Where were the writers
The home of storytelling for the climate curious.
you don’t have to be a climate expert to write a climate story
mission
My objective is to help writers tell stories that inspire real climate action.
The climate crisis isn't just a science problem or a policy problem. It's a story problem. We need storytellers to be part of the solution.
At the moment, many people encounter climate change through news headlines, scientific reports or activist campaigns. These are important, but they often speak to audiences who already care about the issue. They can also present the information in a way that feels overwhelming rather than empowering. Stories can reach hearts and minds in ways that that data alone cannot.
Climate stories don't only need to be earnest documentaries or dystopian warnings. They can be love stories, mysteries, historical fiction or family dramas. Any story can carry environmental themes if you know how to weave them in authentically.
I've spent years working at the intersection of storytelling and impact - as a novelist, in peacebuilding work and through ocean protection campaigns. I've learned what moves audiences and what overwhelms them. I closely follow research on effective climate communication and I know the craft of compelling narrative.
My mission is to bring these worlds together. I want to equip writers with the tools to integrate climate themes into any genre in ways that engage readers without preaching.
We need writers telling climate stories: All kinds of writers. With all kinds of stories. For all kinds of readers.
Work with me
-
Mentoring and Manuscript Reviews
I offer 1:1 mentoring and manuscript consultations to help writers at all stages of the creative process, from idea generation to pushing your book over the finish line.
-
Courses
I run masterclasses and courses both in person and online to help writers to build ocean and climate themes into their writing.
-
Public Speaking
I am available to speak at a range of events, conferences and festivals on the role of storytelling and communication in the future of our planet.
ABOUT ME
I am a writer and a strategic communication specialist living in Cornwall, in the UK. I spend most of my time thinking about how we can use stories to address the world’s most complex problems.
I write fiction, creative non-fiction and (more recently) poetry. My debut novel Pieces of Me (Legend Press, 2018) was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, and selected as a Reading Agency Top Debut and Prima Magazine Best Book of the Year. Harper’s Bazaar called it ‘Heart-wrenching and heart-warming in equal measure’.
When I’m not writing, I work in strategic communications - specifically on ocean issues and how they relate to the climate more broadly. I collaborate with non-governmental organisations, scientists and journalists all over the world to create campaigns and tell stories that change attitudes, behaviours and policy decisions related to the health of the planet.
I’ve been lucky enough to speak about the importance of communications and storytelling at UN Climate COPs, UN Ocean Conferences and other international forums.
I have an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and a BA in Arabic and Spanish from the University of Cambridge. I’ve lived in lots of different places including Iraq, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Syria, Mexico and Chile.
FIVE key Principles i work by:
1. Climate storytelling is an art, but also a science
There is now a growing body of research about how different people respond to stories about the climate and the ocean. This research shows us that some ways of talking about the environment can inspire and motivate people, while others can leave them feel pessimistic and overwhelmed. Writers can draw on this research when thinking about how to tell their story and the types of characters that populate their writing.
2. Climate impact can come from non-climate writing
We need to reach new people with the climate message. Not everyone will pick up a climate novel, but they might pick up a thriller or a fantasy or a romantic novel. We don’t only want to reach people who are already on board with the climate message - art and entertainment are powerful ways to reach new audiences. There are many ways to weave in climate issues without them being front and centre.
3. don’t forget the ocean!
This is the personal drum that I will not stop banging. The ocean is the missing piece of the climate story. It makes up 95% of the living space on the planet and currently buffers us against the worst impacts of the climate crisis by absorbing excess gas and CO2. Ocean storytelling is a particular challenge – in part because there are just fewer people at sea and in part because it is often portrayed as dark and dangerous rather than fragile and full of life. We need more stories that make the connection between society, the ocean and the health of the planet.
4. everyone has the right to tell a climate story
There are as many different climate stories as there are people in the world. Engaging societies in the transformation we need to address the climate crisis means getting everyone on board, or at least a critical mass. Different people enjoy different types of writing, so we need as many climate stories as possible to engage as many people as possible. Every story offers a whole world of opportunities to integrate climate issues, whether big or small. Every story is valid.
5. Nothing beats good writing
However we choose to integrate climate and ocean issues into our writing, the story must always come first. Including climate issues doesn’t mean being didactic. It’s about creating a compelling premise, a propulsive plot, well-developed characters and excellent writing, all while showcasing issues and solutions that could help us change the world.