Discover Your Climate Story

Welcome

The information on this page will be your helping guide as you write your climate story, but it’s important to remember that there is no right or wrong way. Learn more about our storytelling work.

A climate story is a personal story about you and your experience of climate change. 

It could include observations over your lifetime, a pivotal moment, impact or loss, solutions or hope, or simply why you care about climate change. It is a story that is descriptive, personal, and makes an emotional connection to climate change. If you haven’t already, begin by watching a recording of the Climate Storytelling Workshop.

Once you’ve watched the video, read a few of the example climate stories linked below, or explore the storytelling collection on our blog. As you read, try to get a feel for the voice and flow. What emotions do the stories evoke? What draws you in? Maybe jot a few notes that you can come back to when it’s time to write your own story. 

Perhaps you already know what your climate story is and you’re ready to dive in and begin writing. If not, that’s perfectly fine. Many folks think they don’t have a climate story, or have no idea where to begin, or think they aren’t “good writers.” Let me assure you that every single one of us has a story and the ability to tell it. 

Remember: there is no right way to write a climate story.

Climate Story Examples

Now that you’ve watched the workshop and read some examples, it’s time to begin crafting your own story. If the creative juices are flowing, feel free to jump in and start writing. However, if you’re still feeling stuck, keep reading and complete the prompts below.

Background

What is a climate story?

Finding your climate story takes time. Know that you will likely not finish your story during this session and that’s okay – this work is intended to spark your story, and hopefully you can come to a place where you will want to complete it. 

Be creative in your writing. This is not a case study or academic piece. This is more difficult for some, and if that is you, it may be helpful to imagine you are writing in your journal. Hone in on a specific moment and describe it in detail, as much as possible – using sensory imagery. Some examples:

“the water was the color of coffee with tons of cream in it, shades of red in the canyons, the rocks, the sand and the soar of the raptors overhead – everything welcomed us; instead of fear I felt a connection, and a deep sense of reciprocity.

I hadn’t really identified with my culture, but that day for the first time I saw myself in my relatives faces and it evoked a fierce determination in me.

“listening to the wind and watching the trees sway seemed endless in its capacity to captivate and calm me”

Interestingly, the more detailed your story is, the more universally resonant it becomes. 

Writing your climate story

Prompts to begin writing

Go through the following four prompts in order, spending 6-8 minutes writing for each.

1. Tell a story about an experience that helped shape the person you are today. 
2. What is your experience of climate change? 
3. Tell a story about a time you felt resilient.
4. “To create a better future, we must first imagine ourselves there.” IMAGINE…
   • What would a better world look like to you? Take a moment to move through it, and then write it down.
   • What is the role that you will play in making it a reality?

Weave your story together

1. Read through your responses to each of the prompts and examine it as a whole. 
2. Look for and note big picture themes, connecting points, and common/recurring topics. 
3. Add in sensory details, emotions, or values as transitions. 

Optional: supplement your story with 1-2 related climate facts.

Story writing tips

Focus on a specific moment and describe it in detail, using sensory imagery. What did it look like, what did it feel like, what did it taste like, what did it sound like, what did it smell like?

What are some emotions that you felt in your story, or emotions that your story brought up for you? (relieved, frustrated, thankful, ecstatic)

What values can you find within your story? (beauty, compassion, family)

Where might you find the connections to climate change within your story? Adding 1-2 climate change facts can help to ground your story (ie. Minnesota’s winters are warming faster than any other state in the U.S.)

It is okay if your writings do not connect or your story feels disjointed. This exercise is meant to help uncover what your story could be about. Feel free to re-work and revisit this process. You may need to ask yourself additional questions to go deeper.  

Finally, it is also okay if your story doesn’t have a happy or hopeful ending.

Climate change is scary and the trauma of it impacts our mental, social, and spiritual well-being. The process of finding our climate stories through reflection and writing can put us on the path to healing.

As a general guideline, we recommend stories be at least 400 words and contain 2-3 pictures.

Once your story is complete, you can submit it using our Climate Story Submission form. 

The Talk Climate team can review your climate stories at any stage of the writing process to provide feedback and help move you along. If you have any questions or are interested in further story writing coaching, you can reach the Talk Climate team at  stories@climategen.org. You can also learn more about our storytelling and other community engagement work.