New Nature Writing, a workshop with Deborah Wardle

Participants will be supported in their writing practice and their understandings about New Nature Writing in the context of climate change. How you think about your relationships with the natural world will be extended. 

You will aim to produce a piece of writing (such as creative non-fiction, fiction, poetry, memoir, travel writing) of approximately 1,000 words, or multiple shorter pieces as suited. The program aims to strengthen your writing voice. Each participant is encouraged to develop a regular writing practice throughout the program.

Each week the two-hour workshop will include three main activities:

1. Discussing topics/themes within the broad arena of New Nature Writing, including:
   

   History and styles of Nature Writing – Writing in the Anthropocene, responding to Climate Change, 

   Writing on/about/with Indigenous Country

   Observations, senses and emotions in Nature Writing

   Writing WITH Non-human Animals, Forests, Water, Atmospheres etc

   Extinctions, Hauntings and Eco-Ghosts in New Nature Writing. Solastalgia and Shifting Baseline Syndrome.

   Ecofeminism and Queer Ecologies

   Toxicity and Rubbish: storying dumped matter: challenging cultural myths. 

   Walking, writing emersion in place. 

2. Discussing current nature writing readings as distributed by the facilitator, by email each week. 

3. Writing exercises on the weekly theme – writing prompts and activities will develop your repertoire of creative writing.

The Spring 2026 four-week program is suitable for writers with any range of experience. It is suitable for those who have completed the New Nature Writing workshops in 2025, as the 2026 program revises key themes and covers new topics. 

Photo Credit: Anya Chernykh on Unsplash