Writing Activity by Paul Higbee
Places that Speak

It’s been said that two segments of our population often claim places speak to them: schizophrenics and writers.
In fact, schizophrenics and writers really aren’t that removed from the American mainstream, if we analyze the issue. Most of us have experienced physical places that figuratively speak to us, sometimes powerfully. In fact, sometimes separation from that place is a true life trauma.

In this exercise, write for five minutes about a place in your past that has spoken to you. Focus on description rather than the story of your connection or an analysis of why this place is significant; trust your readers enough so that you don’t have to explain everything. Describe not only the visual elements you remember, but sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations. In other words write for the five senses, but don’t make this a game where you have to hit all five. The goal is to get readers feeling like they know this place too—and why it speaks to you, even if they don’t yet know the full story of your connection.

If you share this piece with others, you’ll be surprised how much they may guess about your connection, just by what you’ve decided to describe, and how. Further, science tells us smell is the sense most associated with memory and, sure enough, smells are prominent for a lot of writers who tackle this exercise.