Do you write in Nature? With Spring in the air, this is a lovely challenge to get creative with your words. All you need is a pen and journal and head out for a walk or even just sit in the garden… I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. 

 

Writing in nature can be beneficial for your health and creativity. The importance of connecting readers to your words is imperative, if you want to place them in a world through your eyes. This may be achieved in a variety of ways.  

Describe the Touch or Textures of a topic. Listen to the Wildlife and the natural surrounding elements. It can also be productive by researching Artefacts, the Heritage and History of a chosen area. 

For some, it is drawn from the emotions that we feel, whilst being in a certain place or a sense of nostalgia that may be infused by the sound of the sea or the changing of the seasons. 

A beautiful example of this and a personal favourite is Charles Causley’s, The Seasons in North Cornwall. 

During a weekend stay at Prussia Cove on the coast of Mount’s Bay in Cornwall. A group of students and I were fortunate to take part in a Nature Workshop led by author of Draw of the sea Wyl Menmuir. 

By taking a morning walk along the coastal path, the stunning views, the history of the place and the fresh aromas were a fantastic setting for some interesting writing exercises. 

WHY NOT HAVE A GO YOURSELF? 

Exercise 1. Create a SOUND map. 

Draw a circle and put a dot in the centre. The dot represents you. The further out of the circle the further away the sound is. 

Write down everything that you can hear by considering the following. 

1. Surroundings 

1. Tones 

1. Aromas 

1. Wildlife 

1. Weather 

Exercise 2. Use a PROMPT 

This can be one word or a sentence. Use this and continuously write for 10 minutes without any planning. 

Prompt examples 

1. Seasons 

1. Lighthouse 

1. Wildflower meadow 

1. Lost 

1. Journey 

Exercise 3. Observe  

Imagine an incident that may have taken place in your chosen setting, either in the past or the present. 

Exercise 4. Create 

Compose a piece of Poetry or short story from your results. 

    

Words and Photography by Caroline Hancock 

Caroline’s debut poetry collection is now available via Amazon. Inspired by her time walking sections of Cornwall’s coastal path after a difficult time in her life, it is a journey of solitary moments of reflection on love and loss, with themes connected to the natural world.