Welcome to this newsletter in which I’ll share opportunities I’ve ferreted out for nature writers, recommend blogs and books, suggest nature-writing tips/prompts and more…
This month’s updates
- LAST CHANCE! Just a reminder that on Saturday 17th April, I’ll be running a free online nature-writing workshop for London Wildlife Trust’s Great North Wood Project in partnership with wonderful nature-writer Jane Adams. The theme is The Frantic Clamour of Spring and adults and family groups can register here. The workshop is made possible by National Lottery Funding through Arts Council England.
- Competition. BBC Countryfile Magazine have launched their New Nature Writer of the Year Competition for 2021. If you’ve never been published in print for a national audience, then you’re eligible to enter 600-800 words on the topic of ‘an escape to nature’ with a closing date of 9th June 2021.
- Competition. There’s a long lead-in to the prestigious Nature Chronicles Prize which is looking for “engaging, unique, essay-length non-fiction that responds to the time we are in and the world as it is, challenging established notions of nature writing where necessary”. Costing £15, entries open 15th Jun 2021 and close 15th Jan 2022.
- Nature journalling workshop. The Northumberland National Park are hosting an online workshop led by their writer-in-residence, Sheree Mack, on 22nd April which is International Earth Day.
- Coming soon. The Urban Tree Festival 2021 is coming soon (15th to 23rd May) and El Rhodes, flash writing suprema, is running free nature-writing workshops as part of it. Keep an eye on the event site to find out how to register.
This month’s Who to Read or Follow recommendations:
- This month I’ve been reading Peter Wohlleben’s 2016 book The Hidden Life of Trees. It’s absolutely fascinating and written in a lovely, gentle style.
- Jane Adams, with whom I’m leading the April writing workshop, has a lovely article about the scents of spring in this month’s edition of BBC Countryfile magazine.
- Twitter users, I’d recommend following @wildflowerhour – a group of kind and very generous botanists who help with plant identification and suggest wildflower challenges ready for Wildflower Hour which is 8-9pm on Sundays. I’ve learnt so much from them.
This month’s Nature-writing tips and prompts:
Stuck for April nature-writing inspiration? The 24th of April is National Sense of Smell Day. Why don’t you have a go writing about the best and worst natural smells…
Start adding to your knowledge of the nature around you today. April is a great month for starting a year-long list of butterflies you see.
And… please send me anything you’d like to be included in next month’s newsletter.
Freelance Nature Writer 