Unearthing the past: How to write a nature memoir

Would you like to write about your life in the garden, with plants or in the local landscape? Or perhaps you’re partway through a memoir, but need some help with structuring or developing it? This course will explore the narrative structure and style of garden and nature life writing, using published memoirs to inspire our own creativity. The morning session will focus on analysing and discussing life writing extracts and short writing exercises. In the afternoon, there’ll be more time to write and discuss any questions, concerns, aspirations and ongoing projects individually with the tutor. The final part of the course will focus on writing non-fiction proposals for agents and publishers, which also helps develop narrative structure, even if you’re not writing for publication.

Nic Wilson is a writer, editor and Guardian country diarist. She works as a freelancer writer and editor for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine. Her work has appeared in national magazines including The English Garden and The RHS Magazine, and in anthologies such as Women in Nature, Moving Mountains and Going to Ground. Nic has an MA in English Literature, a Diploma in Creative Non-Fiction from the University of Cambridge as well as a Diploma in Garden Design. Nic can be found on Nic Wilson (@nicwilson.bsky.social) — Bluesky