🍃 Reciprocity: the interview

6 questions for Susannah Fisher

Nature writer, n. A person who delights in paying attention, being astonished, and telling about it.¹

“I hope that my writing, and specifically my Substack Cricklewood Nature Journal, inspires others to take a small notebook and pencil outside and feel the wonder of discovery.” ~ Susannah Fisher

Carolina Wren by Susannah Fisher, ink and gouache on paper, 2023

Today’s guest, Susannah Fisher, is an artist, writer, and nature journaler with abundant curiosity about this biosphere we inhabit. She not only shares beautiful illustrations, she has a series called Tiny Owl Dispatch—behind-the-scenes videos revealing her artist’s gift for noticing and drawing small, meaningful details like this tiny bird’s beak.

Cricklewood Nature Journal is offered as an internet basecamp from which to go forth following trails of curiosity. These paths form a rich network of experiences with nature that Susannah guides readers to notice and record in our journals using visual notes, text, and numbers. The newsletter is filled with ideas, activities, stories, essays, demos, and a peek into Susannah's naturalist's notebook.

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Why are you drawn to nature writing?

I keep a nature journal—using words and pictures—to learn about nature. It’s all about close observation, recording those observations, asking questions, and then trying to solve those questions with information from the bank of knowledge acquired. Most importantly (to me, at least) it helps me discover where I fit in and how I’m affecting my environment. Am I part of the unified whole, or are my actions upsetting the balance? Nature journaling my experiences helps me see where I can function positively with that flow or where I need to correct so I am not a disruption.

How does writing about nature affect you, in your work or personal life?

Nature journaling is an opportunity to pull apart the system and examine it. The ecosystem is a constant source of life lessons, and I am completely in awe of its synergy and mechanisms for maintaining its equilibrium. It’s this perfect system of checks and balances. It’s resilient. In my writing and drawing, I’m deeply connecting with nature and becoming aware of my intrinsic serenity since I am one of nature’s creatures, too. 

To be honest, I’m not always successful. We humans are a dramatic bunch. Nature isn’t dramatic, it’s pragmatic. In nature journaling, we use a framework called I Notice, I Wonder, It Reminds Me Of to record our observations and deeply experience the natural world on a relatable level. I have found using this framework that every occurrence in nature has a pure, simple logic behind it that I can use as a model of simple, slow living.

While outside, have you ever experienced feeling small, lost or in danger? 

Nature always makes me feel small, but never in a threatening, negative way. It’s so vast and varied, I can’t help but feel completely humbled by it.

What’s a favorite memory of nature from your childhood?

I grew up in a tent-camping, national-park-visiting family, and I always loved that moment when snug in your sleeping bag you slowly emerge from unconsciousness at the first light of dawn in concert with the forest ecosystem. The trees are slowly illuminated as night fades. Birds start to move around, quietly chirping amongst themselves. You hear the faint hum of insects and the sound of small animals in the undergrowth. You smell the dew evaporating in the heat of a rising sun. And then you realize that you’re breathing in sync with the world as you awaken together. I carry that experience with me everywhere. If I can remember that feeling no matter where I am or what’s happening, I’m okay.

What do you hope for, for your writing? 

I hope that my writing, and specifically my Substack Cricklewood Nature Journal, inspires others to take a small notebook and pencil outside and feel the wonder of discovery.

In fact, let's go on a small expedition! Here’s what to do:

1. Gather your supplies - a pencil and paper are really all you need, but use whatever you like to add texture and color.

2. Measure out 1.5m - 3m of string or rope. I use a thick hemp cord I got ages ago at a craft store. You don’t need to be exact. I usually measure out the string using my arm/body (x2 or x3).

3. Place it in a circular shape on the ground with a variety of terrain, and observe what is in the circle. You can do this anywhere – your yard, the park, the sidewalk... trust me, those sidewalk cracks contain a miniature jungle!

4. Record what you observe using drawings, notes, numbers, etc.

5. Add your impressions, feelings, and thoughts.

Et voila! You are nature journaling!

For some extra fun, create a sound circle with you as the center point to engage your auditory sense. I usually find a nice rock in the sun to sit on (yes, like a lizard…), quiet myself by taking a few deep breaths, close my eyes, and let my ears take over. You’d be amazed at what you hear when your ears take over. The layers of sound are incredible. It’s nature’s symphony, I suppose! 

Download this PDF that shows you how it works. Paste it inside the cover of your nature journal so you always have something to journal.

String Safari Handout

1.45MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Share your experience in the comments, if you feel comfortable doing so.²

A writer or other creative artist who makes you hopeful for humanity and the earth.

There are so many, and that gives me hope because although one acting alone makes a difference in their immediate surroundings during their timeline, collectively we can make lasting change for the greater good. 

"Big Red" Red-tailed Hawk by Susannah Fisher, pen and ink on paper, 2023

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If you enjoyed this post, a lovely ❤️ keeps me going. Another way to show love is to share this post with others by restacking it on Notes, via the Substack app. Thanks!

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For more inspired nature writing and artwork from the best of Substack, check out the articles in NatureStack journal.

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In further service to Substack’s nature writers,

Rebecca Wisent

curates this lovely directory of nature-focused writers:

1. thanks, Mary Oliver

2. Editor’s note: I will do this and share it here. Who’s with me? ;-)