Upcoming Workshops
Pay Attention. Be Astonished. Tell About It: A Nature Writing Workshop
Multiple locations and dates (see below)
In her poem "Sometimes," Mary Oliver offers the following "Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." What would it mean for us to live this way in a world characterized by digital distractions, cynical detachment, and artificial intelligence? What if, instead of endless doomscrolling, we allowed ourselves to fully focus on a flower, find wonder in a raindrop, and shout about the miracle of a mountain? Join author and Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani for an afternoon of practicing these principles as we craft nature-inspired poetry and prose. During this workshop, we’ll give ourselves permission to tune out the static and noise of the modern world and instead listen to what nature is telling us. Using established nature writers and poets as our guides, we’ll practice paying close attention, re-energize our astonishment muscles, and play with language to help us best convey our own delight in the world. Participants will come away with the starts of several pieces of writing and a range of prompts and writing exercise that can be used any time. Writers of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction with any level of experience are welcome.
Falmouth Public Library, Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2-4 p.m., Falmouth, Maine
Turner Public Library, Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1-4 p.m., Turner, Maine
Orono Public Library, *Rescheduled to Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1-4 p.m.,* Orono, Maine
Bethel Public Library, Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2-4 p.m., Bethel, Maine
Multiple locations and dates (see below)
In her poem "Sometimes," Mary Oliver offers the following "Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." What would it mean for us to live this way in a world characterized by digital distractions, cynical detachment, and artificial intelligence? What if, instead of endless doomscrolling, we allowed ourselves to fully focus on a flower, find wonder in a raindrop, and shout about the miracle of a mountain? Join author and Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani for an afternoon of practicing these principles as we craft nature-inspired poetry and prose. During this workshop, we’ll give ourselves permission to tune out the static and noise of the modern world and instead listen to what nature is telling us. Using established nature writers and poets as our guides, we’ll practice paying close attention, re-energize our astonishment muscles, and play with language to help us best convey our own delight in the world. Participants will come away with the starts of several pieces of writing and a range of prompts and writing exercise that can be used any time. Writers of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction with any level of experience are welcome.
Falmouth Public Library, Saturday, August 29, 2026, 2-4 p.m., Falmouth, Maine
Turner Public Library, Saturday, September 19, 2026, 1-4 p.m., Turner, Maine
Orono Public Library, *Rescheduled to Saturday, October 3, 2026, 1-4 p.m.,* Orono, Maine
Bethel Public Library, Saturday, October 10, 2026, 2-4 p.m., Bethel, Maine
Schedule a Workshop at Your Organization
A note on pricing: Listed price is my fee for the entire workshop. Organizations may set per-participant pricing as they see fit.
Free Workshops: As a Maine Master Naturalist, I provide a limited number of workshops per year on a volunteer basis to nonprofit organizations or schools around Maine. These slots fill up fast, so contact me early if you're interested in a free workshop.
Free Workshops: As a Maine Master Naturalist, I provide a limited number of workshops per year on a volunteer basis to nonprofit organizations or schools around Maine. These slots fill up fast, so contact me early if you're interested in a free workshop.
Nature Writing (in the classroom or in the field)
In this workshop participants hone their observation and inquiry skills, cultivate their curiosity, and engage in word play as they develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and translate that relationship into poetry or prose. Using established nature writers and poets as our guides, we'll practice paying close attention, reawaken our dormant senses of wonder, and play with language to convey our delight with the wild world. Participants will come away with the starts of several pieces of writing and a range of prompts and writing exercises that they can use again and again to write about nature and place. Writers of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction with any level of experience are welcome.
In this workshop participants hone their observation and inquiry skills, cultivate their curiosity, and engage in word play as they develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and translate that relationship into poetry or prose. Using established nature writers and poets as our guides, we'll practice paying close attention, reawaken our dormant senses of wonder, and play with language to convey our delight with the wild world. Participants will come away with the starts of several pieces of writing and a range of prompts and writing exercises that they can use again and again to write about nature and place. Writers of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction with any level of experience are welcome.
- 6-12 participants
- In the classroom or in the field (or a combination)
- 3 hours
- $300
Introduction to Nature Journaling
In this workshop I teach what a nature journal is, share examples, and guide participants through a range of drawing and writing exercises to sharpen their observation skills, pique their curiosity, and enhance their relationship with the natural world. Participants will learn to overcome fears of drawing and writing and come away with a strong foundation for beginning a regular nature journaling practice.
In this workshop I teach what a nature journal is, share examples, and guide participants through a range of drawing and writing exercises to sharpen their observation skills, pique their curiosity, and enhance their relationship with the natural world. Participants will learn to overcome fears of drawing and writing and come away with a strong foundation for beginning a regular nature journaling practice.
- Indoors, in the field, or a combination
- 6-12 participants
- 2 hours
- $200
Nature Journaling Field Trip
In these workshops we cover some basic journaling skills, then head out to focus on a specific aspect of the natural world, depending on organizers' interest and the season. Topic options include, but are not limited to: trees, birds, wildflowers, and story mapping. Participants will learn observation and drawing skills specific to the topic, learn to go deeper into observation and inquiry, and come away with the curiosity and skills for a sustained journaling practice.
In these workshops we cover some basic journaling skills, then head out to focus on a specific aspect of the natural world, depending on organizers' interest and the season. Topic options include, but are not limited to: trees, birds, wildflowers, and story mapping. Participants will learn observation and drawing skills specific to the topic, learn to go deeper into observation and inquiry, and come away with the curiosity and skills for a sustained journaling practice.
- 6-12 participants
- In the field
- 3 hours
- $300
Nature Journaling Retreat
This is an all-day nature journaling immersion experience that incorporates an introduction to nature journaling with a range of exercises designed to cultivate participants' curiosity and build their skills in observation, drawing, and writing. Participants will learn a range of journaling skills and practices, engage deeply with place, and come away with journal pages they will treasure as they move forward in their journaling practice.
This is an all-day nature journaling immersion experience that incorporates an introduction to nature journaling with a range of exercises designed to cultivate participants' curiosity and build their skills in observation, drawing, and writing. Participants will learn a range of journaling skills and practices, engage deeply with place, and come away with journal pages they will treasure as they move forward in their journaling practice.
- 6-12 participants
- In the field
- 6 hours
- $800 + $20/participant supply fee
Testimonials
"Thanks for such a great workshop. I feel inspired and much less intimidated about bird journaling and I also think the tips you taught will help my bird observations in general."
~ Nicole G.
"Thanks so much for giving of your time and generous spirit to lead us through a very fun and helpful romp in nature writing."
~ Kit P.
"Thank you so much for Sunday's workshop. You were so well organized and made it fun and informative for us. Jim and I took a long walk and saw deer scurrying through the woods, an eagle and hawk circling each other and a flock of little sandpipers along the shore. I found myself thinking how I might record all this in a sensory grid. See what you've done. Thank you so much."
~ Karen S.
"You gave us all a new perspective on observation and the real purpose of journaling. I loved the whole notion of using drawing to develop and enhance my relationship with what I observe...not to create a work of art."
~ Kathie M.
"Thanks so much for an informative and well organized seminar today. I learned a lot and enjoyed practicing. The part I liked best was breaking it down into basic shapes; it help me to think of the Bufflehead as an oval with a little box head!"
~ Cheryl R.
"I think your curriculum hits the spot. Multi-layered, progressive. Do it again the same way!"
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
"I really loved this course. It pushed me a bit more than the typical adult ed-type courses, and I liked that. I liked that each class was organized and focused on specific topics."
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
~ Nicole G.
"Thanks so much for giving of your time and generous spirit to lead us through a very fun and helpful romp in nature writing."
~ Kit P.
"Thank you so much for Sunday's workshop. You were so well organized and made it fun and informative for us. Jim and I took a long walk and saw deer scurrying through the woods, an eagle and hawk circling each other and a flock of little sandpipers along the shore. I found myself thinking how I might record all this in a sensory grid. See what you've done. Thank you so much."
~ Karen S.
"You gave us all a new perspective on observation and the real purpose of journaling. I loved the whole notion of using drawing to develop and enhance my relationship with what I observe...not to create a work of art."
~ Kathie M.
"Thanks so much for an informative and well organized seminar today. I learned a lot and enjoyed practicing. The part I liked best was breaking it down into basic shapes; it help me to think of the Bufflehead as an oval with a little box head!"
~ Cheryl R.
"I think your curriculum hits the spot. Multi-layered, progressive. Do it again the same way!"
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
"I really loved this course. It pushed me a bit more than the typical adult ed-type courses, and I liked that. I liked that each class was organized and focused on specific topics."
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
Credentials
Andrea Lani is the author and illustrator of Uphill Both Ways: Hiking toward Happiness on the Colorado Trail (Bison Books, 2022). An avid nature journaler for more than 25 years, she has degrees in Human Ecology and Creative Writing and is a Maine Master Naturalist. Her essays about the natural world have appeared in dozens of publications, and she wrote and illustrated the book Deer Tracks and Dragonflies: A Year at Viles Arboretum based on years of journaling her explorations of the arboretum.
Copyright © 2017 Andrea E. Lani. All rights reserved.