Written into Nature II
By Grace Safford
A BOOK OF PROMPTS
Your Nature Writing Adventure To be in nature is to be inspired. As a writer, artist, and creative, whenever I'm outside, I feel my brain awaken. I feel my thoughts stir. I
As with the previous volume, I must note that this was a small personal passion project made on Canva. All prompts and writings are by me, but the illustrations were found free-for-use on Canva (I deeply admire visual artists, I wish I had that artistic talent). This book is a collection of made-art to inspire art-making. I created this collection of prompts simply to bring some happiness and creativity into my life and yours. I hope it sparks some of nature's warmth in your bones.
feel my heart sing. I feel like... myself. Keep creating. Keep writing. Written Into Nature: Chapter II is a continuation of the 30-day prompt book, Written Into Nature. This volume expands upon the first, offering the reader another 30 days worth of nature-themed prompts that are meant to kick start your writing (or even your art). Whether you need a spark of inspiration or you're looking to have a bit of fun, these prompts can guide you across the page. In this volume, we visit everything from the frogs of your local forest, to the leaves that tap at your window, to the whales at the depths of the ocean. No matter where we go on our nature adventure, we're sure to find a new story along the way. Do you have a pencil? A pad of paper? Then let's explore.
GRETEL EHRLICH "Everything in nature invites us constantly to be what we are."
WALT WHITMAN "I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars."
ROBIN WALL KIMMERER “Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart.”
1.Where We Land Next
2. In Autumn, Speak to Me
Write about the flight of a dragonfly. Where
Write about the first signs of fall. How does
has it been? What has it seen and felt?
nature tell you it's ready to change? Write
Where will it go next?
about that conversation.
3. The Pace of the World
4. To Sleep in the Chill of Fall
Write from the perspective of a slow moving
Write from the perspective of a plant or tree
creature. Does time even matter when the
going to sleep in late fall. What happens in
word "rush" is absent from your life?
those few last waking moments before months of slumber?
5. Who Am I Who Are You
6. Goodbye, for Now
Write from the perspective of a flower that is
Think about a bird that you frequently see.
trying to come up with a name for itself.
Write about its journey south for the winter.
7. The Friend at The Window
8. Where is the Moon Tonight
Write about the leaves that tap at your
Write from the perspective of a simple
window every morning and night. Write
brown moth who loves the moon. What does
about what these leaves have seen and
it think when it looks to the sky?
supported you through.
9. The Language of Flowers
10. The Nature of a Hat
Think about the language of flowers. What
Acorn caps make the perfect hat. Write
meaning do your favorite flowers convey to
about the creature that starts wearing an
you? Write about their stories.
acorn hat.
11. This is Beautiful, Too
12. The Path We Make Together
Mushrooms often live among forest decay.
Write from the perspective of a mountain.
Write about how rotting logs and fungus are
What must it be like to have people walk on
just as beautiful as flowers.
you every day—to have footprints left on you?
13. Lost And Found You find a bird feather on the ground. Write the story of the bird who lost that feather.
14. I Will Catch You When You Speak Write about the secrets of the ocean whispered into shells.
15. An Unexpected Companion
16. Rest Here, Just for a Moment
Write about the unlikely friendship between
A mushroom makes the perfect umbrella in
you and the neighborhood squirrel.
a sudden rainstorm. Write about the creatures who use the mushroom to hide from the rain.
17. To Find Each Other Think about a tree close to your home. How are you and this tree much more alike than you originally thought?
18. What We Find Where No One Looks Jellyfish have no brains. Nevertheless, write about the deep beauty of their lives floating in the ocean.
19. Thinking in the Rain
20. Take Off With Me, Won't You?
Write about the thoughts a plant must have
Write from the perspective of a moth
on a rainy day. What do they think about as
moments before it learns how to fly.
the raindrops land on them?
21. To Think, To Live Think about a flower in the middle of a field. Write about that flower's top three dreams.
22. To be as Busy as a Bee Write about the morning routine of a honey bee. What does it check off its to-do list?
23. The Unexpected Hero
24. Look Down to See the Beauty
Write from the perspective of the humble
Think about all of the different things you
frog. Make the frog the hero of its own story.
can see on the forest floor. Write about the
(whether it be small or grand).
little-big world right at our feet.
25. At The Edge Of the Earth
26. Branch Out, Say Hello
Think about the way it feels to stand at the
Write from the perspective of a branch that
very top of a mountain. How, in that
is trying to reach towards something new.
moment, do you feel powerful? How do you
What is it trying to touch?
feel small?
27. See Me in a New Light
28. Find Me and Start The Day
Write about things in nature you once found
Write from the perspective of a small forest
ugly or insignificant. Write about how now,
creature looking for its morning breakfast.
with a new perspective, you find them
What does it find along the way?
beautiful and important.
29. Love, Happiness, Connection
30. The Most Beautiful Creature on Earth
What three words best describe your
Whales are the largest creatures on earth.
relationship to nature? Write them down
Write about what it must be like to be the
and expand upon your words through story.
gentle giant of the ocean.
Write in The Forest Looking to find your writing community? Jump from the page to our network!
Follow @gracesafford on Instagram where once a week prompts from Written into Nature are posted. Using the hashtag #WrittenIntoNature, you will be encouraged to tag and share your response to each prompt.
Happy writing and happy exploring.
Grace Safford
CLAUDE MONET "The richness I achieve comes from Nature, the source of my inspiration."