If you know me personally, you likely know that I’m writing a climate fiction novel. Not just that — I’m writing a Young Adult climate science-fiction/fantasy novel. One with aliens and elemental magic, enemies-to-lovers and corruption arcs, spaceships and mythical lore. And of course, a dying Earth, humans who can’t or won’t do anything to save it, and a ragtag found family of teenagers who just might have the powers to save it — if they sacrifice themselves.
My original characters Terra 🌱 Zaidan 🔥 and Reveim 🌌 giggling it out in between dives of utter suffering. (Follow my art on Instagram @moonlit.wildhaired).
The process of arriving at this story, let alone writing it, has been over a decade in the making, marked by periods of existential reflection, fear, doubt, anxiety, depression, and questioning the very way my brain works.
It’s also been a process of deep joy, excitement, fulfillment, passion. Through it, I discovered what I consider my personal calling: to write and share stories about how climate change impacts young people’s mental health, shapes their identities, and encroaches on their dreams and beliefs in a secure future. To document this insane era of human history we are all going through right now. To help young people feel seen and understood in the face of climate chaos. Especially because I don’t see a lot of YA books doing that right now. And I really think they should.
If you would like to hear more of my journey, learn from me and other curious climate fiction writers, consider joining Writing Climate Fiction: A Free Introductory Workshop, my virtual seminar with UBC Climate Hub taking place on April 26, 2023 at 5pm Pacific Time.
No matter whether you are an established author or just beginning, if you are interested in learning about climate fiction, here’s your chance.
We’ll discuss what climate fiction actually is, what it does, and why it matters so much right now. We’ll explore practices on how to navigate the complex waters of climate writing, including building a creative process that acknowledges self-care and works with climate despair, anxiety, overwhelm, and hope.
And you’ll get to meet and chat with other cli-fi writers — something that I desperately wish I had starting out (and low-key a big reason why I’m doing this workshop in the first place…👀😁).
Also, feel free to follow me on Instagram @moonlit.wildhaired, where I’m doing more regular updates on my writing and my artwork based on my novel (among fandom art and other things).
I hope to see you at the workshop, or somewhere in the social space of the interwebs!
~S.N.
Shalini Nanayakkara 