Thumbnail Nature writing, it’s a thing…

At the end of last week an idea began to coalesce while I was writing the proposal for a nature-writing workshop in which I’m planning to ask participants to focus on a piece of ultra-short-form writing of less than 50 words.

A number of writers I follow on Twitter use tweets as a form of nature writing which fits this ultra-short brief very well. I particularly like this one by Nicola Chester, both the rhythm and imagery of her writing and the way she uses abbreviations…

Autumn from ‘the gap.’ A passing storm, & the frisson of another at my back. Willow tits on the edge of the wood & a hare in hiding with me. She knows I’ve seen her & indicates by lowering & raising her long, sundae-spoon ears that she’ll bolt if I make eye contact a 2nd time. pic.twitter.com/2azanRBt2k

— Nicola Chester (@nicolawriting) November 8, 2020

Could persuade some of my other favourite writers to share some ultra-short-form nature writing using the hashtag #ThumbnailNature? I was delighted when Dominic Couzens led the way – what a lovely man he is! Philip Strange and Richard Hargreaves then kindly took the baton and ran with it.

I’m going to spend a bit more time on Thumbnail Nature writing too as a way of promoting my writing blog and here’s my first effort. I like the expression “Never tire of…” and think I’ll be using it again.

Never tire of rippling reed beds, blue-green & chrome yellow delicious eyeful. Hoping for the anomalous pattern of a bittern, pinning down a cetti’s chatter or just marvelling at this extraordinary habitat-creating grass. #ThumbnailNature https://t.co/ijcdpY1hdo

— Amanda Tuke (@suburbanwilduk) November 15, 2020