Why We Write, my second assignment and monthly book discussions starting in February.
This, and other thoughts around writing and goals, plus my go to comfort read when everything feels a bit ugghh...
First, a bit of housekeeping…
Hi, I just wanted to check in for the fresh-faced subscribers joining us for 2025, and introduce myself and this newsletter. Welcome to Noticing Nature, it's great to have you here.
A bit about me; I'm a solo Mum of two children living in the Northwest of England, I run a dog walking business, am a freelance nature writer (now able to say this without feeling inauthentic as I get paid, which feels EPIC), and a part-time student at Bath Spa University studying a Master’s Degree in Nature and Travel Writing.
This newsletter is weekly, with posts at a ratio of 1 (free): 3 (paid). If you'd like to know more detail about my master’s course, creative writing, observations of nature and other related musings, consider becoming a paid subscriber. You can cancel anytime, I don't keep check, so don't worry.
Occasionally Substack and I will run offers where everything or specific posts are free, so look out for those. Also look out for my monthly book discussions/ reviews for paid subscribers, this is new for 2025, starting in February. The first one's a favourite of mine.
OK, housekeeping done. Now, on with this week's newsletter.
I've just submitted two pieces of writing; my second Master’s assignment where the brief was your writing goals; reflect on where you want your writing to go, include two authors who you can learn from, and an article called February's Wild Romantics for my local magazine about Chaucer's Parliament of Birds and the origins of St Valentine’s Day in relation to nature.
Now I've got a bit of a break until the next trimester starts and I'm thankful for the breather. This assignment - an academic essay, rather than a creative piece - has been difficult in that it was asking what my goals are as a writer, and at this stage I don't really know, I’m seeing where that takes me. With a blank page and a deadline looming, I was flipping out about how to approach this question and decided to instead focus on why I wanted to write, hoping that this would lead me to my goals.
Here's what I discovered about what motivates me - and, it would seem many others - to put pen to paper on a regular basis, despite not really having the time.
