First Thoughts
The nature writing I read most is usually creative nonfiction in the form of personal narratives or other narrative-based essays. Creative nonfiction is actually my favorite genre to write, so in general, I get very excited to read other writers from this genre and analyze their craft choices. That said, I can’t think of any specific works that stand out to me, but I get the most enjoyment out of writing that draws on nature and the environment as a source of imagery and symbolism where you wouldn’t necessarily expect it. I think one of the great things about communicating about nature in this way is there are almost endless possibilities when it comes to how the writer chooses to tell their story, such as which perspective to write from or what format would best convey the writer’s point. This can be a challenge as well because having so many options can be overwhelming and it can be easy for the point of the writing to get muddled during the writing process.
Final Thoughts
I’ve really enjoyed being able to see the natural world through the eyes of many different writers. Even though I’ve never been to most of the places that were written about, I felt like I could start to get to know them through the writers’ descriptions and commentary. Something I appreciate from this form of writing as a whole is that you can discuss a larger environmental issue through so many different lenses, including personal experience. I really like this because, across the form, there is a lens that just about every reader can connect with, making this a highly accessible way to read nature writing.
One essay that resonated with me was Lauren Markham’s The Crow Whisperer. As I was reading, I felt like I could relate to what she was talking about because I think it’s fairly easy to understand wildlife if you take the time to watch and listen. One thing that I really liked about this piece, in particular, was that she had an investigative approach. Not only did she relay personal experiences, but she also included testimonies from Buigues and the scientific perspective on communicating with animals. This made the article very well-rounded, and I appreciated having multiple perspectives to see the story. The insight I had about nature was that wildlife isn’t that different from humans. We both want respect from our neighbors and space to live as we please. In terms of nature writing, the biggest thing I learned was that vivid imagery doesn’t have to be the primary component of the piece for it to be good. Having comprehensive research on your subject can be just as impactful. Finally, this article didn’t necessarily shift my own philosophy of nature, but it did validate how I felt about how wildlife needs us just as much as we need them.
My CNF essay is about the meaning of paradise, and how that means the middle of the woods for me. I started writing it as our first lab free write and at the end of that session, I had the beginnings of the essay, though I did slightly modify it. When I went back to continue it, I didn’t really know where I was going, so I just decided to let my mind wander as I wrote. I think something I did well in this essay was capturing my imagination through imagery. There wasn’t a concrete place I had in mind while I was writing besides the wooded area behind my house, so the imagery really helped to ground the essay. One thing I learned about nature writing is that it can be hard to choose just one thing to write about since there are so many parts of nature to consider. Along these same lines, something I learned about myself is that sometimes simple is better. I often don’t write despite having a million ideas because I want to write about all of them, so this was a good way for me to practice restraint.
My original thoughts about creative nonfiction essays have become more developed. I talked originally about how nature writing in this form is so nuanced because not only are there a ton of things to write about, creative nonfiction is a vast genre that encompasses everything from personal narratives to journalism. Something I’ve come to realize though is that within each subgenre, the author’s style can greatly distinguish them from others writing similar things. I think the most important thing I’ve learned about creative nonfiction is just how diverse it is and because of this, just about anyone can find something that resonates with them in this genre.
