Developing Nature Writing – Online

During this beginner course, you will build on your skills within nature writing and learn some practices and techniques, allowing you to develop as a writer, as you take inspiration from nature, art, and philosophy to hone your craft. You will create your own pieces including different forms of fiction and share them with other learners. This course, brimming with activities, is equally suitable for budding naturalists and people who enjoy writing.

This is a 4-week online course covering 4 topics, for which you will complete a variety of self-led online resources and activities. Each topic is then concluded with an interactive Zoom workshop to complement the online content. Time commitment is approximately 2-3 hours a week and an E-certificate is provided upon completion.

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Use visual storytelling through cultural art and learn techniques to allow to create prose from famous artwork.
• Identify cultural engagement with nature through studying specific poetic works and create your own writing to draw personal understandings from nature.
• Explain folklore in relation to landscape and place and explore how to use nature as an inspiration for creative storytelling.
• Bring the natural world to life through fictitious writing, and consider writing style, language and structure when creating your own imaginative landscapes and characters.
• Share this knowledge with friends, family, and fellow volunteers.

Please note that bookings will close 2 working days before the start date to allow for all participants to be enrolled to the online platform – booking will not be taken after this time. Bookings will close sooner if course capacity is reached

Who Should Attend? – Budding writers, Nature enthusiasts, Students, Rangers, Early career ecologists.

Knowledge Level – Introductory. Level descriptors can be found on the following webpage: Framework and Course Level Descriptors

Prior Knowledge – No existing knowledge or experience is needed for this course. Just a willingness to contribute and learn.

Understand how our online courses are delivered.

Live Webinar Information

There are 4 webinars for this course, taking place at the end of each week. Please see the date listing below for the day and time.

Please note – webinars will be recorded and uploaded to the virtual learning platform for learners unable to attend.

Emma McKenzie

Emma McKenzie is a writer and artist based in York, UK. Emma has a special interest in nature-based writing and has been running ecotherapy based courses over the last five years. She uses writing skills to connect people to the natural world for wellbeing purposes.

Week 1: Nature and Art
Self-study material available at the course start date
Week 1 Live Webinar at the end of week 1

Week 2: Introduction to Philosophy and Nature
Self-study material available after week 1 webinar
Week 2 Live Webinar at the end of week 2

Week 3: Nature Folklore and Mythology
Self-study material available after week 2 webinar
Week 3 Live webinar: at the end of week 3

Week 4: Nature Fiction Writing
Self-study material available after week 4 webinar
Week 4 Live webinar at the end of week 4

The final deadline to complete any outstanding activities and self-study components is 2 weeks after the final webinar

Time commitment: This course will require approximately 2 - 3 hours of your time each week. This includes covering course materials on our Moodle learning platform and the zoom session

• 
  Expert Tuition

The course has been carefully created to help you continue to build and develop your knowledge as the course progresses. With content crafted to the online Moodle Platform and bespoke to the Field Studies Council.

The course includes:

• 45-minute interactive weekly Zoom workshops to connect with the tutor and other participants
• Expert tuition for which the Field Studies Council is renowned
• Activities to work on independently in advance of each Zoom workshop
• Course completion certificate

Once registered, you will follow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work.

Student Discount

This course is eligible for a student discount. If you are a current student, please use discount code BioStudent20 at checkout for 20% off all Biodiversity courses.

Accessing Your Course

Once you sign up you’ll receive an email at least 24 hours in advance of the course opening with details of how to access our easy-to-use platform, Moodle.
Moodle can be accessed through a browser or an app.
Webinars are via Zoom so you won’t need any new software to attend

Recommended Devices

It is recommended that you access your course through a PC or laptop. Please be aware that there will be reduced functionality if you decide to access the course through a tablet or smartphone. The Field Studies Council is unable to email content directly to you.
llow well-illustrated, user-friendly ’books’ to pick up knowledge. Quizzes and skill-checks will give you instant feedback on your learning. Forums give students the chance to interact with each other as well as a place to share work.