Overflowing with Gratitude

Place Writing 2023-2024

In this Substack we celebrate the art and craft of Place Writing. Do you want to be inspired? Join our band of readers and writers who love everything about place and home. Subscribe now and get fortnightly posts delivered to your in-box for free.

December has been a whirlwind for two reasons: first, I submitted my PhD thesis, which required my full attention for the preceding six weeks; and second, long distance travel arrangements meant that my family gathered early in readiness for Christmas, in mid-December. So, this festive month has been extra special, and busy!

I’m taking time now, in the lull between Christmas and the New Year, to relax a bit and reflect on the year, and express gratitude for good health and a loving family. My work-life balance is on the cusp of change now that I’ve submitted my thesis, but I have to wait until March before I can defend it in an oral examination so I’m not celebrating yet. From now on, though, my time is unfettered by deadlines and I can develop the work I started on this Substack. Taking this moment to be stationary, I am thankful for the ability to follow my interest to research and write, and this platform is a wonderful way to share my passion for Place Writing.

• Thank you for following me and commenting on Notes.

• Thank you for subscribing, and for adding your contribution to the conversations that spring up around my posts.

• And, special thanks to you who pay to subscribe, I’m most grateful for your support.

Reader engagement is just the best thing - many of you have commented on my posts and I love it when you make suggestions, share your experiences, and raise questions. I’m learning a lot from all of you, and you’ve kept me motivated throughout 2023. It seems appropriate, then, for me to share some of the nice things people have said during 2023. Here is a short round up of comments:

‘I am fascinated with place and the writers who write place well (Jan Morris, Lawrence Durrell, Patrick Leigh Fermor) and am so glad you are here to explain this craft. Thank you.’ Amy.

‘Hi Yasmin, beautiful writing as usual.’ Sam Dodd.

‘As a geologist retired from academia, I recall discussions about “place-based” learning. But your posts about “place writing” have been eye-opening and helpful.’ George Shurr.

‘I love this definition of "place writing" and guess I find myself in good company here. Changing the way I think about the place where my great-grandparents homesteaded through the eyes of the great-grandchildren whose Ojibway relatives lived there on Lake of the Woods on the US-Canada border.’ Jill Swenson.

‘I was so glad to see your post and believe whole-heartedly that we need markers: not mile-markers on a journey (a concept important to our go-for-it culture) but boundary markers for our place, whether that's landscape-literal or metaphorical.’ Susan Wittig Albert.

‘I’m drawn to all things ‘liminal’ in life and in my writing so I really appreciated your deep dive here Yasmin. (…) I’m just dipping my toes into place writing so very happy to have come across your Substack.’ Amanda Cooke.

‘Such an interesting piece Yasmin. I’ve been thinking a lot about liminal spaces and places in my own writing and you have given me much to think about.’ Laura Pashby.

‘You post some really interesting questions Yasmin!’ JLM Morton.

‘A truly fascinating piece! I enjoyed every word.’ Lizzie.

‘Didn’t know about the rigour of oral history, but it makes sense as you described it. I love to hear stories that people tell about themselves and their places too.’ Sabrina Simpson.

‘These are interesting thoughts on sound in landscape, Yasmin. I will take them with me as I travel to the Outer Hebrides this week.’ Sue Reed.

‘This is a really interesting idea, trying to represent sounds directly with phonetics, one I don’t think I’ve ever encountered in my reading before. (…) I remember thinking to myself I wish I could capture this in my substack but wasn’t sure I could so I didn’t try. Wish I’d come across this idea earlier!’ M E Rothwell.

‘I love what you say about place writing as a way of understanding how we/others live in a place rather than passing through it and after evaluating it, it is about bringing a new personal perspective.’ Lindsay Kaldor.

‘I learned so much from your piece. Thank you Yasmin.’ Sadia.

‘Look forward to reading more of your posts : )’ Rich Campbell.

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And now I want to thank subscribers who recommend Place Writing because this means of supporting my work is very much appreciated:

@VictoriaBennett, WildWomanLife : @RachelIfans, Cartes Postales : @JackMcNulty, VeganWeekly : @LucyFurlong, Setting Sundays : @CindyEastman, Silver Linings : @AlexJohnson, The Writing Hut : @ShellyDennison, Shelly’s Substack : @JonHarley, Sequel Country : @HappyLifeonWheels (Livany and Reed), Happy Life On Wheels : @JillSwenson, Memory, Time, History : @LivanySalles, Cafetería Mindfulness da Livy : @GaëlleGosselin, Gaëlle's Adventures on the Road : @BeeLilyjones, I live in the countryside now .

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So what are my plans for 2024?

My mission is to celebrate ‘the art and craft of Place Writing’ through this Substack. I’ll continue to develop my own thinking on the subject and share what I learn about the genre. There’ll be more posts, and more frequent posts, through 2024. And I’ll be adding a new series of posts on recommended books, with reviews and explanations as to why I consider these to be good examples of Place Writing.

Excitingly, I look forward to having extra time for my creative work and hope to produce some new writing through 2024. I’ve decided to share some of it via Substack but it will have to go behind the paywall as it might eventually find its way to being published externally. If you wish to come with me on my writing journey, and read some of my creative non-fiction place writing, please join my rather exceptional band of paying subscribers.

I’m Yasmin Chopin, host and author of Place Writing. Wishing you a very happy New Year!

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Credits & Links:

• Photos are my own. The two landscapes were taken at Grafham Water, Cambridgeshire, UK; this location features in my PhD thesis.

• If you’d like to know more about my Creative Writing PhD… read this.