Welcome to Autistic Realms Newsletter!
Creative Nonfiction for Science & Nature Online Workshops Coming Soon!
This three-part introductory course is for writers of any background who are interested in writing and curious about the natural world. It is designed to be accessible to complete beginners, while offering plenty to explore for people who have written before.
Cost: £75 for all three sessions | Concessions £30 | Free places available
Dates: Saturdays, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (UK time) / 17:00 – 18:30 (China Standard Time)
- 21st November 2026
- 5th December 2026
- 19th December 2026
Booking:Register at Tixtree
About the course
We’ll explore creative nonfiction prose about science, nature and our relationships with the living world, drawing on work by writers from a range of cultures, countries and traditions. Black, Indigenous and other Global Majority writers will be embedded throughout the course materials.
Creative nonfiction is factual writing, often deeply personal, that borrows some of the flourishes and deeper techniques of fiction, such as imagery and metaphor. These techniques can make true stories beautiful to read. Science and nature creative nonfiction can also make complex ideas vivid, personal and accessible.
Across three relaxed Saturday mornings, we’ll explore some of the techniques science and nature writers use to turn observation, subjective experiences, ideas and factual material into compelling and creative prose.
Led by Writing the Dawn’s founder Barb(she/her), each session will include guided exercises and protected quiet writing time, with opportunities to experiment, follow your interests and return to ideas across the three sessions. The fortnight between sessions gives you room to notice things, let ideas settle and continue writing if you wish to.
Who is it for?
This course is for adults who would like to explore creative nonfiction writing about nature, science, place, the environment or our experiences of the living world.
People from all backgrounds are welcome. Marginalised and minoritised people, including disabled, Global Majority, neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ writers, are warmly encouraged to attend. The course materials will reflect a range of perspectives on nature, place, science, oppression, identity and our relationships with the environment.
What we'll explore
Over the three sessions, we'll look at areas including:
- observation, sensory detail and finding material to write about
- creative nonfiction and the many forms science and nature writing can take
- using description, imagery, metaphor and sense of place
- reading and learning from science and nature writers from a range of backgrounds
- blending factual or researched material into creative, personal writing
- writing about our relationships with science and nature
- developing and revising your own work.
The emphasis is on exploration and developing your writing. You might work on one piece across the course, experiment with several ideas, or use the sessions to discover what you enjoy writing.
You can follow your own interests. If you’re much more drawn to nature than science, or vice versa, you can focus your writing wherever your curiosity takes you.
You'll also come away with:
- handouts and tip sheets on science and nature writing
- a collection of science and nature writing extracts
- a list of resources for continuing your exploration
- a certificate of completion
- access to follow-up support by email.
Accessibility & important information
- No writing or science background is required. You might spend your weekends identifying fungi, enjoy watching clouds from the kitchen window, have a casual interest in quantum physics, or simply be curious about the world around you.
- Your writing can stay completely private. There is no enforced sharing or reading aloud, and there will be no icebreakers or breakout spaces. Activities and opportunities to contribute are optional.
- The course is neurodiversity-affirming. You can have your camera on or off, move, fidget or stim, use the Zoom chat instead of speaking, adapt exercises to suit you better, or simply listen during discussions.
- A scheduled break is included in each session, and you can take additional breaks whenever you need them.
- Live captions will be available, and we can provide written notes covering the session content, similar to a presenter transcript.
- We do not record sessions, as attendees may share personal or sensitive information.
- Slides and supporting materials will be shared during and following the sessions.
- Other access requests and questions are very welcome. Please contact us at hello@writingthedawn.com.
Cost
The full three-session course costs £75.
This course fee helps us subsidise places for people who would otherwise be unable to afford the full cost.
A limited number of £30 concessionary places and free places are also available. If you need a free place, please email us at hello@writingthedawn.com. You do not need to provide a reason for needing a free place.
What you'll need
Just bring:
- something to write with: a notebook, laptop, tablet or whatever works for you
- one to three science or nature objects you like, if you have them, such as rocks, shells or leaves
- somewhere reasonably comfortable to join the Zoom session (pets and blankets are welcome!)
- curiosity about writing and the world around you.
Before the course, we’ll also send you a short activity to complete in advance, along with some optional reading.
Come as you are, write in the way that works for you, and leave with new material, techniques to experiment with, and more confidence in finding your own way into science and nature writing.
Looking forward to sharing more blogs, resources, research and upcoming events soon!
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Best Wishes,
Helen
"Community is magic.
Community is power.
Community is resistance.”
Alice Wong
