Nature Writing and Journaling Workshops
I love to bring my two passions--writing and the natural world--together, and I love even more
to share with other people the joy of writing and journaling in and about nature.
Upcoming Workshops
Nature Writing in the Field. River Brook Preserve, Waldoboro, ME, Saturday, September 20, 10 am - Noon
Join Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani as we take our notebooks outdoors and seek inspiration in the natural world. Exploring River Brook Preserve, we'll engage in exercises designed to hone our observation skills and sharpen all of our senses. We’ll then observe an element of the natural world closely, working our way from description to metaphor, from metaphor to memory, and from memory to emotion. Through this process, we'll each generate a short poem or vignette and come away with a practice for close observation and writing that can be used anywhere. We’ll be outside the whole time, so dress for the weather, be prepared for ticks and bugs, and bring snacks and water. Please bring a journal or notebook and pencil or pen. You may also want a sit pad or small, portable camp chair.
Nature Journaling: Story Mapping, Hidden Vally Nature Center, Jefferson, ME, Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m - Noon
Join Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani as we explore Hidden Valley Nature Center and create story maps that depict our journey. Our illustrated story maps will depict the route we travel, interesting features we encounter, and events that occur along the way. We'll hike from the parking lot, around Crossbill Loop, and along Warbler Way, creating our story maps as we go. By noticing and recording the sights, sounds, and moments that draw our attention, we'll sharpen our observation skills and deepen our connection to the natural world. When we arrive at the barn, we'll spend some time at the picnic tables refining our maps, adding details and color, and sharing our creations. The program will end at noon at the barn, so please factor in an extra five to ten minutes to walk back to the parking lot. We’ll be outside the whole time, so dress for the weather, be prepared for ticks and bugs, and bring snacks and water. Please bring a journal or paper and clipboard and pencil or pen. The instructor will provide colored pencils and basic watercolors.
Blueprint for a Book: Plan Your Novel or Memoir. Kennebec Neighbors Adult Education, Gardiner, Maine
Tuesdays, October 7 - 28, 6 - 8 pm, $100
Do you have a story that you’ve always wanted to turn into a novel or memoir? In this workshop, we’ll take your dreams and set them on the road to reality. Over the course of three weeks, writer and Author Accelerator-certified book coach Andrea Lani will guide you into your deep-level why of writing your book, help you articulate the point your novel will make or the question your memoir will answer, and lead you in constructing the sturdy tripod of setting, character, and plot on which to rest your narrative. You’ll complete the course with an outline that will set you on the path to writing your best book. Please bring a pen and notebook or laptop to each class.
Join Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani as we take our notebooks outdoors and seek inspiration in the natural world. Exploring River Brook Preserve, we'll engage in exercises designed to hone our observation skills and sharpen all of our senses. We’ll then observe an element of the natural world closely, working our way from description to metaphor, from metaphor to memory, and from memory to emotion. Through this process, we'll each generate a short poem or vignette and come away with a practice for close observation and writing that can be used anywhere. We’ll be outside the whole time, so dress for the weather, be prepared for ticks and bugs, and bring snacks and water. Please bring a journal or notebook and pencil or pen. You may also want a sit pad or small, portable camp chair.
Nature Journaling: Story Mapping, Hidden Vally Nature Center, Jefferson, ME, Saturday, October 4, 10 a.m - Noon
Join Maine Master Naturalist Andrea Lani as we explore Hidden Valley Nature Center and create story maps that depict our journey. Our illustrated story maps will depict the route we travel, interesting features we encounter, and events that occur along the way. We'll hike from the parking lot, around Crossbill Loop, and along Warbler Way, creating our story maps as we go. By noticing and recording the sights, sounds, and moments that draw our attention, we'll sharpen our observation skills and deepen our connection to the natural world. When we arrive at the barn, we'll spend some time at the picnic tables refining our maps, adding details and color, and sharing our creations. The program will end at noon at the barn, so please factor in an extra five to ten minutes to walk back to the parking lot. We’ll be outside the whole time, so dress for the weather, be prepared for ticks and bugs, and bring snacks and water. Please bring a journal or paper and clipboard and pencil or pen. The instructor will provide colored pencils and basic watercolors.
Blueprint for a Book: Plan Your Novel or Memoir. Kennebec Neighbors Adult Education, Gardiner, Maine
Tuesdays, October 7 - 28, 6 - 8 pm, $100
Do you have a story that you’ve always wanted to turn into a novel or memoir? In this workshop, we’ll take your dreams and set them on the road to reality. Over the course of three weeks, writer and Author Accelerator-certified book coach Andrea Lani will guide you into your deep-level why of writing your book, help you articulate the point your novel will make or the question your memoir will answer, and lead you in constructing the sturdy tripod of setting, character, and plot on which to rest your narrative. You’ll complete the course with an outline that will set you on the path to writing your best book. Please bring a pen and notebook or laptop to each class.
Schedule a Workshop at Your Organization
A note on pricing: Prices listed are my fee for the entire workshop. Organizations may set per-participant pricing as they see fit.
Free Workshops: As a Maine Master Naturalist, I provide a limited number of workshops per year on a volunteer basis to nonprofit organizations or schools around Maine. These slots fill up fast, so contact me early if you're interested in a free workshop.
Free Workshops: As a Maine Master Naturalist, I provide a limited number of workshops per year on a volunteer basis to nonprofit organizations or schools around Maine. These slots fill up fast, so contact me early if you're interested in a free workshop.
Introduction to Nature Journaling
In this workshop I teach what a nature journal is, share examples, and guide participants through a range of drawing and writing exercises to sharpen their observation skills, pique their curiosity, and enhance their relationship with the natural world. Participants will learn to overcome fears of drawing and writing and come away with a strong foundation for beginning a regular nature journaling practice.
In this workshop I teach what a nature journal is, share examples, and guide participants through a range of drawing and writing exercises to sharpen their observation skills, pique their curiosity, and enhance their relationship with the natural world. Participants will learn to overcome fears of drawing and writing and come away with a strong foundation for beginning a regular nature journaling practice.
- Indoors, in the field, or a combination
- 6-12 participants
- 1.5 hours
- $200
Nature Journaling Field Trip
In these workshops we cover some basic journaling skills, then head out to focus on a specific aspect of the natural world, depending on organizers' interest and the season. Topic options include, but are not limited to: trees, birds, wildflowers, and story mapping. Participants will learn observation and drawing skills specific to the topic, learn to go deeper into observation and inquiry, and come away with the curiosity and skills for a sustained journaling practice.
In these workshops we cover some basic journaling skills, then head out to focus on a specific aspect of the natural world, depending on organizers' interest and the season. Topic options include, but are not limited to: trees, birds, wildflowers, and story mapping. Participants will learn observation and drawing skills specific to the topic, learn to go deeper into observation and inquiry, and come away with the curiosity and skills for a sustained journaling practice.
- 6-12 participants
- In the field
- 3 hours
- $400
Nature Journaling Retreat
This is an all-day nature journaling immersion experience that incorporates an introduction to nature journaling with a range of exercises designed to cultivate participants' curiosity and build their skills in observation, drawing, and writing. Participants will learn a range of journaling skills and practices, engage deeply with place, and come away with journal pages they will treasure as they move forward in their journaling practice.
This is an all-day nature journaling immersion experience that incorporates an introduction to nature journaling with a range of exercises designed to cultivate participants' curiosity and build their skills in observation, drawing, and writing. Participants will learn a range of journaling skills and practices, engage deeply with place, and come away with journal pages they will treasure as they move forward in their journaling practice.
- 6-12 participants
- In the field
- 6 hours
- $800 + $20/participant supply fee
Nature Writing in the Field
In this workshop, participants hone their observation and inquiry skills, cultivate their curiosity, and engage in word play as they develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and translate that relationship into poetry or prose. Participants will come away with the first draft of a short work of prose or poetry and a series of observation exercises and questions they can use again and again to write about nature and place.
In this workshop, participants hone their observation and inquiry skills, cultivate their curiosity, and engage in word play as they develop a deeper relationship with the natural world and translate that relationship into poetry or prose. Participants will come away with the first draft of a short work of prose or poetry and a series of observation exercises and questions they can use again and again to write about nature and place.
- 6-12 participants
- In the field
- 3 hours
- $400
Testimonials
"Thanks for such a great workshop. I feel inspired and much less intimidated about bird journaling and I also think the tips you taught will help my bird observations in general."
~ Nicole G.
"Thanks so much for giving of your time and generous spirit to lead us through a very fun and helpful romp in nature writing."
~ Kit P.
"Thank you so much for Sunday's workshop. You were so well organized and made it fun and informative for us. Jim and I took a long walk and saw deer scurrying through the woods, an eagle and hawk circling each other and a flock of little sandpipers along the shore. I found myself thinking how I might record all this in a sensory grid. See what you've done. Thank you so much."
~ Karen S.
"You gave us all a new perspective on observation and the real purpose of journaling. I loved the whole notion of using drawing to develop and enhance my relationship with what I observe...not to create a work of art."
~ Kathie M.
"Thanks so much for an informative and well organized seminar today. I learned a lot and enjoyed practicing. The part I liked best was breaking it down into basic shapes; it help me to think of the Bufflehead as an oval with a little box head!"
~ Cheryl R.
"I think your curriculum hits the spot. Multi-layered, progressive. Do it again the same way!"
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
"I really loved this course. It pushed me a bit more than the typical adult ed-type courses, and I liked that. I liked that each class was organized and focused on specific topics."
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
~ Nicole G.
"Thanks so much for giving of your time and generous spirit to lead us through a very fun and helpful romp in nature writing."
~ Kit P.
"Thank you so much for Sunday's workshop. You were so well organized and made it fun and informative for us. Jim and I took a long walk and saw deer scurrying through the woods, an eagle and hawk circling each other and a flock of little sandpipers along the shore. I found myself thinking how I might record all this in a sensory grid. See what you've done. Thank you so much."
~ Karen S.
"You gave us all a new perspective on observation and the real purpose of journaling. I loved the whole notion of using drawing to develop and enhance my relationship with what I observe...not to create a work of art."
~ Kathie M.
"Thanks so much for an informative and well organized seminar today. I learned a lot and enjoyed practicing. The part I liked best was breaking it down into basic shapes; it help me to think of the Bufflehead as an oval with a little box head!"
~ Cheryl R.
"I think your curriculum hits the spot. Multi-layered, progressive. Do it again the same way!"
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
"I really loved this course. It pushed me a bit more than the typical adult ed-type courses, and I liked that. I liked that each class was organized and focused on specific topics."
~ Nature Writing Workshop Participant
Credentials
Andrea Lani is the author and illustrator of Uphill Both Ways: Hiking toward Happiness on the Colorado Trail (Bison Books, 2022). An avid nature journaler for more than 25 years, she has degrees in Human Ecology and Creative Writing and is a Maine Master Naturalist. Her essays about the natural world have appeared in dozens of publications, and she wrote and illustrated the book Deer Tracks and Dragonflies: A Year at Viles Arboretum based on years of journaling her explorations of the arboretum.
Copyright © 2017 Andrea E. Lani. All rights reserved.