Craft Talk with Catherine Schmitt

The most powerful descriptions of place are specific. But not every writer can travel the world or visit every location in their writing. Fortunately, there is a whole community of “citizen scientists” who every day are documenting the diversity of life in their neighborhoods. For scientists working around the world, including in Acadia National Park, these volunteer observations enable assessments of plant and animal populations, and how they are changing over time. But the data can be of great value to writers, too.

In this session, after a brief presentation, we’ll go outside and walk along campus paths and learn how to find out what plants are in flower, what birds are present, what kind of trees grow in a specific location at any given time, past or present. Writers of all genres who want to get to know—and better describe—the world around their characters are welcome.

Catherine Schmitt is the author of three books of nonfiction, including The President’s Salmon: Restoring the King of Fish and its Home Waters, and Historic Acadia National Park. She is a contributor to Northern Woodlands, Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors, and The Working Waterfront. Articles and essays also have appeared or are forthcoming in Cold Mountain Review, Hakai, Island Journal, Nautilus, Orion, Terrain, Three Nations Anthology, and Waterwheel Review. She has a background in ecology and environmental science, and holds a Stonecoast MFA in creative nonfiction. She spent many years communicatin science for the University of Maine Sea Grant program, and is now a science communication specialist with Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park. She lives in Penobscot Nation territory in Bangor, Maine.

The Nature of Setting