creative writing nature

12 Nature-Inspired Creative Writing Prompts

by Melissa Donovan | Jun 20, 2024 | Creative Writing Prompts | 16 comments

Nature inspires, and so do these creative writing prompts.

Today’s post includes a selection of prompts from my book, 1200 Creative Writing Prompts . Enjoy!

Creative writing prompts are excellent tools for writers who are feeling uninspired or who simply want to tackle a new writing challenge. Today’s creative writing prompts focus on nature.

For centuries, writers have been composing poems that celebrate nature, stories that explore it, and essays that analyze it.

Nature is a huge source of inspiration for all creative people. You can find it heavily featured in film, television, art, and music.

Creative Writing Prompts

You can use these creative writing prompts in any way you choose. Sketch a scene, write a poem, draft a story, or compose an essay. The purpose of these prompts is to inspire you, so take the images they bring to your mind and run with them. And have fun!

• A young girl and her mother walk to the edge of a field, kneel down in the grass, and plant a tree.
• The protagonist wakes up in a seemingly endless field of wildflowers in full bloom with no idea how he or she got there.
• Write a piece using the following image: a smashed flower on the sidewalk.
• A family of five from a large, urban city decides to spend their one-week vacation camping.
• An elderly couple traveling through the desert spend an evening stargazing and sharing memories of their lives.
• A woman is working in her garden when she discovers an unusual egg.
• Write a piece using the following image: a clearing deep in the woods where sunlight filters through the overhead lattice of tree leaves.
• Some people are hiking in the woods when they are suddenly surrounded by hundreds of butterflies.
• A person who lives in a metropolitan apartment connects with nature through the birds that come to the window.
• Write a piece using the following image: an owl soaring through the night sky.
• A well-to-do family from the city that has lost all their wealth except an old, run-down farmhouse in the country. They are forced to move into it and learn to live humbly.
• Two adolescents, a sister and brother, are visiting their relatives’ farm and witness a sow giving birth.

Again, you can use these creative writing prompts to write anything — poems, stories, songs, essays, blog posts, or just sit down and start freewriting.

16 Comments

lovely prompts… really simple line or two that just strikes up imagery and let you freestyle all over it. Nice one

Thanks, Rory!

thanks for the good ideas good short story for someone in grade 8

Thanks. I just read through your list of prompts and got flashes of either beginnings or endings for stories from every one. I’ve not seen prmopts like these much on the web, so well done. Such a simple idea with so much power and potential. If only I had the day off to get cracking!

I love to create and use writing prompts, and I’m glad you found these to be useful. Thanks!

Hello. Supernatural or magic realism is pretty much all I write. I’ve got a prompt. ‘A young teenager is walking home during a storm and ends up getting struck by lightning. The next day they wake up to find that the accident turned them into an inhuman being.’ I’ve heard of this type of scenario before and I thought it would make for a great story. I love creating my own ideas of course but writing prompts are just fun challenge myself with and see what I can create out of already given ideas. I really like the prompts you give. As I said they are enjoyable to mess around with.

Thanks for sharing your prompt, Kristen. I agree that prompts are fun and can be challenging. I’m glad you like these. Keep writing!

#7 Woodland Clearing

Winter trees screen blue and sunny skies, Intense but icy light the heat belies. Spikey, naked, dormant maids and men Wait for the earth to turn around again.

And bring the warmth that touches every thread Of bark and twigs and all that acted dead Until the full-blown leaves create a wall Shortening the view until late fall

When sun and clouds break through the limbs again And show clear-cut those lacey maids and men Black for a time against the coldest air While waiting for the Spring to deck them fair

With leaves that seem to turn the world to green Creating hidden meadows only seen By animals and birds and mist and rains. For ages before calendars and trains.

Humanity intrudes in such a place And fools themselves that they have found a space Where they belong beneath the patchy light To rip and tear and exercise their might.

For meadow edges have no need to stand Between the woods and grassy, open land Where bugs and bears and buntings feel the sun. ‘Till people think they do what must be done.

April 27, 2019

Hi Jennifa. Thanks for sharing your lovely poem here.

That is a stunningly good poem, Jennifa. Far more worthy than just an obscure comment thread here. I hope you found a home for it where more eyes will see it. If you are published anywhere, I’d love to find out.

Wow. These are truly amazing prompts! Just a few lines of inspiration and now my mind is filled with creativity. Please come up with more! <3

You’ll find plenty more in the Writing Prompts section of the Blog menu.

these are really helpful

Thanks, Flo! I’m glad you found them helpful.

What lovely prompts. I’m going to do some free writing and see what comes out. And maybe a poem or two.

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Describe Nature Creatively: A Guide to Captivating Descriptions

How to describe nature in creative writing – Welcome to the art of describing nature in creative writing! In this guide, we’ll dive into the techniques and strategies that will transform your nature descriptions from ordinary to extraordinary.

From capturing the sensory details to conveying the emotions evoked by nature, we’ll explore a range of approaches to help you create vivid and immersive nature scenes that will leave your readers spellbound.

Sensory Details

Nature’s beauty lies in its intricate tapestry of sensory experiences. To effectively describe nature in writing, it is essential to engage all five senses to create a vivid and immersive portrayal that transports the reader into the heart of the natural world.

Sensory details provide a tangible and visceral connection to the environment, allowing readers to experience nature through their imagination. By capturing the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the natural world, writers can evoke a profound sense of place and connection.

Visual descriptions are the most prominent and often the first sensory detail that comes to mind. When describing nature, focus on the colors, shapes, sizes, and textures of the surroundings. Use specific and evocative language that paints a clear picture in the reader’s mind.

• Instead of writing “there were many trees,” describe the “towering oaks with their gnarled trunks and emerald canopies.”
• Instead of saying “the water was blue,” describe the “azure waters that shimmered like a thousand diamonds under the sunlight.”

Sounds add depth and atmosphere to a natural setting. Describe the cacophony of birdsong, the gentle rustling of leaves in the wind, or the thunderous roar of a waterfall. Use onomatopoeia and sensory verbs to create a vivid auditory experience.

• Instead of writing “the birds were singing,” describe the “melodic chorus of birdsong that filled the air, a symphony of chirps, trills, and whistles.”
• Instead of saying “the wind blew,” describe the “wind that whispered through the trees, carrying the sweet scent of wildflowers.”

Smells evoke powerful memories and emotions. Describe the fragrant scent of blooming flowers, the earthy aroma of damp soil, or the salty tang of the ocean breeze. Use evocative language that transports the reader to the heart of the natural world.

• Instead of writing “the flowers smelled nice,” describe the “heady perfume of jasmine that permeated the air, a sweet and intoxicating fragrance.”
• Instead of saying “the forest smelled musty,” describe the “earthy scent of the forest floor, mingled with the fresh aroma of pine needles and the sweet decay of fallen leaves.”

While taste is less commonly associated with nature descriptions, it can add a unique and immersive element to your writing. Describe the tart sweetness of wild berries, the salty tang of seawater, or the earthy flavor of fresh herbs.

• Instead of writing “the berries were sweet,” describe the “sweet and juicy berries that burst in my mouth, releasing a burst of tart and tangy flavor.”
• Instead of saying “the water was salty,” describe the “salty tang of the seawater as it kissed my lips, leaving a lingering taste of the ocean.”

Textures provide a tactile dimension to your writing. Describe the rough bark of a tree, the smooth surface of a lake, or the velvety softness of a flower petal. Use descriptive language that evokes a physical sensation in the reader.

• Instead of writing “the bark was rough,” describe the “rough and gnarled bark of the ancient oak, its deep fissures and ridges creating a tactile tapestry.”
• Instead of saying “the water was smooth,” describe the “smooth and glassy surface of the lake, reflecting the sky like a perfect mirror.”

– Sensory Imagery

Engage the reader’s senses with specific and evocative language that appeals to sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Create a vivid sensory landscape that transports the reader into the heart of nature.

• The emerald leaves shimmered like a thousand tiny mirrors, reflecting the dappled sunlight.
• The wind whistled through the trees, a mournful symphony that stirred the soul.
• The soft moss beneath her feet yielded like a downy pillow.
• The pungent scent of wildflowers filled the air, a heady perfume that intoxicated the senses.
• The tangy sweetness of ripe berries burst between her teeth, a taste of summer’s bounty.

Personification: How To Describe Nature In Creative Writing

Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities to non-human things, such as animals, plants, or objects. It can make nature more relatable and create a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world.

Examples of Personification

Here are some examples of how personification can be used to create a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world:

• The wind whispered secrets to the trees.
• The sun smiled down on the earth.
• The river danced and sang its way to the sea.

These examples give nature human qualities, such as the ability to speak, smile, and dance. This makes nature more relatable and allows the reader to connect with it on a more personal level.

Table of Personification Types and Effects

Here is a table that summarizes the different types of personification and their effects on the reader:

Poem Using Personification

Here is a poem that uses personification to give a voice to a natural object, in this case, a tree:

I am a tree, and I have stood for centuries, My roots deep in the earth, my branches reaching for the skies. I have seen the seasons come and go, And I have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations. I am a silent observer, But I have a story to tell.

This poem gives the tree a human voice and allows it to share its story with the reader. This creates a deeper connection between the reader and the natural world.

Emotional Impact

Nature writing has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions, from awe and wonder to peace and tranquility. Language plays a crucial role in conveying these emotions to the reader, creating a specific mood or atmosphere that enhances the overall impact of the writing.

Figurative Language

Figurative language, such as metaphors and similes, can create powerful emotional connections between the reader and the natural world. Metaphors compare two seemingly unrelated things, while similes use the words “like” or “as” to make a comparison. Both techniques can bring nature to life, giving it human qualities and making it more relatable and emotionally resonant.

For example, the poet William Wordsworth uses a metaphor to describe the daffodils in his famous poem “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”:

“A host, of golden daffodils;/ Beside the lake, beneath the trees,/ Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.”

Here, Wordsworth compares the daffodils to a host of dancers, suggesting their joyful and carefree nature. The use of the word “fluttering” also evokes a sense of movement and energy, further enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.

Nature’s Perspective

Adopting the perspective of nature can infuse your writing with a profound sense of empathy and ecological consciousness. By giving nature a voice, you can convey its intrinsic value, resilience, and interconnectedness with humanity.

Imagine nature as a sentient being, possessing its own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Describe the landscape through its eyes, capturing the intricate details that often go unnoticed by humans. Explore the interconnectedness of all living organisms, highlighting the delicate balance that sustains the natural world.

Voice and Viewpoint

Craft a distinct voice for nature, using language that reflects its vastness, wisdom, and timelessness. Employ sensory imagery and personification to evoke a vivid and intimate connection between the reader and the natural world. Consider the unique perspective of each element of nature, from the towering mountains to the murmuring streams.

Example: “The ancient oak tree stood as a silent guardian, its gnarled roots anchoring it firmly in the earth. Its branches stretched out like welcoming arms, offering shelter to weary travelers and a sanctuary for woodland creatures.”

Fresh Insights and Deeper Understanding

Writing from nature’s perspective offers fresh insights into the human experience and our place within the natural world. By embodying nature, you can challenge anthropocentric viewpoints and foster a greater appreciation for the interdependence of all living beings.

Example: “The river flowed relentlessly, carrying with it the memories and secrets of countless journeys. Its waters whispered tales of distant lands and the lives that had touched its banks.”

Nature’s Rhythm and Movement

Nature is a dynamic entity, constantly moving and changing. To effectively capture this dynamism in writing, pay attention to the rhythms, patterns, and cycles that govern the natural world. Describe the ebb and flow of tides, the waxing and waning of the moon, the seasonal changes, and the life cycles of plants and animals.

Use descriptive language to convey the movement and flow of nature. For instance, instead of simply stating that the wind is blowing, describe how it rustles through the leaves or whips up the waves. Instead of saying that the river is flowing, describe how it meanders through the landscape or cascades over rocks.

Capturing Rhythmic Patterns, How to describe nature in creative writing

• Identify the cycles and patterns that occur in nature, such as the changing of seasons, the movement of the stars, or the ebb and flow of tides.
• Use language that conveys rhythm and repetition, such as alliteration, assonance, or onomatopoeia.
• Pay attention to the tempo and cadence of your writing to create a sense of movement and flow.

Conveying Dynamic Movement

• Use active verbs and strong action words to describe the movement of natural elements.
• Employ sensory details to create a vivid picture of the movement, such as the sound of wind whistling through trees or the feeling of water rushing over your skin.
• Consider using personification or擬人化 to give natural elements human qualities, such as the wind dancing or the river whispering.

Nature’s Scale and Immensity

When describing nature’s scale and immensity, the goal is to convey a sense of awe and wonder at its vastness and grandeur. This can be achieved through the use of language that emphasizes size, distance, and power.

One effective technique is to use words that evoke a sense of scale, such as “colossal,” “towering,” or “expansive.” These words help to create a mental image of the sheer size of natural features, such as mountains, oceans, or forests.

• The towering peaks of the Himalayas stretched up into the sky, their snow-capped summits lost in the clouds.
• The vast expanse of the ocean stretched out before us, as far as the eye could see.
• The ancient forest was a labyrinth of towering trees, their branches reaching up to the heavens.

Nature’s Interconnectedness

Nature is a vast and intricate web of life, where every element plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Describing this interconnectedness requires capturing the relationships between different species, the interdependence of natural processes, and the impact of human activities on the environment.

Symbiotic Relationships

Highlight the mutually beneficial relationships between species, such as pollination, seed dispersal, and nutrient cycling. Explain how these interactions contribute to the survival and well-being of both species involved.

• Describe the intricate relationship between bees and flowers, where bees collect nectar and pollen for food while aiding in the plant’s reproduction.
• Discuss the interdependence of birds and trees, where birds rely on trees for nesting and shelter, while trees benefit from the birds’ seed dispersal and insect control.

Food Webs and Trophic Levels

Explain the concept of food webs and trophic levels, illustrating how energy and nutrients flow through an ecosystem. Emphasize the interconnectedness of all organisms, from producers to consumers to decomposers.

• Describe the role of phytoplankton as primary producers in marine ecosystems, providing the foundation for the entire food web.
• Explain how the decline of one species, such as a keystone predator, can have cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, affecting multiple trophic levels.

Biogeochemical Cycles

Discuss the interconnectedness of natural processes, such as the water cycle, carbon cycle, and nitrogen cycle. Explain how these cycles regulate the Earth’s climate, provide essential nutrients, and support life.

• Describe the role of forests in the water cycle, capturing and releasing water vapor into the atmosphere.
• Explain how the carbon cycle links the atmosphere, oceans, and land, regulating the Earth’s temperature and providing the basis for fossil fuels.

Human Impact

Discuss the impact of human activities on the interconnectedness of nature. Explain how pollution, deforestation, and climate change can disrupt natural relationships and threaten the stability of ecosystems.

• Describe the effects of plastic pollution on marine life, entangling and harming animals.
• Explain how deforestation disrupts the water cycle and leads to soil erosion, affecting the entire ecosystem.

Sensory Overload and Immersion

Nature has the power to overwhelm our senses and immerse us in its vastness. To create a sense of sensory overload and immersion in nature using descriptive language, writers can employ the following techniques:

Sensory Overload

Sensory overload is a technique that involves using multiple sensory details to create an overwhelming and immersive experience. By engaging several senses simultaneously, writers can transport readers into the natural world and evoke a vivid and visceral response.For example, consider the following passage:

“The air was thick with the scent of pine needles, the sound of rushing water, and the feel of the wind on my skin. The sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a dappled light on the forest floor. I could taste the crisp autumn air on my tongue, and the crunch of leaves beneath my feet filled my ears.”

This passage uses a combination of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to create a sense of sensory overload, immersing the reader in the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures of the natural world.

Envelopment

Envelopment is a technique that describes the feeling of being fully surrounded by and enveloped in nature. By creating a sense of enclosure and immersion, writers can evoke a feeling of awe and wonder in readers.For example, consider the following passage:

“I felt like I was being swallowed up by the forest, the trees towering over me like ancient guardians. The canopy of leaves formed a dense roof above my head, blocking out the sunlight and creating a sense of intimacy and seclusion. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the only sound was the gentle rustling of the wind in the trees.”

This passage uses imagery and sensory details to create a sense of envelopment, making the reader feel as if they are surrounded by the forest and enveloped in its sights, sounds, and smells.

Awe-Inspiring

Awe-inspiring is a technique that conveys the overwhelming and awe-inspiring aspects of nature. By using language that evokes a sense of wonder and insignificance, writers can create a powerful emotional response in readers.For example, consider the following passage:

“The sheer size and majesty of the mountains filled me with a sense of wonder and insignificance. I stood at the base of the towering peaks, my head tilted back as I gazed up at their snow-capped summits. The clouds drifted past, casting shadows on the mountain slopes, and the wind howled through the passes, carrying with it the sound of distant thunder.”

This passage uses vivid imagery and sensory details to convey the awe-inspiring aspects of nature, creating a sense of wonder and insignificance in the reader.

Nature’s Symbolism and Meaning

Nature has the ability to evoke powerful emotions and associations, making it a rich source of symbolism in creative writing. Authors can use nature to convey deeper themes and meanings, exploring the human condition and the relationship between humanity and the natural world.

For example, a stormy sea might represent inner turmoil or emotional upheaval, while a blooming flower could symbolize hope or renewal. Nature can also be used to represent human qualities, such as strength, resilience, or fragility.

Nature as a Reflection of Human Emotion

• A gentle breeze can convey a sense of peace and tranquility.
• A raging storm can symbolize anger, passion, or chaos.
• A wilting flower can represent sadness, loss, or vulnerability.

Nature’s Healing and Restorative Powers

Nature possesses an inherent ability to heal and restore our minds and bodies. Spending time in natural environments has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function. In this section, we will explore how to effectively describe the restorative effects of nature on the human psyche, providing examples and insights to enhance your writing.

Natural Elements and Their Psychological Benefits

Various natural elements offer specific psychological benefits. Consider incorporating the following into your writing:

“Nature has a profound and healing effect on our well-being. It can reduce stress, improve mood, and boost cognitive function.” – Richard Louv, author of “Last Child in the Woods”

Nature’s Threats and Fragility

Nature, in its pristine beauty and intricate balance, faces myriad threats that jeopardize its well-being and the delicate equilibrium it sustains. Human activities, often driven by short-sightedness and unsustainable practices, pose significant risks to the natural world, leaving an imprint of destruction that threatens the very foundation of our planet’s ecosystems.

Industrialization, urbanization, and the proliferation of consumer goods have led to an alarming increase in pollution levels. Pollutants such as greenhouse gases, toxic chemicals, and plastic waste contaminate the air, water, and soil, disrupting ecosystems and endangering countless species. Air pollution, caused by vehicle emissions and industrial processes, contributes to respiratory illnesses and climate change.

Water pollution, resulting from industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and sewage discharge, contaminates water bodies, harming aquatic life and affecting human health.

Deforestation

The relentless destruction of forests, driven by logging, agriculture, and urban expansion, is a major threat to biodiversity and the global ecosystem. Forests play a crucial role in regulating the climate, providing habitats for countless species, and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people.

Deforestation disrupts the water cycle, exacerbates soil erosion, and contributes to climate change by releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Climate Change

Climate change, driven by human activities that release greenhouse gases, is one of the most pressing threats to nature. Rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and extreme weather events disrupt ecosystems, threaten species, and impact human societies. Coral reefs, essential for marine biodiversity, are particularly vulnerable to rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification.

Conservation and Protection

Recognizing the urgency of these threats, conservation efforts are vital to safeguard nature’s resilience and ensure its long-term survival. Protecting and restoring natural habitats, promoting sustainable practices, and reducing pollution are essential steps towards mitigating these threats. Individuals can contribute by adopting eco-friendly lifestyles, supporting conservation organizations, and advocating for policies that prioritize environmental protection.

Nature’s Resilience and Adaptability

Nature is not just beautiful; it’s also incredibly resilient and adaptable. It has the ability to withstand and overcome challenges, and even thrive in changing conditions.

Nature’s Adaptability

Nature has an amazing ability to adapt to its surroundings. For example, some plants have evolved to thrive in harsh conditions, such as deserts or mountains. Some animals have developed camouflage to help them hide from predators. And some organisms have even learned to live in extreme environments, such as the deep sea or the Arctic.

Nature’s Resilience

Nature is also incredibly resilient. It can withstand natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. It can also recover from human-caused damage, such as pollution and deforestation. Nature’s resilience is a testament to its strength and adaptability.

How to Describe Nature’s Resilience and Adaptability

When describing nature’s resilience and adaptability, use descriptive language and vivid imagery. Focus on the details that show how nature is able to withstand and overcome challenges. For example, you might describe the way a tree bends in the wind but does not break, or the way a flower blooms in the middle of a barren landscape.You can also use personification to give nature human qualities.

This can help to make nature seem more relatable and to emphasize its strength and resilience. For example, you might describe a river as “fighting” against its banks, or a mountain as “standing tall” in the face of adversity.Finally, don’t forget to evoke emotions in your writing.

Nature’s resilience and adaptability can inspire a sense of awe and wonder. By capturing these emotions in your writing, you can help your readers to appreciate the beauty and strength of the natural world.

Key Questions Answered

How do I choose the right sensory details to describe nature?

Focus on details that evoke a specific sense or emotion. Use vivid language and avoid generic or overused descriptions.

How can I use figurative language to enhance my nature descriptions?

Metaphors, similes, and personification can bring nature to life and create a lasting impression. Use them sparingly and effectively.

How do I convey the emotional impact of nature in my writing?

Use language that reflects the emotions you want to evoke. Consider the tone and mood you’re aiming for and use descriptive language that creates the desired atmosphere.

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Free Creative Writing Prompts #18: Nature

We need to slow down as a species. We will often spend hours and countless units of energy amping ourselves up to go a million miles an hour. We drive fast and we run fast. This kind of activity really does take a toll on the body and the mind, however, and it's starting to really show in our adult-onset illnesses. One way to avoid this fate? Get back to nature! Relax in the amazing natural locations that you can find probably less than a few minutes away from your sheltered technological world. A little meditation next to a stream and a bit of lounging by the ocean is nearly a necessity to make it healthily through your life. These free  creative writing prompts  on nature can truly help you keep that concept in mind while giving you a chance to draw from your past (and future) experiences to create some great writing. Enjoy!  Free Creative Writing Prompts: Nature

1. Describe the most intimate experience you've ever had with nature. Try to remember a time in which you were truly affected by the natural world and it became a major part of who you are. If that's never happened, make it up.

2. One day, all plant life and animals just plain started to talk to you. They talk to a few other people too, so it's not like you're crazy. What do they tell you and what do you do about it?

3. You wake up one day as a frog on a lily pad. What do you do and how do you get back to your human form? Is this a Disney fairy tale or a Grimm's fairy tale? :)

4. What is your personal plan to preserve nature in your community? Even if you only spend 5 minutes a day each week, what is it you plan to do with that time? Do you even want to preserve nature?

5. Talk about a big hike or nature trail walk that you've been on. If you never have, make it up. Who were you with, what did you bring, and why do you remember it so well?

6. If you had a choice of any natural landscape to live on the planet and money was not an issue, where would you live? What would your first year their be like?

7. What is your favorite season and why? What memories have occurred during that season for you? Go into extreme detail on what you like about that season and mention what it is you don't like about the other ones.

8. Your favorite natural area is about to be changed into a shopping mall (I know, the plot of like every movie). What do you do to stop it and how do you get the community on your side?

9. In a horror-movie type setting, nature fights back (and I'm not talking about the M. Night Shyamalan movie "The Happening"). You are stuck in the middle of a forest at night. How do you get out of this predicament and back into civilization?

10. For some reason, as if you were a Disney princess, animals of the forest begin to come out of nowhere to help you through your life. What do you do with this newfound power?  Be a part of nature while you're writing these prompts. Go out to a field or sit out on your porch and watch the rain come down. It's not a necessity, but you might as well get your natural relaxation in and complete some writing at the same exact time. Two birds with one tasty piece of bread :). Thank you for writing from these nature free creative writing prompts. Use the space below to complete any of them you wish!  Bonus Prompt  - You can grow the garden of your choice without money or time as a hindrance. What do you grow and why? How do you keep out the rabbits? :) 

Related Articles Free Creative Writing Prompts from the Heart, Part 1 Free Creative Writing Prompts #2: Love Creative Writing Exercises #2: Relaxation

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15 April 2024

How to Write Engaging Non-Fiction: Nature Writing

Nature writing is a type of non-fiction writing in which the beauty of the natural world is observed and described, often as a way of exploring human emotion and experience. The landscapes and natural habitats that are examined in nature writing vary hugely, as does the human emotion or journey that is often probed. As such, nature writing is a broad, dynamic, and fertile genre, full of many different kinds of books.

The varying styles of nature writing

Nature writers might choose to examine what the natural world means to them personally, reflecting on their own relationship with, and memories of a particular place, like an unknown and hidden beach in the South West of England.

They might take a more focused and factual approach examining individual flora and fauna and their importance, like the importance of bees and the role they play in balancing our ecosystem.

Nature writers might also analyse the social and cultural history of a place, and provide a commentary on and chart the change and decline of a landscape or habitat from an environmental point of view.

For books that focus on a particular landscape, there are no limits as to what types of landscapes deserve attention. Nature writing can be about cliffs, lakes, rivers, deserts, gardens, meadows, oceans, remote islands, and underwater worlds. It can be a study of the slices of nature within cities and urban spaces, whether focusing on parks or plants that we find cropping up in pavements.

Nature writing can focus on developments in agriculture, new farming techniques, the rearing of animals and the sowing of crops. It doesn’t have to be focused around locations and landscapes — it can be about the fauna and flora of a whole region, or just one animal, or even a single tree. But the two things that tend to unify all kinds of nature writing, are that the writing conveys a very clear sense of place and that the natural world is explored in terms of our relationship with it.

What attracts readers to nature writing?

Readers are attracted to this genre for different reasons and take away different learnings or feelings,  dictated by the particular focus of the book. For example, nature writing that focuses on how the author found a particular landscape healing in a difficult and dark time will offer readers guidance, reassurance, and solace in a time when they might need it most. A reader might feel comforted and seen by this kind of book.

Magical, nostalgic, and literary reflections on a particular place will help readers escape their reality and be transported to a far-flung location and wild places like a foreboding forest, a sweeping beach, a flowing stream, or an idyllic riverbank.

For nature writing that has a scientific or educational element, where an author is making the reader rethink the importance of a particular plant, ecosystem, or habitat, or where they are addressing the effects of the climate crisis on the environment, readers will be hoping to come away with new facts and insights about a particular topic that might serve their activism.

Focusing your work

It’s important when you’re embarking on a nature writing project to think carefully about exactly what kind of writing you’re aiming to create and what the reader who is drawn to this kind of book is seeking to learn from or feel when reading it. Does what you’ve written satisfy why the reader was attracted to the book?

The other important element to consider is what kind of writing best suits your subject focus. Given it is a genre that overlaps with other genres like memoir , science, and activism, the style of writing employed in nature writing is varied. It can take many different forms — poetry about the natural world, cultural history told through essays, literary prose about the personal relationship with the natural world, and factual guidebooks.

Make sure that the form of writing you choose fits with the content and aim of your book. 

Tips for nature writing

If you’re developing a book proposal on nature writing, there are a few things that you should keep in mind as you write: 

• Your writing should convey a very clear sense of place. 
• The natural world should be explored in terms of our relationship with it.
• You can write about any natural subject, from a single tree to a whole classification of flora or fauna, from a particular landscape to a whole country. 
• Nature writing can take many forms, from poetry and essays to memoirs and factual guides.
• Think about the reading experience — consider why the reader might be attracted to your book and make sure your writing offers them what they are looking for, whether that’s reassurance, support, escapism, a new perspective or facts and figures.

As a genre, nature writing is experiencing a resurgence, thanks in part to society’s fatigue with the digital world and to the comfort many have found in retreating to nature and quieter places. The great outdoors is an appealing balm that can heal us and help us relax, acting as a tonic to a stressful day. While we can’t always access beautiful landscapes, we can access the natural world through writing. 

Reading list

This list of popular nature books demonstrates the real breadth of the genre, from memoir to activism, and cultural history to more scientific approaches.

Entangled Life: How Fungi Makes Our World, Changes Our Minds and Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake

From redefining the boundaries of intelligent life forms to providing us with the building blocks of foodstuffs and medicines, Entangled Life demonstrates just how integral fungi are to sustained living on this planet.

Entangled Life is a mind-altering and surprising journey into a spectacular and neglected world. It shows that fungi provide a key to understanding both the planet on which we live, and life itself. This book is a remarkable work of modern science that truly changes the way we see the world. Every sentence offers up earth-shaking facts communicated in an excited tone.

Sheldrake shines a light on a totally unexplored topic with such accuracy and descriptive flair .

The Old Ways: A Journey On Foot by Robert MacFarlane

Robert MacFarlane is one of the most prolific and respected nature writers today. In The Old Ways , MacFarlane travels Britain’s ancient paths and discovers the secrets of Britain’s beautiful, underappreciated landscapes.

Following the tracks, holloways, drove-roads, and sea paths that form part of a vast ancient network of routes crisscrossing the British Isles and beyond, Macfarlane discovers a lost world – a landscape of the feet and the mind, of pilgrimage and ritual, of stories and ghosts; above all of the places and journeys which inspire and inhabit our imaginations.

MacFarlane is a master at totally immersing the reader in a particular place. To read this book is to be transported to different parts of the British Isles. One of the things that so many people love about this book is the impact it has had on the walks they previously thought uninteresting – MacFarlane forces the reader to rethink the landscapes they’ve become accustomed to and see the beauty in places they were previously blind to. Reading this book feels like an adventure and flight of discovery .

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer

As a botanist and a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Robin Wall Kimmerer brings together scientific understanding with history and tradition in a collection of moving essays on how plants give us gifts and lessons.

The central argument running through the essays in Braiding Sweetgrass is that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires us to embrace a reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. From asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass, Wall Kimmerer argues that only when we can hear the languages of these other living beings will we be capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learn to give our own gifts in return.

The book is a powerful vision of a new world of balance, reciprocity, and gratitude. Wall Kimmerer is an incredible storyteller who writes with real compassion and very poetic prose, which is what makes this collection of essays so special and unique. 

The Shepherd’s Life: A Tale of the Lake District by James Rebanks

Rebanks’ rural memoir is a rounded account of shepherding in the twenty-first century and a frank and engrossing dissection of a vanishing way of life .

In evocative and lucid prose, James Rebanks takes us through the year in the life of a  shepherd, offering a unique and candid account of a truly rural life and fundamental connection with the land that most of us have lost. Part cultural history of the Lake District and part personal memoir , Rebanks’ passion for his subject lights up every sentence.

At once lyrical and political, gentle and angry, The Shepherd’s Life is an amazing example of nature writing at its finest – a book that successfully draws on the author’s deeply personal relationship with the land, transports the reader into the landscape and rural life of the author, and offers poignant historical and political commentary on the natural world all at the same time. 

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald

H is for Hawk is a profound meditation on grief expressed through the author’s experience training a goshawk.

As a child, Helen Macdonald was determined to become a falconer, learning the arcane terminology and reading all the classic books. Years later, when her father died and she was struck deeply by grief, she became obsessed with the idea of training her own goshawk. The book is a moving and candid account of Macdonald’s struggle with grief as she tried to tame the hawk.

Macdonald writes beautifully on memory, nature, and nation, and how it might be possible to reconcile death with life and love. Her descriptive writing about nature is startlingly precise and her reflections on how taming an animal led to the untaming of herself are poignant. H is for Hawk is a fantastic example of distinguished writing about the relationship between humankind and the environment that evokes truly deep feelings in the reader. 

The Salt Path by Raynor Winn

Just days after Raynor learns that Moth, her husband of 32 years, is terminally ill, their home is taken away and they lose their livelihood. With nothing left and little time, they make the brave and impulsive decision to walk the 630 miles of the sea-swept South West Coast Path, from Somerset to Dorset, via Devon and Cornwall.

The Salt Path is an honest and life-affirming story of coming to terms with grief and the healing power of the natural world. It is a portrayal of home, and how it can be lost, rebuilt, and rediscovered in the most unexpected ways. And it makes the reader appreciate the comforts of a warm home and good health. Written with real tenderness and humanity, it is about two people finding themselves in nature.

If you’re interested in writing non-fiction and want to get your work in front of a publisher, visit our  free non-fiction book proposal course  written by Lydia Yadi, Senior Commission Editor for Non-Fiction at Penguin Random House.

Note: All purchase links in this post are affiliate links through BookShop.org, and Novlr may earn a small commission – every purchase supports independent bookstores.

Nature Writing Examples

by Lisa Hiton

From the essays of Henry David Thoreau, to the features in National Geographic , nature writing has bridged the gap between scientific articles about environmental issues and personal, poetic reflections on the natural world. This genre has grown since Walden to include nature poetry, ecopoetics, nature reporting, activism, fiction, and beyond. We now even have television shows and films that depict nature as the central figure. No matter the genre, nature writers have a shared awe and curiosity about the world around us—its trees, creatures, elements, storms, and responses to our human impact on it over time.

Whether you want to report on the weather, write poems from the point of view of flowers, or track your journey down a river in your hometown, your passion for nature can manifest in many different written forms. As the world turns and we transition between seasons, we can reflect on our home, planet Earth, with great dedication to description, awe, science, and image.

Journal Examples: Keeping Track of Your Tracks

One of the many lost arts of our modern time is that of journaling. While keeping a journal is a beneficial practice for all, it is especially crucial to nature writers. John A. Murray , author of Writing About Nature: A Creative Guide , begins his study of the nature writing practice with the importance of journaling:

Nature writers may rely on journals more consistently than novelists and poets because of the necessity of describing long-term processes of nature, such as seasonal or environmental changes, in great detail, and of carefully recording outdoor excursions for articles and essays[…] The important thing, it seems to me, is not whether you keep journals, but, rather, whether you have regular mechanisms—extended letters, telephone calls to friends, visits with confidants, daily meditation, free-writing exercises—that enable you to comprehensively process events as they occur. But let us focus in this section on journals, which provide one of the most common means of chronicling and interpreting personal history. The words journal and journey share an identical root and common history. Both came into the English language as a result of the Norman Victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. For the next three hundred years, French was the chief language of government, religion, and learning in England. The French word journie, which meant a day’s work or a day’s travel, was one of the many words that became incorporated into English at the time[…]The journal offers the writer a moment of rest in that journey, a sort of roadside inn along the highway. Here intellect and imagination are alone with the blank page and composition can proceed with an honesty and informality often precluded in more public forms of expression. As a result, several important benefits can accrue: First, by writing with unscrutinized candor and directness on a particular subject, a person can often find ways to write more effectively on the same theme elsewhere. Second, the journal, as a sort of unflinching mirror, can remind the author of the importance of eliminating self-deception and half-truths in thought and writing. Third, the journal can serve as a brainstorming mechanism to explore new topics, modes of thought, or types of writing that otherwise would remain undiscovered or unexamined. Fourth, the journal can provide a means for effecting a catharsis on subjects too personal for publication even among friends and family. (Murray, 1-2)

A dedicated practice of documenting your day, observing what is around you, and creating your own field guide of the world as you encounter it will help strengthen your ability to translate it all to others and help us as a culture learn how to interpret what is happening around us.

Writing About Nature: A Creative Guide by John A. Murray : Murray’s book on nature writing offers hopeful writers a look at how nature writers keeps journals, write essays, incorporate figurative language, use description, revise, research, and more.

Botanical Shakespeare: An Illustrated Compendium of All the Flowers, Fruits, Herbs, Trees, Seeds, and Grasses Cited by the World’s Greatest Playwright by Gerit Quealy and Sumie Hasegawa Collins: Helen Mirren’s foreword to the book describes it as “the marriage of Shakespeare’s words about plants and the plants themselves.” This project combines the language of Shakespeare with the details of the botanicals found throughout his works—Quealy and Hasegawa bring us a literary garden ripe with flora and fauna puns and intellectual snark.

• What new vision of Shakespeare is provided by approaching his works through the lens of nature writing and botanicals?
• Latin and Greek terms and roots continue to be very important in the world of botanicals. What do you learn from that etymology throughout the book? How does it impact symbolism in Shakespeare’s works?
• Annotate the book using different colored highlighters. Seek out description in one color, interpretation in another, and you might even look for literary echoes using a third. How do these threads braid together?

The Living Mountain: A Celebration of the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland by Nan Shepherd : The Living Mountain is Shepherd’s account of exploring the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. Part of Britain’s Arctic, Shepherd encounters ravenous storms, clear views of the aurora borealis, and deep snows during the summer. She spent hundreds of days exploring the mountains by foot.

• These pages were written during the last years of WWII and its aftermath. How does that backdrop inform Shepherd’s interpretation of the landscape?
• The book is separated into twelve chapters, each dedicated to a specific part of life in the Cairngorms. How do these divisions guide the writing? Is she able to keep these elements separate from each other? In writing? In experiencing the land?
• Many parts of the landscape Shepherd observes would be expected in nature writing—mountains, weather, elements, animals, etc. How does Shepherd use language and tone to write about these things without using stock phrasing or clichéd interpretations?

Birds Art Life: A Year of Observation by Kyo Maclear : Even memoir can be delivered through nature writing as we see in Kyo Maclear’s poetic book, Birds Art Life . The book is an account of a year in her life after her father has passed away. And just as Murray and Thoreau would advise, journaling those days and the symbols in them led to a whole book—one that delicately and profoundly weaves together the nature of life—of living after death—and how art can collide with that nature to get us through the hours.

• How does time pass throughout the book? What techniques does Maclear employ to move the reader in and out of time?
• How does grief lead Maclear into art? Philosophy? Nature? Objects?
• The book is divided into the months of the year. Why does Maclear divide the book this way?
• What do you make of the subtitles?

Is time natural? Describe the relationship between humans and time in nature.

So dear writers, take to these pages and take to the trails in nature around you. Journal your way through your days. Use all of your senses to take a journey in nature. Then, journal to make a memory of your time in the world. And give it all away to the rest of us, in words.

Lisa Hiton is an editorial associate at Write the World . She writes two series on our blog: The Write Place where she comments on life as a writer, and Reading like a Writer where she recommends books about writing in different genres. She’s also the interviews editor of Cosmonauts Avenue and the poetry editor of the Adroit Journal .

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12 Nature-Inspired Creative Writing Prompts

Today’s post includes a selection of prompts from my book, 1200 Creative Writing Prompts . Enjoy!

Creative writing prompts are excellent tools for writers who are feeling uninspired or who simply want to tackle a new writing challenge. Today’s creative writing prompts focus on nature.

For centuries, writers have been composing poems that celebrate nature, stories that explore it, and essays that analyze it.

Nature is a huge source of inspiration for all creative people. You can find it heavily featured in film, television, art, and music.

Creative Writing Prompts

You can use these creative writing prompts in any way you choose. Sketch a scene, write a poem, draft a story, or compose an essay. The purpose of these prompts is to inspire you, so take the images they bring to your mind and run with them. And have fun!

• A young girl and her mother walk to the edge of a field, kneel down in the grass, and plant a tree.
• The protagonist wakes up in a seemingly endless field of wildflowers in full bloom with no idea how he or she got there.
• Write a piece using the following image: a smashed flower on the sidewalk.
• A family of five from a large, urban city decides to spend their one-week vacation camping.
• An elderly couple traveling through the desert spend an evening stargazing and sharing memories of their lives.
• A woman is working in her garden when she discovers an unusual egg.
• Write a piece using the following image: a clearing deep in the woods where sunlight filters through the overhead lattice of tree leaves.
• Some people are hiking in the woods when they are suddenly surrounded by hundreds of butterflies.
• A person who lives in a metropolitan apartment connects with nature through the birds that come to the window.
• Write a piece using the following image: an owl soaring through the night sky.
• A well-to-do family from the city that has lost all their wealth except an old, run-down farmhouse in the country. They are forced to move into it and learn to live humbly.
• Two adolescents, a sister and brother, are visiting their relatives’ farm and witness a sow giving birth.

Again, you can use these creative writing prompts to write anything at — poems, stories, songs, essays, blog posts, or just sit down and start freewriting.

By Melissa Donovan Source: writingforward.com

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Nature writing prompts to spark creativity and connection

A keepsake journal for writing down experiences in nature (Photo by Wendy Ho/NCC staff)

December 21, 2023 | by Wendy Ho

Connecting with nature can come in many forms. For some, it may be taking a walk and listening to the rustling of leaves, or the crunching of snow underfoot. For others, a creative outlet like art, music and rhythmic movement allows them to experience nature more closely.

I like to reflect on how I’ve nurtured my connection with nature through writing. Often, nature happens right under my nose and writing in a journal allows me to savour the moment and find delight every time I reread my work.

Whether it’s encountering a teeny spider on the windowsill or stumbling upon a bee dozing inside a squash’s flower, there is nature’s magic and awe to be found. And the more I think about how and why a moment in nature was meaningful and endearing, the more descriptive my written account is.

Roots of an old American beech tree at Clear Creek Forest (Photo by NCC)

If you’d like to flex your writing muscles and relive your nature experiences in new ways, here are 10   writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing. See how far you get in 10 minutes on any one prompt. Perhaps even consider making this a regular habit as your one-on-one time with nature.

Connecting with nature in a multitude of ways can inspire all of us to act with intention and make a positive impact on nature at every turn we take.

• Write a eulogy for a majestic tree that stood for decades.
• Compose the first communication transmitted back to Earth after a successful human expedition to another planet.
• Finish this sentence: The scent of freshly bloomed flowers reminds me of...
• A forest sprite grants you three tiny wishes to interact with nature's wonders. What are they, and how do you use them to connect with the environment around you?
• An undercover botanist is about to study your local flora and fauna. Write instructions on how to observe and protect the delicate balance of nature.
• Write your life story in five sentences, emphasizing your profound connection with the wilderness and how it has shaped your outlook on life and personal growth.
• Complete this sentence: "I really ought to spend more time exploring …."
• Find a photo of a serene landscape and write about the sounds of nature, the scent of the air and the unseen wildlife that might inhabit the area beyond the frame.
• Pick a place in North America that you've never been to and describe your yearning to move there and immerse yourself in its beautiful landscapes.
• If you were given one extra hour today and you weren't allowed to use it for anything you'd normally do (e.g., eat, sleep, scroll on your phone, watch TV etc.), how would you spend that hour connecting with nature?

Posted in: Time for nature

About the Author

Wendy Ho is Nature Conservancy of Canada's digital content manager.

Read more about Wendy Ho .

More by this author »

Nature Journal Ideas | How to Start + 15 Journaling Prompts

Do you enjoy spending quality time in nature? Or maybe you’d like to spend more time there?

A nature journal offers the perfect conduit to record, reflect on, and enhance your experiences in nature. And with an entire post dedicated to nature journal ideas, you’re guaranteed to create a nature journal you love !

What is Nature Journaling?

Nature journaling is a fun, engaging practice that helps you connect with the natural world.

By focusing on observation, writing, and drawing, you can deepen your appreciation and understanding of nature. Through this practice, you’ll be able to experience the awe and wonder that your natural surroundings have to offer.

As you start your nature journaling journey, you’ll want to focus on filling the blank pages of your journal with the details that catch your attention. This can be anything from the patterns on a leaf to the behavior of birds in your backyard .

By paying attention to these small details, you’ll improve your observation skills and learn more about the intricacies of the natural world.

Writing is an important aspect of nature journaling, as it allows you to record your thoughts, feelings, and observations. This can be done through descriptive paragraphs, poetry, or simply jotting down notes.

By committing your observations to paper, you’ll be able to better understand and appreciate the natural world around you.

Adding nature drawings to your journal can also help you create an engaging, visual representation of the scenes you’ve observed.

Don’t worry if you’re not an artist – the purpose of these drawings is to enhance your understanding and connection to nature, rather than to create a masterpiece. Sketching can provide additional context and allow you to recall the details of your experiences more vividly.

By combining the elements of observation, writing, and drawing, nature journaling becomes a powerful tool for learning and personal growth. Embrace this practice with a friendly and open attitude, and you’ll be amazed at how much closer you’ll feel to the natural world.

Why Keep a Nature Journal?

Nature journaling offers numerous benefits for both your mental and emotional well-being.

By keeping a nature journal, you’re giving yourself the opportunity for personal reflection and self-discovery. This process can aid in developing a deeper connection with nature and a greater appreciation for the world around you.

A nature journal encourages you to spend time outdoors, observing and documenting your surroundings.

This can be a creative way to unwind and practice mindfulness, as well as a chance to explore new outdoor adventures. As you venture out, you may discover unique spots in your local area or be inspired to travel to new destinations in search of natural wonders.

Developing your knowledge of nature is another reason to keep a journal.

By researching and noting down flora, fauna, and other elements of the natural world, you’ll inevitably broaden your understanding. This can lead to a heightened sense of curiosity and wonder, enriching your outdoor experiences even further.

Nature journaling also acts as a source of inspiration for your creative pursuits.

As you develop your observation skills and attentiveness to details, you’ll naturally become more inspired to express your thoughts, emotions, and experiences through various art forms, whether writing, drawing, painting, or photography. Your nature notebook can become a platform to showcase your unique interpretation of the world around you.

In summary, maintaining a nature journal allows for personal reflection, deepens your connection with nature, fosters creativity, and expands your knowledge. So go out, explore the great outdoors, and let the following nature journal ideas be trusty companions on your adventures.

Getting Started with Nature Journaling

Deciding on a nature journal.

Embarking on your nature journaling journey begins with choosing a dedicated nature journal. This simple decision can greatly help you stay focused on your nature observations over time.

You have a variety of journal formats at your disposal; for example, you may want to experiment with  physical journals  or even digital platforms . Remember, you can always switch it up later on if your preferences change.

Choosing Your Materials

Now that you’ve picked a format for your nature notebook, it’s time to gather the necessary materials and tools.

Start with the basics – a pen or pencil. As you become more comfortable with nature journaling, you can expand your toolkit to include colored pencils , fine-tip pens , and even watercolor paints to capture the full essence of the environment.

When it comes to selecting the best materials and tools for your nature journaling process, remember that you don’t need to spend a fortune or acquire anything too complicated. A simple journal and writing utensil will do the trick, and you can always add more supplies later on if desired.

In summary, getting started with nature journaling is a fun and accessible process. Don’t be afraid to let your creativity flow as you capture the beauty and wonder of nature.

How to Journal in Nature

Writing in nature.

Finding inspiration in nature can greatly enhance your writing skills. When you surround yourself with the beauty of the natural world, you can tap into your creativity and explore descriptive writing.

Start by finding a comfortable spot outdoors, whether it’s beneath a tree or near a body of water.

Take a moment to observe your surroundings – the sights, sounds, and scents. Think about how you can describe these elements using descriptive language.

Now, start writing in your nature journal, capturing the essence of your surroundings, such as the rustling of leaves, the colors of the flowers, or the birds singing in the tree above you.

Remember, there’s no wrong way to express yourself in your journal. The more you practice, the better your writing will become.

Drawing in Nature

In addition to writing, drawing and sketching can offer creative ways to document your experiences in nature.

If you’re new to drawing, don’t worry – it’s all about practice and finding your unique style. Begin by selecting a subject that intrigues you, such as a nearby plant or an interesting rock formation.

Start with simple pencil sketches to familiarize yourself with the shapes and textures of your subject. As your confidence in your drawing abilities grows, you can begin to experiment with different mediums, such as colored pencils , pastels , or even watercolors .

It’s helpful to have a dedicated nature journal specifically for your drawings, where you can capture the beauty of the landscapes, plants, and animals you encounter.

Consider focusing on the details that make each subject unique, whether it’s the pattern of a leaf’s veins or the shimmer of sunlight on water. Embrace your creative side and remember to enjoy the process of connecting with nature through your art.

Nature Journal Ideas: Journaling Prompts and Ideas

Nature observation prompts.

If you want to connect with nature and improve your observational skills, try out these nature observation prompts:

• Season’s beauty:  Take a moment to observe the various changes in your favorite season and write about the transformation you see.
• Listen to nature’s symphony:  During a summer thunderstorm or a peaceful evening, pay attention to the sounds around you and describe what you hear.
• Study a natural object:  Select an interesting natural object, such as a leaf, rock, or flower, and describe its shape, color, texture, and any patterns you notice.
• Camping trip observations:  Observe and record the wildlife, plants, and other natural occurrences during your camping trip.
• Reflections on a lake:  Visit a serene lake or pond, and write down your thoughts on the way light interacts with its surface and the surrounding environment.

Remember, the key is to take your time and observe the intricate details of the natural world around you.

Creative Nature Journaling Prompts

For those looking to add some creativity to their nature journaling practice, consider these prompts:

• Nature-inspired poetry:  Write a poem inspired by a beautiful sunset, a blooming flower, or any other aspect of nature that captures your heart.
• A fictional story:  Choose an element from nature, such as a fallen branch or a weathered stone, and create a short story, fiction or nonfiction, about its journey.
• Nature’s hidden treasures:  Search for interesting or peculiar items in nature, like unusual rocks or oddly-shaped branches, and sketch or photograph them to include in your journal.
• Rewrite a memory:  Think back to a memorable experience in nature and rewrite the story with a twist or from a different perspective.
• Gratitude for nature:  List the natural elements or experiences for which you’re most grateful and elaborate on why they hold a special place in your heart.

Embrace the inspiration nature provides and let your creativity flow, as these prompts help you explore the natural world in new and imaginative ways.

Nature Journal Ideas: Documenting Your Observations

Recording weather and climate.

When it comes to nature journaling, documenting the weather and climate is essential.

Start by noting the current temperature, humidity, and air pressure. This will give you valuable context for your observations.

Don’t forget to record the date and time, as this will help you track patterns and changes in weather conditions.

Observe the sky and describe its appearance.

Are there clouds? Is it sunny or overcast? Keeping track of these details will enhance your understanding of the ecosystems you observe.

Noting Animal and Plant Life

As you explore the great outdoors, take the time to observe the animals and plants around you. Your nature notebook offers a great place to note any interesting species, behaviors, and interactions you encounter.

Don’t worry if you can’t identify them right away – just do your best to describe their appearance and qualities.

Keep an eye out for any signs of animals, such as footprints or droppings. These clues can reveal information about the unseen inhabitants of the area.

Pay attention to plants, as well. Note their different colors, shapes, and sizes.

Make a habit of observing the plants and animals you encounter on a weekly basis and note any changes over time.

Bringing along field guides on mammals , birds , insects , and plants can help you to identify and learn more about the wildlife you observe. They even make field guides on animal tracks !

Capturing the Landscape

A key component of nature journaling is capturing the essence of the landscape. Take a moment to sketch or describe the topography, vegetation patterns, and dominant natural features of the area.

Are there mountains, rivers, or forests nearby? How are the ecosystems connected or shaped by the landscape?

Whenever possible, incorporate other elements, such as including bullet points, bold text, or tables, to help format and convey information to the reader. This will make your nature journal more visually appealing and easier to understand.

By documenting your observations in a positive and engaging tone, you’ll gain a greater appreciation for the natural world and develop your skills as a keen observer. Enjoy the journey as you explore and capture the beauty and complexity of the world around you.

Creating Sound Maps

Want to slow down and listen to the sounds of nature?

While you can certainly describe the sounds in words in your nature journal, you might also consider creating a sound map of the area you’re visiting! This will challenge you to visually represent what you hear, tapping deeper into your creative side.

Nature Journal Ideas: Nature Journaling with Kids

Nature journaling is a fantastic way for kids to explore and connect with the natural world.

When you equip your children with their own nature journal, you’re helping them develop a love for both nature and art. Plus, it’s a fun activity that allows them to express their creativity and improve their observation skills.

To start nature journaling with your kids, begin by taking them on a nature walk. Encourage them to observe the environment using all their senses: what do they see, hear, smell, and maybe even touch?

As you explore together, help your children identify different animals, plants, and natural features. Discuss the importance of conserving nature and how it supports various forms of life.

Equip your children with sketchbooks and art materials like colored pencils, crayons, or charcoal to create visual representations of their observations. Encourage them to sketch the different animals, plants, and landscapes they encounter on their walk.

Alternatively, they can collect leaves, press flowers, and other natural items to add to their journal pages. Don’t forget to include a magnifying glass for examining small details and a  nature identification book  to help them learn about the species they discover.

In addition to drawing, make sure your kids incorporate descriptive writing into their journal entries.

Offer creative  writing prompts  about their experiences in nature, and ask them to reflect on their thoughts and feelings as they observe the world around them. You can also include fun activities like making rubbings of leaves or bark to further engage their senses.

Can’t get out to explore? Remember that even your own backyard can offer a wonderful way to connect with the natural world!

As your kids continue to practice nature journaling, they’ll develop a deeper connection with the natural world and gain valuable skills in observation, art, and self-expression. So go ahead, grab those supplies, and embark on a journey of nature exploration and creative learning with your children today!

Expanding Your Nature Journaling Practice

Taking your nature journal on adventures.

Embarking on adventures is a great way to expand your nature journaling practice.

When you take your journal to new places, you expose yourself to diverse environments, which can inspire different types of art and observation. Whether you’re exploring a local park, hiking in the mountains, or just visiting an unfamiliar neighborhood, it’s certain to be a great place to bring your journal and capture the destination’s unique elements.

Remember that as you explore, it’s important to remain observant and curious. Aim to spend some unstructured time in each location, so you have a chance to truly connect with the environment and infuse your nature journal with the essence of your adventure.

Sharing Your Journal with a Community

Another great way to enrich your nature journaling practice is by sharing your work with a supportive community. Doing so can provide valuable feedback, encouragement, and new ideas for your journal.

There are several platforms where you can share your journal pages, such as  Instagram  which is particularly popular among nature journalers. Simply snap a photo of your pages and use relevant hashtags to connect with like-minded individuals.

Additionally, try to find local nature journaling groups, workshops, or classes in your area. This can be a great opportunity to develop your skills, learn from others, and make connections with fellow nature journal enthusiasts.

Remember that sharing your work and engaging with a community can greatly enhance your practice and offer countless opportunities for growth.

So, step out of your comfort zone, and start sharing your observations and art with others. Your nature journaling experience is bound to become even more rewarding.

Which nature journal ideas will you try?

Nature journaling offers you a unique opportunity to connect with nature while fostering your artistic and creative talents. By incorporating various elements like drawings, poetry, and reflections, you can personalize your nature journal to fit your preferred style.

Remember, the key to successful nature journaling is being open to observing and appreciating your surroundings.

Developing curiosity and patience will not only enhance your journal entries but also deepen your connection with the natural world. Embrace the opportunity to build upon your observation skills and encourage your creativity to thrive.

Going forward, strive to make nature journaling a regular practice. You’ll likely find it to be a fulfilling and enjoyable way to integrate a more meaningful relationship with nature into your life.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even inspire others to take up the practice as well! So grab a pen, paper, and explore the world around you as you embark on your nature journaling journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some nature journal prompts for adults.

There are plenty of nature journal prompts that can inspire adults to engage with nature more deeply. Some ideas include observing the colors and patterns in the landscape, sketching a tree or plant in different seasons, writing a poem inspired by a nature walk, or recording the sounds you hear during a quiet moment outdoors.

You can also explore  Nature Journaling Prompts  for more ideas and inspiration.

How can I create a DIY nature journal for younger children?

Creating a DIY nature journal for kids is a simple and fun way to get them involved with nature.

Start by gathering materials like a blank notebook or a binder with blank pages, colored pencils, crayons, or markers. Encourage your child to personalize their journal by designing the cover or adding a title page.

As you explore nature together, offer prompts and suggestions to help them observe their environment, draw pictures, or write about their experiences. You can even incorporate scavenger hunts into their nature journaling to offer yet another fun and creative way to connect with nature.

Remember to make it enjoyable and let their creativity flow.

What benefits can I gain from nature journaling?

Nature journaling offers numerous benefits, such as sparking creativity, enhancing observational skills, and promoting mindfulness.

By immersing yourself in nature and recording your experiences, you’ll develop a deeper connection with your surroundings and gain a better understanding of the world around you. Additionally, nature journaling can serve as a form of stress relief and provide a sense of calm and happiness.

Where can I find nature journaling classes?

Many organizations and schools offer nature journaling classes for people of all ages. To find a class near you, try searching online or contacting local nature centers, botanical gardens, or community education programs.

Online platforms like  Outdoor School  may also provide resources and materials related to nature journaling.

Which supplies are essential for nature journaling?

To get started with your own nature journal, you will need a few basic supplies, such as a blank notebook or sketchbook, a pen or pencil, and a set of colored pencils, markers, or watercolor paintings for adding color and detail. As you progress in your journaling journey, you might want to invest in additional supplies like a travel-size palette , a portable stool , or a magnifying glass .

How do I participate in International Nature Journaling Week?

International Nature Journaling Week is an annual global event that encourages people of all ages to engage with nature through journaling.

To participate, simply grab your journal and head outside during the event week, connecting with nature through observation, art, and writing. Check the  official website  for event dates, resources, and ways to get involved in the nature journaling community.

Are there any books with great tips on different ways to use a nature journal?

One of the most popular books on the topic of nature journal ideas is The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws. This book offers a comprehensive and inspirational companion to your own nature journal, as it dives into art and science through easy-to-follow text and step-by-step illustrations.

This book is sure to develop a deeper love of nature in you and quickly add itself to your collection of all-time favorite things.

Where can I find a printable nature journal?

Viral teaching sensation, The Activity Mom, offers a fantastic printable nature journal for kids of all ages. Meanwhile, Etsy offers a printable nature journal for adults and older children.

In contrast to staring down blank pages, printable nature journals offer more guidance for recording your observations of nature and will direct you to pay close attention to more specific details.

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Kids Journal | Nurture Growth, Connection, Creativity, and FUN!

Wednesday 27th of September 2023

[…] Journaling: Help your children start a nature journal and record their observations, questions, and data collected during summer outdoor […]

90+ Nature Journal Prompts

Nature is all around us, telling its stories through the rustling leaves, the rugged mountains, and the vast oceans. Each element of the natural world offers a narrative and an opportunity to connect deeper with the earth and ourselves.

This collection of nature journal prompts is designed to guide you through different aspects of the natural world. Each category offers a set of questions and scenarios to help you capture your thoughts, feelings, and observations, bringing you closer to nature… and perhaps, to your own inner landscape.

Table of Contents

Forest Appreciation Prompts

Mountain appreciation prompts, ocean appreciation prompts, sunset and sunrise appreciation prompts, reflective prompts on the seasons, reflective prompts on personal experiences in nature, nature prompts for creative expression, final thoughts.

• Describe the feeling you get when you walk through a forest. What emotions arise as you step into the woods?
• List five sounds you hear when you’re in the forest. How do these sounds make you feel?
• “The forest makes me feel…”
• Reflect on a memory of a time when you felt completely at peace in the forest. What made that moment special?
• How do the different seasons change the appearance and atmosphere of the forest? Which season do you enjoy the most, and why?
• Write a poem inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest.
• How does the forest influence your sense of calm or stress relief? Describe a time when the forest helped you feel more grounded.
• Describe the feeling of standing alone in a forest, surrounded by nothing but trees.
• List five scents you associate with the forest and describe what each one reminds you of.
• What lessons can we learn from the way a forest recovers after a storm?
• What emotions do you feel when you see mountains on the horizon?
• Write about a time you conquered a challenging mountain trek.
• Write a letter to the mountains, expressing what they mean to you.
• “Standing at the top of a mountain makes me feel…”
• If the mountains could share one piece of advice with you, what do you think it would be?
• How do mountains inspire your sense of adventure? Describe a time when you felt particularly adventurous in the mountains.
• Describe the view from the top of your favorite mountain. How does it make you feel?
• Write a poem about the strength and majesty of mountains.
• How does spending time in the mountains impact your mental and emotional well-being?
• What myths or legends have you heard about mountains that fascinate you?
• Reflect on a sunrise or sunset you’ve witnessed from a mountain peak.
• Describe the feeling you get when you stand at the edge of the ocean, looking out at the horizon.
• List the different shades of blue and green you see in the ocean. How do these colors make you feel?
• “The sound of the waves makes me feel…”
• How does the ocean inspire your creativity? Describe a time when the ocean sparked your imagination.
• What do the changing tides tell you about the nature of life?
• Write a poem inspired by the sights, sounds, and smells of the ocean.
• Describe the ocean at dawn—what do you see, hear, and feel?
• What draws you to the ocean, and how does it make you feel complete?
• List your top five memories associated with the ocean.
• If you could send a message in a bottle, what would you write and why?
• Describe the most breathtaking ocean sunset you have ever seen.
• What mysteries of the ocean are you most curious to explore?
• Describe the colors of a particularly memorable sunrise or sunset.
• List the places where you’ve experienced the most beautiful sunrises or sunsets.
• What have you learned about life from observing the cycles of the sun?
• Reflect on a sunrise that symbolized a new beginning in your life.
• How would you explain the beauty of a sunrise to someone who has never seen one?
• Document a sunrise hike—what did you see, and how did it change as the sun rose?
• Describe a sunset that took your breath away and why it was so impactful.
• If you could share a sunset with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
• Imagine you could pause time during a sunset or sunrise. What would you do during that moment?
• “Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.” — Kristen Butler. Reflect on this quote and how it relates to your life.
• Describe how your favorite season makes you feel. What do you love most about it?
• Write about the first signs of your favorite season that you look forward to each year.
• List the ways each season impacts your mood and activities.
• Reflect on a year in your life through the lens of the four seasons.
• Create a narrative from the perspective of a leaf experiencing all four seasons.
• What lessons can we learn from the impermanence shown by the changing seasons?
• What emotions does each season evoke in you, and how do you respond?
• List the activities you enjoy most during each season. How do these activities connect you to nature?
• “Winter makes me feel…, spring makes me feel…, summer makes me feel…, autumn makes me feel…”
• Reflect on a memory tied to a particular season. What made that moment special for you?
• How do the colors of each season affect your mood and emotions?
• How do the different smells of each season evoke memories or emotions for you?
• Write a poem about the beauty of a specific season and how it makes you feel.
• Spring Journal Prompts
• Summer Journal Prompts
• Fall Journal Prompts
• Winter Journal Prompts
• How has spending time in nature influenced your perspective on life?
• Write about a fear you overcame because of an experience in nature.
• Reflect on a time when nature provided you with unexpected comfort or solace.
• How has your relationship with nature influenced your relationships with others?
• What lessons from nature do you find most applicable to your daily life?
• Write about a place in nature that holds special meaning for you. What memories are tied to that place?
• How do you feel when you’re surrounded by nature compared to when you’re in an urban environment?
• Reflect on a time when you discovered something new about yourself while being in nature.
• Write about a time when nature inspired you to make a change in your life.
• Write a poem inspired by the movement of water in a stream or river.
• Describe a sunset as if you were painting it with words. Focus on the colors and emotions it evokes.
• Create a poem inspired by the changing seasons and how they affect the natural world.
• Describe an ocean scene as if you were writing it for someone who has never seen the ocean before.
• Use nature as a metaphor to describe your current emotional state.
• Write a poem where each stanza represents a different element of nature.
• List the colors you associate with a vibrant natural scene and what they signify to you.
• If you were to teach a class on creative writing inspired by nature, what would be your first lesson?

Spending time in nature is one of the simplest ways to find peace and clarity. Writing about these experiences can deepen that connection, helping us see and appreciate the beauty around us even more.

I hope these prompts inspire you to take a moment, reflect, and enjoy the world outside. Nature has so much to offer, and sometimes, all it takes is a few words to capture its magic. Happy journaling!

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Clariza Carizal, RPm

Clariza is a passionate writer and editor who firmly believes that words have great power. She has a degree in BS Psychology, which gives her an in-depth understanding of the complexities of human behavior. As a woman of science and art, she fused her love for both fields in crafting insightful articles on lifestyle, mental health, and social justice to inspire others and advocate for change.

In her leisure time, you can find her sitting in the corner of her favorite coffee shop downtown, deeply immersed in her bubble of thoughts. Being an art enthusiast that she is, she finds bliss in exploring the rich world of fiction writing and diverse art forms.

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Deptford literature festival, nature nurtures, early career bursaries, criptic x spread the word, lewisham, borough of literature, a pocket guide to nature writing.

In this glorious Pocket Guide, Kerri ní Dochartaigh highlights the value of Nature writing, whilst sharing her personal tips, resources and opportunities on how you can get inspired to write. 

What do we really mean when we talk about ‘nature writing’? And what do we even mean when we talk about ‘nature’?

Nature writing , like pockets , is a politicised thing – embroidered with different threads; depending on your race , class , gender , (dis)ability, wealth or place in this world. Is there space here for you? Do you feel safe? There has never been a more important time to make safe space: for every single thing on this earth. The writing, then, will just do its own thing, you see. It will come and go as it pleases, like a moth to a big aul’ light.

How about a wee browse through these background reads , and then we might, in the words of Edwyn Collins , (the most inspiring nature punk on earth): ‘Rip it up and start again’?… (What is nature writing if not the constant riotous act of starting again? Of learning, again, to listen and to look, to draw close and keep our distance, to break and to weep; to get back up and love the world afresh?) In this NY Times piece three and a half decades ago, David Rains Wallace wrote ‘NATURE writing is a historically recent literary genre, and, in a quiet way, one of the most revolutionary.’

We’re ready for this revolution but who is going to lead it?

For far too long we have allowed a very particular voice, from a very particular background, with a very particular outlook – dominate bookshop displays, library shelves, reading lists, bestseller rankings and our own homes. This, the idea that there has only ever been one nature story, is wildly incorrect. Other standpoints, other views, other stories, other voices: have always been there. In ‘Heart Berries’ Terese Marie Mailhot summarises: ‘So, where are we? Where we have always been. Where are you?’

To write about nature with truth and integrity means to ask questions about the past and the future – who, where and what have been mistreated – and how do we make that stop, through how we approach this genre? I only want to be a part of any gathering where every single one of us is there as an equal.

So, who is doing the important work in this area? Where should you go to read more? Where should you send your fledgling words?

Let’s start with The Willowherb Review because I think they are incredible. Their aim is ‘to provide a digital platform to celebrate and bolster nature writing by emerging and established writers of colour’, and already their writers have seen prize nominations and awards (all links on the site). Most importantly of all the writing is cracking; beautiful, raw and necessary. Jessica J Lee, the editor, has a no nonsense approach to the genre that I deeply admire. If you are a nature writer of colour, check out their website for submission dates.

Jessica has also organised a reading group, Allies in the Landscape , a fantastic support for nature writers and anyone wanting to widen their reading in the genre.

The folks at Caught by the River do stellar work for those who love the natural world across a plethora of genres. If you are in need of inspiration, or events to go to when we can, start here. You will not be let down. They read everything they’re sent but are a busy crew so – as with submitting anywhere, patience is kindness.

More folks with big hearts and brilliant writing are The Clearing .

The art of nature writing itself can be a children’s story, a poem, a list, a eulogy, a translation – it can be fiction or non – written or other – short or long; it is anything that takes our world and makes it sing. The best nature writing, for me, speaks of transformation – anything from a fiercely hungry caterpillar, through to strong women swimming themselves to safe places – making lists of yellow things for their sick fathers – moulding grief through sowing seeds: the best nature writers might not even call themselves that at all. Some books I have recently loved are: ‘ Trace’ by Lauret Savoy, ‘Braiding Sweet Grass’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer Elizabeth J Burnett’s ‘ The Grassling’ , ‘ Bulbul Calling’ by Pratyusha, Seán Hewitt’s ‘ Tongues of Fire’ , Jessica J Lee’s ‘ Two Trees Make a Forest’ , ‘The Promise’ by Nicola Davies and ‘ The Diary of a Young Naturalist’ by Dara McAnulty. I return over and over to writers like Amy Liptrot, Kathleen Jamie, Annie Dillard, Robert McFarlane and others but I am constantly trying to find new voices, approaches and stories – new to me, not new in their existence, of course: it’s important to make that distinction in a genre such as this.

The important thing, needed now more than ever, is that they each take their place in this symphony of hope.

There is room, here, on these mountains and beaches, in these gardens and fields, in these bodies of water – in ASDA parking lots and unsafe spaces – on the streets, and in every place both ‘wild’  and not (both outer and inner) – for you and your story.

From me to you, here a few exercises I return to over and over as a means to get started…

Choose something – a moth, the colour blue, a tree, a wren, a pebble, the waves on the beach – and write about it as if the reader will have never before seen or heard of it. Really stay with the description for as long as you can, and try to get down to what it really is: its thingness. Make your description almost like a love letter in how much care you take with it, and the depth of your words. Another interesting take on this is to write yourself as the thing – to really imagine, say, going through all the stages of the cycle from caterpillar to moth – or the ebb and flow you would experience as a particular body of water etc.

Journal – at least three free-flow pages without thinking about them or rereading – every single day. This one really helps to get me out of my normal flow of thought, and does something to my brain that welcomes experiences, creatures and thoughts that are conducive to nature writing. It really doesn’t matter if I am not writing about nature in these pages, really that is not the point, I think it’s in the act of carving out space and time – bringing awareness to the act. The space in which I write these can be a cafe, on a train, or at home, and still I find myself in a wild place, one that is on the inside not the outside.

The thing that most helps me to write about the natural world is actually being in it – walking, swimming, running, laying, laughing, crying – just allowing myself to be outside as much as I can seems to be the best way for me to try to write about the world we share.

Once you feel more confident, you might be interested in entering your writing into a prize or sharing it online (an incredible amount of links can also be found in the hyperlinked pages too) and I can share only a fraction but here are a few that sing to me:

https://nanshepherdprize.com   This prize is changing the landscape of this genre. Every single section on the site is invaluable.

https://www.thenaturelibrary.com

Christina Riley has put such a wonderful thing together here. Have a browse / follow.

https://www.lonewomeninflashesofwilderness.com/about

Clare Archibald’s inspiring, inclusive site is really making ripples in this area.

https://beachbooks.blog/about/ A gorgeous, generous sea library full of joy.

https://www.elementumjournal.com  Submissions are closed for this journal but there is lots of fine work to peruse.

https://www.elsewhere-journal.com   This is a superb journal of place, and submission are open.

The Moth Nature Writing prize , The Rialto Nature Poetry Competition and others are great to look at too. There are courses, schemes and more online but I think the most important place to start is by looking and listening, reading and caring; by loving the world and by writing it down in any way you can.

For me, any time any of us looks and listens to the non-human beings we share this earth with – when we pause in humility to acknowledge the interconnectedness of us all – the threads tying us to each other; invisible often, but so strong – we are playing a part in making this a safer, fairer earth. To go one step further, and to write about this connection, to name, explore, celebrate and honour – whether we choose a swan or a stone, a moth or a lough, the wild sea or our gut flora; things nearby or faraway, the known or unknown –   we are shining light on one of the most important truths of this earth: our need to be alive, and to remain connected to every other living thing. There is power in trying to find traces of ourselves in the nonhuman, as well as acknowledging our difference. In searching for the beat of something unnameable;  the simple act of being alive, at the same time, as each other, and in the same way as even the smallest insect.

Nature Writing holds the hope, for me, of reminding us how to treat everyone and everything on the earth. The best nature writing shines light on places we need to see; on beings we need to learn to accept as our equal. It is only a proper telling of the earth if we can tread gently on the land and the non-human as well as human while we do it. If we can speak honestly of the places and the past – if we can find a way to write it where every single one of us is heard; where each one of us, and our stories, are kept safe.

Kerri ní Dochartaigh is from the North West of Ireland but now lives in the very middle. She writes about nature, literature and place for The Irish Times, The Dublin Review of Books, Caught By The River and others. Her first book, Thin Places ,  is out with Canongate in January 2021. @kerri_ni @whooperswan

Published 7 July 2020

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• 09 May 2018

Write fiction to discover something new in your research

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Amanda C. Niehaus is a scientist and writer in Brisbane, Australia.

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In the final month of my Australian Research Council fellowship at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia, I published papers about sex-crazed marsupials, wrote grant applications and finished The Breeding Season , an as-yet-unpublished novel.

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Nature 557 , 269 (2018)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-018-05089-x

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Healing Forest

Forest Walks, Nature Art, Mindfulness Activities, Healing with Nature

Words that heal: creative nature writing.

CREATIVE WRITING EXERCISES IN NATURE

Writing is therapeutic. Writing in nature – meditative.

Writing helps to give direction to our thoughts. From clouds of voluminous chatter in the mind, words drop on to paper like gentle rain, turning into streams of sentences. These streams follow their own path to uncover what is hidden and discover what is waiting to be discovered. It is a way to ignite creativity, curiosity and a deeper enquiry into the self.

It’s about observing the nature outside and observing the nature within.

Writing about nature leads to an increased awareness of our surroundings. This simple activity is an exercise to enhance our attention and also become aware of our own state of being. Nature is a place where one can observe our outer and inner landscape. Every person has a unique way of perceiving life and things around them. You begin to discover this uniqueness when you channelise your memories and imagination in a creative way.

Writing in nature is also a way to reconnect to a calmer self. Putting words on paper brings us back into the present moment and by paying attention to our senses and breath we can reach a state of relaxed ease. When one is relaxed and calm, it is easier to get creative insights about the questions in our mind.

WRITING EXERCISES IN NATURE

Our mind is a forest of memories, ideas, and observations. Let us explore the power of words to rediscover the nature around us and the nature within us.

Given below is a list of simple writing games that can be incorporated into an engaging walk for all age groups. The aim of these games is to build your awareness and curiosity. We hope this practice leads you to calm, creativity and clarity.

Senses: Pick any one of your senses. Describe your surroundings keeping only the chosen sense in focus. You can turn this exercise into a letter to a friend. In the letter you are describing your nature walk to a close friend who is not present with you, but remember you can only use one sense to portray the scene. Objects: Choose any object in nature, create a riddle around it. Let others in the group guess what object you picked. In the riddle the less you reveal, the more interesting it becomes. Just like the language of the forest which is full of riddles and mysteries. Here’s a riddle for you. The answer is given at the very end of the article.

You can see me, but you can’t hear me. You can feel me, but you can’t smell me. What am I?

Emotions: Take an emotion that you are feeling. Include it in a 3 line poem. These 3 line poems are a simplified version of Japanese Haikus . The aim of our poem is to capture an image from your nature walk and convey the emotion you are left with. It’s not a test of your poetic skills and the lines do not have to rhyme. Here’s an example:

Characters : Pick the oldest tree around or a tree that feels special to you. Spend time with it and write the story of its life. In this exercise allow your imagination to fly. You can compress time and write a biography for the tree or simply write about a day in the life of your tree.

EXTRAS: IDEAS FOR NATURE WRITING

Magical Creatures: Our forest stories have always been full of magical beings like elves, fairies, gnomes. If you could create your own magical creature what would it be? What magic will they have and what would you call them?

Game of Memories: When we recollect positive memories in nature it strengthens them and allows us to return to them when we need it the most. Write down your earliest happy memory. Write down your most peaceful nature memory.

Nature Song: This is a fun exercise that gives rest to the logical, thinking side of your brain. Pay attention to the sounds of nature and write a song in gibberish. Which means you cannot use any known words from your language. Just compose a song from the sounds around you: Krr Krr Krr Krr Krr, tok tok, Ku-oo

One Word Connections: This game serves as a warm-up to our next exercise, but is also fun on it’s own. If you are in a group, form a small circle. The game starts by one person saying any word from nature. The next person says the first thing that comes to mind on hearing that word. You are not allowed to think and respond. If a participant takes too long to respond, then the chance automatically passes to the next person in the circle. Complete 2 to 3 rounds of the circle with this exercise and build your spontaneity.

Twisty Tale: This is a group exercise. Stand in a circle and create a story starting with ‘I went for a walk into the forest….’. The conditions are that each person adds one line to the story, but alternate people add happy and sad twists to the story. So one set of people are trying to make the story positive and happy while the other set is giving it a dark or tragic turn. Once the story runs its course, switch the roles of the people.

Gratitude Note (Closing Exercise)

We usually end our nature walk by writing a note of gratitude. The note starts with gratitude for the gifts we have received from nature and grows to encompass other aspects of our life.

Without gratitude, nothing is enough ~Julio Olalla

At the core of all emotions in life, this emotion of gratitude is the one that allows us to find contentment and make peace with ourselves. It shifts focus from what is missing within our life and moves our heart to appreciate what we have. As with all writing, this exercise is effective only when the words flow from the heart and not the head. We hope that being in nature has enabled you to do so.

Bonus: Story Walk

A story walk session typically takes about 60~90 minutes. It is suitable for all age groups and creates more delightful results when people of different ages participate together.

Give around 15 minutes for each activity – 10 minutes for exploring, walking, writing and 5 minutes for sharing the stories. If there are a large number of participants, create smaller groups of 5 or less for sharing. Smaller groups create more meaningful engagements.

Any safe space in nature works for a story walk. Make pairs to create responsibility and manage the group better. At the end of each activity, have pre-decided meeting points for sharing stories from that section. These ideas are mere suggestions. Feel free to make your own. Stay creative.

WORDS THAT HEAL

Please share this article with friends who may find it useful. Here’s a link to download some posters, in case you’d like to create an event for people in your city.

Fewer people are spending time in nature these days. This distance is affecting our health – as individuals, as a society and also as a planet. The intention of this idea is to bring nature back into conversations and inspire more people to connect with forests in creative ways. Let’s do this as a collective. When you create writing in nature and share it with other, it spreads the seeds of emotions you felt and the insights you learnt. Hopefully, it will grow the magic of nature and draw more people to it. Do share your poems, puzzles, stories or reflections from the nature walk on our Facebook group . In case you post your writing on social media, add these tags: #healingforest / #forestlearning . It will make it easier for us to find them.

*This page is part of our learning program with nature arts, activities and meditations from around the world.

END NOTE: To get uplifting new ideas once a month you can join our  free newsletter here . We are a small group of friends trying to find new ways to reconnect people with nature. Our aim is simple.  Helping people heal. Helping forests heal.

We’d love to hear your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions for more writing games. Please add them in the comments section below to grow our collective learning.

p.s: Our answer to the riddle is ‘ Sunlight ‘. But in nature, there can be more than one right answer!

Spread A Little Calm. Our World Needs It.

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 Posted on May 24, 2018 by Healing Forest

 Category: Healing Forest

 Tags: creative writing , Creative writing exercises , creative writing in nature , Forest Bathing , forest therapy , forest therapy activities , gratitude meditation , healing arts , healing meditation , mindful meditations , mindfulness , nature connection activities , nature healing , nature meditation , nature walk , shinrin yoku , words that heal , writing in nature

3 Comments on “ Words That Heal: Creative Nature Writing ”

Pingback: Photos of Peace – HEALING FOREST

Open your senses and notice what you hear-smell-touch-see. Start by connecting with one sense using word association to prompt your writing. For example, seeing green = money, begin freestyle writing about money. Close your eyes and touch the tree bark, then describe what sensations immediately come to mind, allowing the words to flow on their own. Utilizing your senses is a sure way to expand your writing with more vivid detail, while also enhancing your own connection to nature, and to your readers.

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Thank you for this beautiful opportunity to share our nature perspectives and writings. I’d like to share my recently launched book now available on Amazon, “Strength from Nature—Simple Lessons of Life Taught By the Most Unlikely Masters: The Nature Teachers.” Each chapter features everything from a scraggly weed to a rock, waves, mighty forests, butterflies and much more offering to help us face our human challenges with a greater appreciation for all life on this planet.

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Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

10 Top Writing Groups in Florida

By Kevin Chan

Joining a writing group can be a wonderful way to develop your writing skills and get feedback on your work from your peers in a supportive way. In this post, we’ve featured 10 top writing groups in Florida.

1. Tampa Writers Alliance

Tampa Writers Alliance is a writing group led by group organizer Jim Genia, who has been a part of Tampa Writers Alliance since 2014. Today, over 2,000 professional and amateur writers local to Tampa, Florida, are actively involved at Tampa Writers Alliance and participate in regular meetings, parties and programs.

Tampa Writers Alliance offers a number of different services and advantages to writers. The group holds different member parties throughout the year, allowing writers to get together, build relationships and establish new friendships. Tampa Writers Alliance’s general meetings focus on teaching writing skills, while the group’s monthly critique group is a forum that provides writers with an opportunity to get constructive feedback from other members. Tampa Writers Alliance also hosts a Poetry Group that meets monthly and focuses on writing poetry.

Connect with Tampa Writers Alliance.

2. Sisters in Crime (Florida Gulf Coast Chapter)

Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Sisters in Crime (Florida Gulf Coast Chapter) is the local chapter of the nationwide writing group Sisters in Crime. Sisters in Crime has over 70 chapters across the United States and Canada and welcomes women writers who are focused on crime fiction.

Members of Sisters in Crime (Florida Gulf Coast Chapter) can enjoy online monthly meetings on the first Saturday of the month. Sisters in Crime (Florida Gulf Coast Chapter) also offers participants the opportunity to participate in community events such as book festivals and workshops, build relationships with other members and establish critique partnerships and groups.

Take a look at what else Sisters in Crime (Florida Gulf Coast Chapter) is up to!

3. Daytona Area Fiction Writers

Daytona Area Fiction Writers is a writing group that supports writers in Daytona Beach, Florida. Co-organizers Elle Andrews Patt and Veronica Helen Hart have been part of Daytona Area Fiction Writers, a writing group in Florida that was been a part of the area for decades.

All fiction writers of all experience levels and backgrounds are welcome to Daytona Area Fiction Writers. Daytona Area Fiction Writers is a group that specifically aims to support writers who are working towards publication, but writers who are interested in joining solely to improve their craft are also welcome. Meetings take place weekly on Tuesday evenings, usually at Stonewoods on LPGA Boulevard.

Speak to Daytona Area Fiction Writers.

4. Tampa Ybor Free Group

Situated in Ybor City in Tampa, Florida, Tampa Ybor Free Group is a writing group that welcomes local writers looking for a supportive community to join. From college students with a passion for writing to adult professionals and writing enthusiasts, Tampa Ybor Free Group aims to be a place where writers can find support among others like them.

Writing meetings usually take place at Hot Wax Coffee Shop in Ybor, Tampa, every other Thursday evening. Participants are encouraged to bring whatever writing project they are working on to writing group meetings at Tampa Ybor Free Group alongside other writers.

Discover more about Tampa Ybor Free Group!

5. Writers 4 All Seasons Tampa Bay

Writers 4 All Seasons Tampa Bay is a writing group that welcomes local writers in Tampa, Florida. With over 150 active group members to date, Writers 4 All Seasons Tampa Bay continues to look for ways to be a supportive writing group for adult writers working on anything from poetry or fiction to non-fiction writing.

Writers 4 All Seasons Tampa Bay meetings happen every other week on Sunday afternoons. Meetings are held online and are free of cost to attend. Meetings consist of open readings by writers who are interested in sharing some of their work with the group, followed by constructive criticism by fellow members.

Contact Writers 4 All Seasons Tampa Bay!

6. We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group

Located in Tampa, Florida, We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group is a writing group that aims to be a support for Black people and women of color who are writers. Currently, We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group consist of over 450+ members of passionate writers and teachers who look to use their writing to empower others and communicate truths about their life experience.

Writing group meetings take place every first Monday and third Thursday of every month. Each session allows writers to get in 2.5 hours of writing time. Interested participants are encouraged to check We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group’s schedule and register themselves for a future writing session.

Learn more about We Write Here Black and Women of Color Writing Group.

7. Wordier Than Thou Meetup for Writers and Book Lovers

Wordier Than Thou Meetup for Writers and Book Lovers is a writing group for local writers in St. Petersburg, Florida. The writing group provides motivation and support for writers by introducing participating authors to different authors, hosting workshops and offering the opportunity for storytelling and fiction open mic events.

Writing meetings happen every two weeks. Past events have included open mic events with authors like Wendy Dalrymple or Joshua Ginsberg, and different writing events like Wordier’s 1K Walk and Write. Interested participants can look forward to connecting with Wordier Than Thou Meetup for Writers and Book Lovers’s 2,300+ active members for accountability and a support community.

Check out more about Wordier Than Thou Meetup for Writers and Book Lovers.

8. Writer’s Group Gainesville

Gainesville, Florida is home to Writer’s Group Gainesville, a writing group dedicated to the support of fiction writers, including novels and short stories. Writing meetings happen once a month and welcome all interested writers and writing enthusiasts in the local area.

Every writing meeting at Writer’s Group Gainesville includes sharing work-in-progress with other writers and getting constructive criticism and motivation to continue writing. No matter what stage of writing you might be at, writers in and around Gainesville have something to gain from participating in Writer’s Group Gainesville meetings.

For more information about Writer’s Group Gainesville, check out their Meetup.com webpage.

9. Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts

Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts is a writing group welcoming writers from all backgrounds and skill levels in Maitland, Florida. The writing group has welcomed writers working on fiction and non-fiction books, short stories, blogs, journals, or even poetry.

Writing meetings happen once a week on Wednesday evenings. Events include special presentations by writers like Jennifer Worley and Jo-Ann Yeoh and writing sessions introducing different writing techniques and giving time for participants to practice them together during writing group meetings.

Find out if Writers of Central Florida or Thereabouts is able to support you!

10. Sarasota Fiction Masters

Serving writers in Sarasota, Florida, Sarasota Fiction Masters is a writing group hosted by group organizer Karen Thomas. This writing group welcomes writers who focus on all genres of fiction writing. Writers of all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome but because of the adult nature of some of the members’ writing, Sarasota Fiction Masters recommends that all members be over the age of 21.

Writing group meetings happen in person once a week at different local locations, including Gulf Gate Public Library. Participants are encouraged to bring a copy of their writing (as well as copies for other members to read along) and will be given constructive criticism and feedback to help them continue their writing.

Plan a visit to Sarasota Fiction Masters!

Working together, we can reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives.

Analytical Expert (ARD) (m/f/d)

About the role.

Major accountabilities:

• Designing, planning, supporting the execution as well as interpreting and reporting results of scientific experiments for the development and timely supply of drug substances (DS) and drug products (DP) intended for clinical use in late stage development and potential commercialization.
• Writing & reviewing analytical documents (e.g Analytical procedures, Specifications, Product characterization reports, Validation protocols/reports, Stability protocols/reports as well as Batch records compilation and line function material disposition for stability and release testing) and aligning the corresponding activities within a global project team.
• Managing interactions with internal and external stakeholders, including outsourced activities to CROs by providing scientific and technical guidance whenever necessary.
• Proactively identifying scientific, technological and GMP challenges, propose creative solutions and communicate key issues to the appropriate management level and respective technical project team.
• Working according to appropriate SOPs, GMP, Quality Directives, Health and Safety & internal Novartis guidelines.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum: Bachelor in analytical chemistry or equivalent with significant experience in analytical development of drugs. Desirable: Advanced degree in a relevant life science scientific area (e.g. Master, Ph.D. or equivalent in chemistry / pharmaceutical or analytical science).
• Preferably 5 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry with a track record in GMP activities for development or marketed products.
• Broad scientific knowledge in chemistry, pharmaceutical or analytical sciences, ability to perform in a global and highly dynamic environment.
• Advanced knowledge of analytical techniques and associated processes (e.g. HPLC and corresponding Chromatographic Data System, Dissolution rate, Quality management systems, statistical evaluation tools ...).
• Good presentation skills and scientific/technical writing skills and associated IT Tools.
• Fluent in English (oral and writing), German is advantageous.

Why Novartis? Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture You’ll receive: You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook. https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve. Accessibility and accommodation Novartis is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to all individuals. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, or in order to receive more detailed information about the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to inclusion.switzerland@novartis.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message. Join our Novartis Network: If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.