Getting started with writing
Getting started might feel daunting, especially if you’ve never written before – or if you have, but you’ve never written about climate change. Keep in mind that this project is not interested in assessing how good your writing is, or in how much you know about the science of climate change. What we’re interested in is hearing the story you’d like to write, however you’d like to express it.
On this page, you’ll find some writing prompts which might be helpful if you’d like to write a story but aren’t sure what to write about. These are just intended as a jumping-off point, so don’t feel you have to use these if you don’t want to – if there’s another story you want to tell, write whatever feels important to you.
If you’d like some wider guidance on writing about the natural world, take a look at the resources from other organisations that have been pulled together below.
Writing prompts
Where we are today
What does living through this moment of change feel like for you? This could be about the news, the weather today, or a project you’re involved in. You might want to think about how climate change is woven into the small routines of daily life – what does the world look and feel like from where you’re standing?
What we remember
You might want to focus on a moment of your own life that brings climate change home to you. This could be a memory, a family story, or a local tradition, or it might be something that has either disappeared or emerged as a result of environmental changes.
Imagined futures
What might your street, a favourite place in Scotland, or even the whole country look like in 10, 50, 100, or 500 years? You might want to explore things getting better, things getting worse, or something in between. This could involve imagining what your own life might look like in future, or the voice of someone else living in a future Scotland.
How it feels
Climate change isn’t just about the weather – you might want to explore feelings, thoughts, and shifts in perspective that come with living in a changing world. You might write about moments of overwhelm, hope, fear or determination, or the small ways these changes shape our everyday lives.
Climate and community
This could mean thinking about human communities or wider ecosystems – the animals, plants, and even the weather that form part of our wider communities. Or you might want to think about your local community – the people and places you see regularly. Do you see these changing, or have they changed already?
Resources from other organisations
Scottish Book Trust
The Scottish Book Trust has an excellent collection of writing tips, articles and advice which is free to access. You may also find it helpful to take a look at their resources on reading, writing and the environment.
The Nan Shepherd Prize
This prize for under-represented voices in nature writing has some really useful guidance on nature writing – from how to get started through to the publishing process. Their tips on writing about nature might be especially helpful.
National Centre for Writing
The National Centre for Writing offers a range of resources for both those who are new to writing and those who are looking to develop their skills, including advice, practical tips, and short writing exercises.
Ready to submit?
Once you’ve written something you’re happy with, you can find out more about how to submit your story here: