All writers have been there. The pencil-chewing, mindless keyboard clacking, and empty white page staring back at you in silent judgement with the power of a thousand suns. You’re a great writer, you want to start writing, but you just don’t know what to write about. Even acclaimed writers (most famously George R.R.Martin) get writer’s block, so it’s nothing to worry about. I get it too! It’s not a sign of failure, but instead a sign to leave your workspace, get out of the house, and reevaluate your approach. I’m here today to help you do just that! Here are some tips to pick a topic for the Write the World Environmental Writing Competition that will resonate with you and your readers.
Step 1: Look Around You
As Sherlock Holmes told Dr.Watson, “You see, but you do not observe.” When it comes to choosing a topic to write about, often the first step is looking around you. Whether you are in a crowded coffee shop, the middle of the woods, or the grocery store, stop and take a second to observe your surroundings. How do they make you feel? If you listen carefully, what stories are people telling each other? What are the squirrels doing? How long ago were Cheerios invented? If you allow yourself to observe and wonder for long enough, you’ll realize that everything and everyone has some story to tell.
Observing and reflecting on your emotions is a great first step because it unlocks your creativity, and forces you to use your keen observation skills to capture the stories of a people or place. If we take a second look at the familiar, we often notice little details we never would have before. My advice: bring a notebook with you as you walk around, and take notes on stories and feelings as they come up.
Step 2: Memories, People, and Place
Now that you’ve observed your immediate surroundings like a true writer (or detective), it’s time to go bigger. Even time travel! (Cue Doctor Who theme music here.) Here are some questions to ask yourself:
That’s a lot of questions, but don’t get too overwhelmed. You can focus on the one that makes you the most curious. Memories and stories from your own life are a great place to start. Reflection is key to uncovering these stories from your past or present that make a great diving-off point for a creative nonfiction piece.
Step 3: Telling your Story and Connecting it to the Bigger Picture
Now that you’ve done some observation, some reflection, and picked a place to start, it’s time to develop your topic/story. Creative nonfiction is the merging of literary techniques like metaphor, simile, characterization, plot, non-chronological narratives, etc, with a real story and real facts. Beginning with a story of your own that really happened and tying it to a real-world environmental issue is a great way to write an engaging piece that draws on emotion and storytelling in the first person to spark interest in the environment.
Once you have your personal story in mind, do some research to discover how it connects to these broader environmental issues. Read your local newspaper. Check out books from the library on this topic. Search websites or people online that have something important to say about it. What is a news story happening right now in your community, or in the environmental movement, that connects to your experience?
A great example of this is The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer. She begins with a small personal story of her neighbour sharing berries with her from her farm, and ties this to the larger need in society for everyone to share resources instead of hoarding them for ourselves. This shows that sometimes the smallest moments in our lives can be the inspiration for our writing, so hold onto them and look for those stories as you start your writing journey.
Conclusion
Writing is hard. Sometimes it feels like climbing up a cliff while desperately searching for a foothold or place to grab onto. But that’s ok. Starting with a small hill means when you get to those larger climbs you have the skills and tools to fall back on to make it happen.
What does that look like in writing? Before you write down anything, observe your surroundings. Reflect on important memories in your life where you spent time in nature or tackled an environmental issue. Read books. Talk to others. Instead of focusing on making a perfect first draft straight off the bat, try simply writing everything that comes to mind on your chosen topic. Pure stream of consciousness. When it comes to writing, practice makes perfect. And everybody loves a good story that comes from the heart.
Thank you to The Starfish Canada Youth Journal for contributing this blog written by Esther Vininsky-Oakes!
Esther Vininsky-Oakes is the Editor-in-Chief of the Youth Journal at The Starfish. She holds a Master’s Degree in English Literature from McGill University and a BA in English and History from Carleton University. She loves stories and is particularly passionate about using art and storytelling to promote environmental causes and animal rights. Outside of her role at The Starfish, Esther loves to bake, go for bike rides, write poetry, and explore Montreal with a chai latte in hand.
About The Starfish Canada:
Since 2010, we have inspired young Canadians to take leadership roles in their communities and to celebrate their peers' contributions in the environmentalism movement.
The Starfish Canada uplifts youth changemakers, amplifying their voices in climate action while centering our approach on equity and justice. We provide the essential education, resources, communities, and recognition for youth to thrive as leaders in shaping a climate-resilient future through our Youth Journal, Learning and Development Program, Speakers' bureau, Youth Advisory-Action Committee, Top 25 Environmentalists under 25 awards, and our annual Youth Environmental Changemakers Summit.
Our vision is a just and climate-resilient future shaped by all youth.
If you happen to live in Canada and would like to become a writer for The Starfish Youth Journal, join a wonderful community of 50+ youth writers and editors from across Canada and get the opportunity to share your work on a national platform, please contact Esther at esther@thestarfish.ca.