Place can be both a launching point and a powerful force for stasis. Place is a shared language, a familiar system of signs, and a vibe you can’t shake, no matter how far you fling yourself. When we ground our work in a strong sense of place we perform a kind of magic, transporting readers in ways beyond imagined geography. In this class we’ll look at how sense of place functions in examples of contemporary fiction, creative nonfiction, and poems, including works grounded in Nashville and the South. Through guided exercises informed by these excerpts, we’ll explore place in terms of theme, metaphor, and concrete detail.