A new bespoke journal for writers hoping to weave climate themes into their work
The Climate Fiction Writers League has created The Climate-Conscious Writers Handbook, which has launched today. It has been developed collaboratively with some of the world’s leading climate storytellers.
It has been designed to help writers of all genres weave climate themes into their work. The playful, interactive hardback journal includes writing exercises, reflective activities, comic strips, inspirational quotes and progress trackers.
Scientific research shows the most effective climate fiction is set in the present day and shows achievable sustainable actions, while being positive and solutions-focused. This can easily be done in bestselling genres like romance and thrillers. The handbook aims to help make the process exciting and fun for writers!
It simplifies climate science, helps writers to build confidence and supports them with tips and activities they can do while drafting their project. Pages include: How to Avoid Being Preachy, Climate Solutions Checklists, How to Reach out to Scientists for Collaboration, Common Climate Story Models, Guided Nature Walks, Traditional Storytelling and Folklore, Climate Poetry and more.
The handbook was created by Wren James, YA author and founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League, in collaboration with some of the world’s leading climate storytelling experts, including Climate Spring, Stanford University, the Society of Authors, Green Stories and Rewriting Earth.
A message from Wren: I’ve worked with hundreds of climate writers over the last five years, and the climate fiction I see is mainly dystopian. It focusses on the negative effects of climate change and doesn’t offer any proactive solutions. Those kinds of stories don’t encourage action – people just shut down and feel anxious. I would love to see more books that show how people can really make a difference in their community. Especially in romances and thrillers, which are read in such vast quantities. Weaving sustainable messaging into those books could start conversations about climate change in every household in the country.
The key message of the handbook is that writers don’t need permission to write a story about the climate crisis, or expertise in science. They don’t need to consider themselves an activist. They only need to be creative and imaginative. Historically, fiction has always had a big impact on politics. As imagineers and world-weavers, we should be leading the charge in climate progress by imagining a better future world.
For a full tour of the handbook, watch this video.
The Climate-Conscious Writers Handbook is available to buy now in hardback on Amazon internationally:
This book was created as not-for-profit project by the League. The books are being sold at the lowest price possible, simply to cover printing costs. If you’d like to support the work done by the League, please take out a paid subscription to our Substack newsletter. Thank you!
The Climate Fiction Writers League is a group of authors who believe in the necessity of climate action, immediately and absolutely. Fiction is one of the best ways to inspire passion, empathy and action in readers. The works of our 300+ members help to raise awareness of the climate emergency, highlight solutions and encourage action at the individual, corporate & government levels. Find out more at climate-fiction.org or subscribe to our Substack at climatefictionwritersleague.substack.com
Wren James is the Carnegie-longlisted British author of many Young Adult novels with Walker Books, including Last Seen Online, Green Rising and The Next Together. Amazon MGM Studios is developing The Loneliest Girl in the Universe as a feature film. They are a RLF Royal Fellow and the story consultant on Netflix’s Heartstopper (Seasons 2 and 3). Season 3 features guest star Jonathan Bailey in a role created by Wren. Wren is the founder of the Climate Fiction Writers League and editor of the anthology Future Hopes: Hopeful stories in a time of climate change. They work as a consultant on climate storytelling for museums, production companies, major brands and publishers, with a focus on optimism and hope. Find out more at wrenjames.co.uk.
Climate Fiction Writers League 