thomas m wilson

What is the point in writing about nature?

April 14th, 2009

Some people write about nature in a way that goes beyond scientific observation.  These writers merge history, anthropology, ecology and personal emotional reactions and associations in their work.  This kind of thing constitutes a genre of creative nonfiction about the natural world.

But what is the point of such writing?  Why bother producing it?

Hmm…

Annie Lamont said that:

‘If you are writing the clearest, truest words you can find and doing the best you can to understand and communicate, this will shine on paper like its own little light house. Light houses don’t go running around all over an island looking for boats to save, they just stand there shining.’