Discover the joy of nature writing with a short course
- Written byCarys Thomas
- Published date 07 February 2024
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How can creative writing help us explore our relationship to the natural world? And how can we write about the urban, rural and wilder parts of the landscapes around us?
These are just some of the questions that students on our Introduction to Nature and Environmental Writing Online Short Course delve into.
This week we hear from short course student Annie McBay. Annie tells us how the course helped her reconnect with the environment.
Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Annie has been living in London on and off since 2018. While studying for her undergraduate degree in Canada, Annie became increasingly concerned about the climate crisis.
“I decided to pursue a career in the environmental sector and now work for a charity called The Orchard Project,” she tells us. “We plant urban orchards across the UK to bring greenspace, habitat, and fresh free food to our cities."
"We also plant orchards in schools and prisons and run courses to train people in the art of community orchard management," Annie explains.
Annie’s role in conservation involves supporting with communications for the charity, which inspired her to join our Introduction to Nature and Environmental Writing Online Short Course.
“Writing is arguably the most important tool I have as someone working in conservation,” she says, “as it helps me to connect with more people, share ideas, and hopefully inspire love and respect for nature in my readers.”
Writing and journalling
Annie has always enjoyed reading, writing and journalling. As a child, she kept journals and loved to write stories.
“During university, I studied the humanities and engaged in a lot of academic writing, which I enjoyed to an extent - but I've always enjoyed creative writing the most,” she says.
Annie’s interest in the natural world made nature writing the perfect fit for her. “When I’m not at my desk, I love being outdoors,” she says.
“Growing up in Canada, I spent a lot of time camping, hiking wild trails, swimming in lakes, and curled around a campfire. I also enjoy yoga, meditation, and Pilates.”
Nature writing
Students on our Introduction to Nature and Environmental Writing Online Short Course are encouraged to explore their own personal relationship to an environment near them.
With guidance from award-winning writer and tutor Joanna Pocock, students work through a series of practical exercises and discussions to build their understanding of nature writing as a genre. Read more about Joanna’s work in this interview with literary journal, Lunate.
During the course, students learn techniques to support their writing process by looking at the key elements of creative writing including point of view, characterisation and setting the scene.
Students do not need to have any specialist knowledge to participate, and by the end of the course, they should have a better understanding of their writing voice and a sense of how they might take their writing further.
Reflections
For Annie, the course provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on her place in the natural world and enjoy the green spaces, plants and wildlife in her local area.
“I really appreciated that Joanna encouraged us to observe and write about the pockets of nature in our cities,” she says, “because urban green spaces are often overlooked, but they provide so much: habitat, community space, food for humans and animals.”
“It was so interesting to hear everyone else’s work, and to see the variety of ways that we interpreted the same assignments,” says Annie. “The conversations we would have in class always left me feeling inspired and helped me to reconnect with my environment.”
“Every Thursday after class, I would go for a slow, mindful walk, taking time to observe the animals around me and notice the plants that blossomed in my local parks.”
Looking ahead
Annie found that the course inspired her to continue developing her creative writing skills and start a nature journal.
“Joanna's practical tips, like keeping a nature journal and closely observing my environment, helped me build a daily writing habit and discover topics that I wanted to explore,” she says.
“I took this course to improve my writing in my work,” Annie tells us, “and it has definitely helped in that regard. But I've gained so much from this course in my personal life, too.”
“I appreciate having a deadline to work towards, and this structure motivated me to produce more pieces than I have since university,” she says.
“Seeing the improvement in my writing during the 6-week course built my confidence and inspired me to continue investing time into this practice and cultivating my skill set,” says Annie.
“Most importantly, the act of engaging with my environment and being creative has brought me incredible joy.”
Are you interested in creative writing? Would you like to learn how to create compelling content and engage readers?
Our creative writing short courses are designed to help students develop their writing skills, build confidence and harness the imagination. We offer courses for all levels of experience, from beginner to intermediate. Start your creative journey today!
Check out our upcoming short courses to see what's coming up.
