Writing from Nature w/ Emma Zimmerman

In Portland, Maine, peer through a row of apartment buildings, and you’ll spot the piercing blue of Casco Bay. Travel north from the city and watch suburban neighborhoods shoot off towards Mackworth Island, with its rocky beaches and solitude. Here, urban scenes coexist with natural beauty.

In this workshop, we’ll explore the interconnectedness between people and place — the urban and the “wild” — through writing. We’ll read passages from North Woods by Daniel Mason and other environmental works. Each reading will be followed by a 15-minute writing prompt related to themes of human-nature interaction (positive and negative). We’ll ask the following questions: how have writers used “wild” settings to understand humanity throughout time and place? How can “wild” settings help us better understand ourselves?

Any writers, thinkers, or nature enthusiasts are welcome at this workshop. No prior experience with environmental writing necessary.

Sunday, June 14, at 11:00 AM, approximately 90 minutes. Free to the public.

PARKING, TRANSPORTATION & WAYFINDING

According to Portland Trails, "Canco Woods is a small but important green space amidst a densely developed neighborhood. This and other urban forests provide crucial habitat and travel corridors for birds and animals, absorb and filter stormwater, and provide an opportunity for people to access nature within City limits."

Accessible by: METRO Bus Route 2 or Route 9A/B

The writing group will meet at the trailhead off of Canco Road. Guests can park at the Portland Parks & Facilities Lot at 212 Canco Road. Portland ME.

ABOUT THE WRITER

Emma Zimmerman is an award-winning writer and journalist, based in Maine. Her essays have appeared in publications that include Huffpost, No Tokens, and PRISM, and her journalism has appeared in Outside, Runner’s World, The Boston Globe, and the Maine Monitor. Her literary nonfiction has received various awards, including a “notable nonfiction” selection in the Best American Essays anthology, and fellowships from Lighthouse Writers Workshop and Phillips Exeter Academy. Emma has a BA from Grinnell College and an MFA in creative nonfiction writing from NYU. She teaches at Central Maine Community College and the Electric Cottage Collective (in Brunswick). Her debut book, Body Songs: A Memoir of Long Covid, Chronic Illness, and Unconventional Recovery, is forthcoming from Penguin in January 2027.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS

This series is a partnership between The Trust for Public Land and Mechanics' Hall, with the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance.

The Trust for Public Land was founded in 1972 on the conviction that all people need access to nature and the outdoors, close to home, in the cities and communities where they live. TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they’re needed most, as a matter of health, equity, and justice.

Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance brings together Maine writers, editors, publishers, booksellers, and literary professionals at all stages of their careers to sharpen craft, create community, and celebrate great writing. They foster a greater awareness and readership of Maine writers; build networks of writers, readers, and publishers; create opportunities for writers to improve their craft; and act as the foremost authority on Maine literary news, keeping members and the public alike engaged and informed.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Mechanics' Hall was selected to be part of the NEA Big Read. From October 2025 to July 2026. We will work with community partners to present a wide range of public programs inspired by Daniel Mason’s novel North Woods.

Events are centered on the theme "On Nature" and will focus on nature, resilience, and human connection. These activities highlight how Maine’s history of conservation and public land stewardship shows how our physical environment can foster hope, courage, and a sense of belonging, encouraging meaningful dialogue about nature’s role in strengthening community bonds.

NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit

El proyecto NEA Big Read es una iniciativa del National Endowment for the Arts (el Fondo Nacional para las Artes de Estados Unidos) en cooperación con Arts Midwest.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Mechanics' Hall (Maine)