Nature Writing and Journaling

I have been nature writing and journaling for years, mostly in text form. But as I age, I’m keen to include sketches and drawings into my journals too–to capture aspects of the natural world I wouldn’t pick up on with written entries alone. I want to combine nature writing and journaling to include sketches of what I see.

Nature journaling is an activity that involves a blend of writing, sketching, and painting to document your insights about the environment, animals, and plants surrounding you.

Nature Journaling

To get started with nature journaling, you don’t need a lot of materials. You can get by with paper and pencil. But if you want to try adding more to your practice, use the following as a guide:

1. Gather materials: You will need a journal or sketchbook, along with writing and drawing tools like pencils, pens, colored pencils, or watercolors.
2. Choose a location: Find a natural setting where you feel comfortable and inspired, such as a park, forest, or your own backyard.
3. Observe: Spend time observing your surroundings, paying attention to details like the colors, shapes, and textures of plants, animals, and other elements in the environment.
4. Record: Write down your observations, thoughts, and feelings about what you see. Include details like the date, time, and weather conditions. You can also sketch or paint the things you observe to help capture the visual aspects of your experience.
5. Reflect: Take some time to reflect on your experience and consider what you’ve learned or discovered through your observations.
6. Make it a habit: Try to incorporate nature journaling into your routine, making regular visits to the same location or exploring new places to observe and document.

For more guidance, you can refer to resources like the BLM’s Guide to Nature Journaling and for a great library of how to sketch specific animals, John Muir Laws’ Nature Journaling: Starting and Growing webpage is a fantastic resource.

Nature Writing

If you’re looking for ways to use all of your senses when you journal, check out “Writing Wild: Forming a Creative Partnership with Nature” by Tina Welling. This amazing book will give you an intimate look at how writing and the natural world work together. It’s like a personal guide that helps writers and other creatives deepen their connection with nature, boosting their creativity and personal growth.

The book is divided into three parts:

1. Aligning with Nature: This section focuses on developing an understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world. Welling encourages readers to observe and interact with nature in order to develop their senses, intuition, and awareness.
2. Engaging the Three-Part Harmony: Welling introduces a three-part harmony concept that involves the body, mind, and spirit working together in a creative partnership with nature. She provides exercises and techniques for connecting with the natural world and using its energy to fuel creativity.
3. Writing Wild: In this final section, Welling shares specific writing practices and exercises that can help readers tap into the power of nature to enhance their writing and creative expression.

By following the guidance in “Writing Wild,” writers and other creative individuals can deepen their connection to the natural world, improve their observational skills, and find inspiration for their work. The book illustrates how engaging with nature and practicing nature journaling can be beneficial for personal growth, creative expression, and overall well-being.

Nature Writers

I also love to read nature writing by such authors as Barry Lopez. Arctic Dreams was one of the first books in that genre that I ever read. The book was published in 1986 and won the National Book Award for Nonfiction the same year. “Arctic Dreams” offers a deep exploration of the Arctic landscape and its wildlife, including Arctic wolves, as well as the indigenous cultures and history of the region. Through his vivid descriptions and reflections, Lopez provides insights into the complex relationships between humans and the natural world, highlighting the beauty and fragility of the Arctic environment.

Other writers I’ve enjoyed are:

1. Edward Abbey: An American author and essayist known for his advocacy for environmental issues, Abbey’s most famous work is “Desert Solitaire,” a reflection on his time as a park ranger in the Utah desert.
2. Annie Dillard: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Dillard’s “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek” is a classic work of nature writing that combines personal narrative, philosophy, and natural history.
3. Aldo Leopold: A pioneering conservationist, Leopold’s “A Sand County Almanac” is a collection of essays that advocate for a responsible relationship between humans and the natural world.
4. John Muir: Known as the “Father of the National Parks,” Muir’s writings on his experiences in the wilderness, such as “My First Summer in the Sierra” and “The Mountains of California,” were instrumental in the creation of the U.S. National Park system.
5. Rachel Carson: Carson’s groundbreaking book “Silent Spring” exposed the dangers of pesticide use and helped spark the modern environmental movement. Her other works, like “The Sea Around Us,” also explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world.
6. Wendell Berry: A poet, essayist, and novelist, Berry’s writings, such as “The Unsettling of America” and “The Art of the Commonplace,” focus on the importance of community, agriculture, and our responsibility to care for the environment.
7. Robin Wall Kimmerer: A plant ecologist and member of the Potawatomi Nation, Kimmerer’s “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” combines traditional indigenous knowledge and modern ecology to explore our relationship with the natural world.
8. Terry Tempest Williams: An American author and conservationist, Williams’s works like “Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place” and “The Hour of Land” explore the connections between the environment, culture, and personal experience.

These authors, like Barry Lopez, have made significant contributions to the field of nature writing and offer unique perspectives on our relationship with the natural world.

Expanding Upon Nature Writing and Journaling

Other writers who expand the genre of nature writing include Rebecca Solnit. While her work spans various genres and topics, including history, art, politics, and feminism, several of her books focus on landscapes, nature, and the human relationship with the environment. Some of her nature-themed books include:

Wanderlust: A History of Walking: This book explores the history, culture, and politics of walking, as well as the role of walking in connecting with nature and the environment.
A Field Guide to Getting Lost: In this collection of essays, Solnit reflects on the concept of getting lost, both physically and metaphorically, and how it can lead to a deeper connection with the natural world and personal growth.
Savage Dreams: A Journey into the Hidden Wars of the American West: Solnit explores the political, cultural, and environmental conflicts in the American West and how they shape our understanding of the landscape.

Through these books and others, Rebecca Solnit demonstrates a keen interest in the natural world, making her an important voice in contemporary nature writing.

As a writer and artist, I have found that incorporating practices from nature writers and nature journalers into my daily life has enabled me to create a deeper connection with nature. This has fed my creative expression, helping me to find inspiration in the world around me and encouraging greater personal growth. By writing about my experiences in nature, I am able to better tap into its power for creativity.