Writing about the climate crisis can be a powerful tool for activism, especially for young people reckoning with the impacts of previous generations. We asked the winners of our Climate Awards for any advice that they would give to their peers—read on to discover their top tips for environment and climate writing!
Sasindie Subasinghe, who won an award for her poignant poem about the climate crisis:
“Look at your own life and your own experiences with the environment and climate, and capture that with honest detail. You can read, research and learn much about the climate crisis, but until you’ve truly felt something, it would always be impersonal. You may know a lot with your head, but what do you know with your body and your heart? That is the question you want to answer. Being a city girl, I don’t know much about the wildfires in forests, or the floods in riverbanks, but I do know the sky all too well, the stars and the thunderclouds, and how the heat of the sun feels on my skin, so that is where I started. Lastly, don’t be afraid to explore personal topics. Yes, it may feel scary and uncomfortable, but I promise you, this is where you will find things of great energy, things that only you can add to the world. Raising a family one day is quite a personal dream of mine, but in the passion I feel for it I found the emotion to imbue in my poem.”
Jane Long, whose dystopian flash fiction piece earned her a prize:
“When writing what-if scenarios, it’s really important to get into the imaginary world you’re building. Imagine how daily life might work around the obstacles and problems of your world. Can you take a shower, or does a water shortage prevent that? Do you ride in a car? A boat? A plane? Try to be as realistic and true-to-your-world as possible. Also, word choice can make or break a scene, especially if you’re writing under a word count. Synonyms are a writer’s best friend. They can convey emotion and really spice up your writing. Whenever you feel like you’re overusing a word, try looking up a similar word or phrase and using it instead.”
Luie Waters, winner of the Advocacy Letter Writing category:
“I would say to focus on one thing at a time. There is so much to write about climate-wise but it is easier emotionally, and I think more effective as writing, when each piece has a specific focus.”