMiranda Schmidt on Noticing, the Carrier Bag, and Writing with the More-Than-Human\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/blogs\/news\/writing-with-the-garden-miranda-schmidt-the-wild-iris\" title=\"Writing with the Garden: Louise Glück's The Wild Iris and an Exercise for Plant Writing\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWriting with the Garden: Louise Glück's The Wild Iris and an Exercise for Plant Writing\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho is this class for?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis course is for writers across all genres, forms, and experience levels who want to explore new techniques for bringing the more-than-human world — plants, animals, ecosystems — into their work. Whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, this all-levels writing workshop offers a welcoming space to generate new work and experiment with your practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat to expect:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eDo you write with your cat in your lap or your dog sitting next to you? Do you enjoy writing under trees or in gardens? Many of us write in partnership with the more-than-human beings that surround us, whether or not we fully realize it. And we're in good company. It's widely believed that the haunting work of the Brontës would not have been possible outside of the Yorkshire landscape that inspired them. Ursula K. Le Guin loved to write with her cats alongside her. Robin Wall Kimmerer writes with a deep awareness of her position within ecosystems. Ada Limón's work is influenced by her connections to trees.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this generative online writing class, we'll embrace the ways that plants, animals, and ecosystems influence our writing practices — considering how our work shifts and grows around these influences. Each week, we will discuss an area of focus and a few example texts before completing a writing exercise designed to generate new work, experiment with our practices, and seek inspiration from the more-than-human. Students will write six new pieces in response to weekly prompts and nature-based writing practices, exploring a rich variety of techniques for engaging with the living world in their craft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eThis course does not include formal critiques. Instead, the emphasis is on discovery, experimentation, and building a generative practice. Students will have opportunities to share their work during class sessions, but sharing is entirely optional. The course draws on readings by poets, novelists, and essayists working at the intersection of writing and the natural world, and all excerpts will be provided via web links or PDFs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat are the writing goals?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eIn this course, students will generate six new pieces of writing in response to weekly prompts and nature-based writing practices. Each session will include discussion of example texts alongside a focused writing exercise. There are no formal critiques; this course is structured around experimentation and generative work rather than manuscript feedback. Students will leave with a portfolio of new writing and a developed set of techniques for engaging with the more-than-human in their creative practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReadings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eReadings may include excerpts and selections from: Ursula K. Le Guin's \"The Lynx\" and excerpt from Book of Cats; Robin Wall Kimmerer's The Serviceberry; Ada Limón's introduction to You Are Here and select poems; poems and afterword from CA Conrad's Listen to the Golden Boomerang Return; poems from Louise Glück's Wild Iris; Ocean Vuong's On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous; poems from Camille T. Dungy's Trophic Cascade; and poems from Lucie Brock-Broido's Stay, Illusion. All excerpts will be provided through web links or PDFs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE OUTLINE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 1: Introductions — Considering and Deepening Our Writing Partnerships\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 2: Writing with the Garden\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 3: Writing with Pets\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 4: Writing with Animals\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 5: Writing with Trees\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003eWeek 6: Writing with Ecosystems\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCOURSE TAKEAWAYS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eGenerate six new pieces of writing in response to weekly prompts and nature-based writing practices\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eExplore a variety of techniques for writing about the more-than-human — plants, animals, and ecosystems\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eDiscover how nonhuman beings and environments can deepen and transform your writing practice\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eExperiment with generative approaches across genres, including poetry, fiction, and nonfiction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eRead and discuss work by writers who model rich, ecological ways of engaging with the natural world\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eLeave with new writing and a set of practices to continue developing your relationship with the more-than-human\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTESTIMONIALS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"It was exactly the fresh perspective I needed to get unstuck on a piece I've been trying to rework for publication. She kept the class on track and obviously has a great depth of knowledge.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-pre-wrap leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\"Quite knowledgeable and adept at making people feel comfortable and open to sharing. I left the workshop far more knowledgeable than when I entered. Explanations were clear and backed up by good examples. I would gladly do another workshop with Miranda.\" — Former Student\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePAYMENT OPTIONS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003eTuition is $445 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"[li_\u0026amp;]:mb-0 [li_\u0026amp;]:mt-1 [li_\u0026amp;]:gap-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ul]:pb-1 [\u0026amp;:not(:last-child)_ol]:pb-1 list-disc flex flex-col gap-1 pl-8 mb-3\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eInstructor: Miranda Schmidt\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eBegins Saturday, January 16th, 2027\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eClass will meet weekly via Zoom on Saturdays, 1:00PM–3:00 PM ET\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"whitespace-normal break-words pl-2\"\u003eTuition is $445 USD.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Writing Workshops Org","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48093410197752,"sku":null,"price":445.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0287\/3917\/4532\/files\/MirandaSchmidtHeadshot2026_5d04fb1b-6563-4fdd-8eb0-162fe9ca91c8.png?v=1780703609","url":"https:\/\/writingworkshops.com\/products\/writing-with-plants-animals-ecosystems-workshop-online","provider":"Writing Workshops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}