Creative Writing Inspired by Nature with Quotes
This blog post shows a month-by-month journal of creative writing inspired by nature with quotes from Elizabeth Pye. Author of The French Connection series, Pye weaves her nature-inspired observations into her historical fiction novels.
People often ask authors, “How do you find inspiration to write?” Pye’s own gardens and love of flowers inspired her historical romances.
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Elizabeth Pye’s Inspirational Quotes
Elizabeth Pye recorded the following inspirational quotes throughout 2018 and shared her nature photos on social media. As you scroll through the quotes, think of creative writing prompts you could create during each month.
January
“One crisp Winter morn
Another chapter is born
Ink on pages still warm.” (January 2018 Haiku by Elizabeth Pye)
February
“The first of the camellias appear on a chilly day.”
Interesting Facts:
Native to Japan, the common camellia is known as the rose of winter.
March
“I’ve fallen behind on my writing on this beautiful spring-like day.”
Camellias grow in the author’s garden and as every writer should do, she takes a break occasionally just to enjoy new spring flowers.
New Beginnings of Spring
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
― Rachel Carson, Silent Spring
At the new beginnings of spring, watch how people flock to garden centers at Lowe’s or Home Depot. The first thing nature lovers do at the earliest sign of spring is go outdoors into the presence of nature. For you, that may mean taking a nature walk or digging into the dirt, planting flower seeds.
New ideas will spring forth when you allow yourself to take time in the great outdoors. Nature writing helps overcome writer’s block as well. Use your personal experience as Elizabeth Pye does with writing down thoughts and feelings in observing things of nature.
As spring rejuvenates you, let it touch others through you, and plant seeds of happiness. Speak words of kindness, a compliment, affirmation to those whose paths you cross. Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature” poem says, “The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lesson of worship.”
Harmony Between Nature and Human Beings
In reference to the power of the Creator, Emersen writes about the harmony between nature and human beings.
Like Emerson acknowledges, nature is not man-made but made by the Creator. Read in Job 12:7-10 (KJV):
- “(7) But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
- (8) or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.
- (9) Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?
- (10) In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.”
Psalms 96:11-12, KJV:
- “(11) Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
- (12) Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
April
“Each chapter written is a step toward the completion of Mon Amour, Friend or Foe.”
History of the Iris
The iris is native to Turkey, Russia, and Caucasus and blooms in late winter or early spring. Irises do not require much care, and they grow beautifully especially in rock gardens and patios.
May
“A hint of blush revealed her innermost thought.”
History of the hybrid tea rose
The first hybrid tea rose was created in Lyon by Jean-Baptiste Andre Guillot. Hybrid tea roses became popular after the Rosa hybrid was cultivated in the early 1900s in France.
Summer
Summer, for many people, lasts way too long because of the heat. But that’s not the case for those who love the warmth of summer.
Summer lover, you will appreciate Patricia Polka’s “Life’s a Beach” poem that describes life at the beach as a time that doesn’t move.
In the “Miracles” poem, Walt Whitman expresses thoughts of nature and sea, “To me the sea is a continual miracle.” Like Whitman, Pam Shaw recognizes the beauty of nature at the beach in this quote, “After a visit to the beach, it’s hard to believe that we live in a material world.”
June
Plant poppies in May or June.
Other Names for the Red Common Poppy:
Red poppies are also called field poppies, cornfield poppies, and corn poppies. The botanical name is called Papaver rheas. Red poppy blooms, according to PictureThis app, grew between trenches in France and Belgium during World War One.
July
Beauty in the midst of a heat wave
Origin of the Amaryllis, Lily of the Nile
A perennial herb, the amaryllis originates from South Africa. Thus, it is called an African-lily in Europe and America. Also known as the Blue lily, the amaryllis produces blue, purple, or white blooms.
August
The Crepe Myrtle
Surrounded by a soft quiet this Sunday morning….”
Crepe Myrtle Facts
Native to India, Southeastern Asia, and Japan, the crepe myrtle grows well and is in invasive in the United States. A perennial shrub, small birds use it for nesting.
Fall is America’s Favorite Season
Think of all the reasons why fall is America’s favorite season. Would you agree that the best thing about fall is that extreme summer heat has passed and cooler days are just ahead?
The best nature quotes come from experiencing the natural world around you. For example, go for a walk while you enjoy the fresh air on a crisp fall morning. Or run through the grass with your bare feet.
September
“All is quiet after the holiday,” Pye wrote when starting on Chapter 19 of the novel, Mon Amour, Friend or Foe. “At this point in the novel,” she recalls, “things become intense for Paulette as she is invited to the Ritz.”
October
“My head is in the clouds,” Elizabeth Pye wrote when she worked on chapter 22 of Mon Amour, Friend or Foe. She explains, “The creative process never fails to thrill me!”
November
“My Christmas cacti are budding in stages, much like the chapters of my novel, Mon Amour, Friend or Foe.”
Winter Nature Journal Ideas
‘The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness.’
– John Muir
In case you favor hiking in the forest wilderness, you should consider going during the winter when the snakes are in hibernation. Pack a notebook and a couple pens (in case the ink goes out in one) to record winter nature journal ideas from your wilderness hike.
Let the winter season speak to your creative self through its own beauty of nature. In the event you do like wintry hikes, consider a hut-to-hut hike. Find out about hut hiking for beginners in Switzerland.
Claude Monet’s Winter Paintings
Look at Claude Monet’s winter paintings for inspiration. He painted over 100 snow-scene paintings and risked freezing temperatures to paint outdoors.
When you notice a natural object, not made by man, write down the thoughts it evokes in your being. Take a picture of it to study later when writing about or sketching in your art journal.
December
“May the joy of the season be with you.”
Capture Nature’s Beauty
What did people do before cameras when they wanted to capture nature’s beauty? They sketched, painted, or described it in words. But nature doesn’t wait to be photographed, so always stay prepared to snap a photo.
Photographers who love nature will sit for hours to take pictures of sunsets. Fortunately, twenty-first-century smartphone cameras make it easy to take a quick photo of nature’s beauty. You can take a picture, though, and refer back to it for a painting, poem, or historical fiction scene.
Nature Journal Prompts
Use the following nature journal prompts to begin your nature journey:
- I find solace by wading through the waves and discovering seashells on a lonely shore.
- The last time I went deep sea fishing….
- I learned that the most beautiful things in nature bring….
- Good things happen when you….
- As I traced the leaf in my nature notebook,….
- The best way to write….
- Nature offers different ways….
Stop and enjoy the moments of nature along your journey.
Thank you for stopping by to visit. Now travel on your journey and forget not to appreciate nature. And always, record your discoveries in your own nature journal.