Nature writing with Patrick Barkham

Learn how to write and pitch fascinating stories about the environment

There are more outlets, and more readers, for nature writing than ever before. Ecologically-aware audiences are as interested in the wildlife in their own gardens as they are in the more exotic fauna of Madagascar. Join award-winning naturalist author and journalist Patrick Barkham and learn how to translate your own passion for the natural world into immersive, evocative writing.

This stimulating one-day course won’t just make your writing better, it’ll help you observe and appreciate nature in new ways. Centred around an inspirational field trip observing the nature of King’s Cross and Camley Street Natural Park, you’ll learn how modern nature writing can distil elements of journalism, memoir writing, travelogue and science into fascinating stories about the environment. The course includes time for individual feedback from Patrick to help you sharpen your eye and hone your personal style, as well as advice on how to pitch natural history stories to newspapers, magazines and book publishers.

This course is for you if...

• You’re an aspiring nature journalist or author
• You’re a professional writer in another discipline who wants to move into nature or environmental writing
• You work for an environmental NGO and want to better communicate nature and environmental issues
• You’re an amateur naturalist who wants to improve your writing, or simply get more pleasure out of it

Course description

This intensive one-day course offers a highly practical guide to researching, writing and pitching original pieces of nature writing. It centres around an urban field trip to Camley Street Natural Park and a walk along Regent’s Canal, guided by Patrick Barkham. Topics covered on the day include:

• What is nature writing? An overview of the genre and a look at the great nature writers, from from John Clare to Richard Mabey
• How contemporary nature writing uses memoir, metaphor and narrative
• A look at possible future trends for the genre
• How to sharpen your field observations to become a better interpreter of nature
• Practical writing tips for translating the natural world in words
• How to write about controversial environmental subjects and motivate your readers (without driving them to despair)
• Pitching and publishing: practical advice for professionals, and aspiring professionals
• Field trip exploring the nature of King’s Cross
• Reading session: group discussion of the day’s work with readings and personal feedback
• Q&A and discussion with Patrick Barkham

Tutor profile

Patrick Barkham is a natural history writer for the Guardian and the author of the critically-acclaimed book Badgerlands and The Butterfly Isles. During 14 years at the Guardian, Patrick has reported on subjects ranging from climate change to the Iraq war. Badgerlands was described as a “must-read” by Chris Packham, was shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize and the Wainwright Prize and won the best non-fiction prize at the East Anglian Book Awards. The Butterfly Isles was also shortlisted for the Ondaatje Prize. Read Patrick’s Guardian articles here.

Full course and returns information on the Masterclasses website