Light on a path in the forest

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Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize for Creative Dreamers

( 2025 results )

To write of nature is to remember we’re never separate from what we seek – the wild isn’t out there, but within.

Our three 2025 winners have been announced. Head here to read more.

The twenty-four Longlisted writers and thirteen Honourable Mentions are also live. Read more here.

You can see the Shortlist as well as read the openings to the pieces and what made them stand out here.

Please ensure you’re subscribed to the Wild Muse Substack to stay up to date with the 2026 prize.

We’ll also be sharing more of our 2025 favourites on the Wild Muse Prize Instagram account each week.

the wild muse nature writing prize 2026

( the theme )

Nature’s Wisdom and Healing

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize invites personal stories, poems, and essays that explore our relationship with the living world.

We’re looking for pieces where nature participates in the story. We are interested in what happens when the outer landscape meets the inner one and something shifts as a result: perhaps a river changes how you think, or a hillside holds your grief. It could be that a tree, a season, or a stretch of wild ground asks something of you.

We’re seeking writing in which the land is alive on the page – influencing thought, feeling, and transformation. You might write about a time when being outdoors altered your sense of who you are. A moment when the wind challenged you. When birdsong steadied you. When frost, mud, heat, or darkness became teacher.

Your piece might trace a personal reckoning in which land or weather played a decisive role. It might explore belonging, rupture, chronic illness, devotion, recovery, or reorientation through close attention to plants, animals, water, stone, or sky. It might question the stories we’ve inherited about separation, and offer instead an experience of interconnection.

We welcome work that listens deeply. Work that lingers. Work that risks honesty. Whether you’re an experienced writer or someone who writes simply because you cannot not write, your voice belongs here.

Nature’s healing is not always gentle. Its wisdom is not always obvious. We’re interested in the places where the relationship feels real, where the natural world is an active presence — shaping, challenging, and companioning the writer.

  • The winner will receive £750

  • Second place will be awarded £300

  • Third place will receive £150

  • let’s

  • amplify

  • the

  • voice

  • of

  • nature

  • together

let’s amplify the voice of nature together

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( submission guidelines )

Gabriela Blandy during a creative writing session in nature

1.

The word limit for the prize is 2,000, which includes the title.

2.

We open for submissions on Monday 1st June at 9am (UK time) and will close on Monday 14th September at 5pm (UK time).

3.

The entry fee is £10. Note: we’re offering 10 bursaries for those who might find the entry fee prohibitive. Please email wildmuseprize@gmail.com with evidence of your financial need.

4.

Personal stories, articles and essays should be original, unpublished works, and written in English.

5.

We accept multiple applications per entrant as long as the fee is paid for each submission.

6.

Submissions can take various forms, from personal narratives to magical, philosophical reflections, provided that:

  • The entrant is the sole author;

  • The submission aligns with the theme – Nature’s Wisdom and Healing;

  • The entry is within the word limit (2,000) and is anonymous - please do NOT include your name on your entry;

  • We receive your entry before the deadline on Monday 14th September at 5pm (UK time).

meet the judges

Gabriela Blandy portrait

gabriela blandy

founder of wild muse

hello creative dreamer,

I’ve received several accolades for my own writing, which has been really encouraging. In fact, it was while collecting an award last year that I decided to establish this prize. I realised I wanted to amplify the voices of those who’ve been touched by the earth’s magic and inspire others to embark on their own journey of self-discovery in nature.

The healing power and wisdom of nature has transformed my life in many miraculous ways. I know I’m not the only one who has experienced nature’s magic, which is why I’m excited to read other people’s experiences.

I’ll be looking for essays that explore the feelings certain elements or animals can inspire within us, the lessons we can learn from the natural world, and/or the subtle ways the earth speaks to us. If I could offer one piece of advice I would say: rather than focusing on the writing (worrying about whether it’s ‘good enough’), hold your attention on the experience you want to tell us about and simply give it words.

I can’t wait to witness the profound insights and experiences that will emerge from your submissions. Let’s celebrate the healing power and wisdom of nature together!

This year’s judge - to be announced

An exciting voice in nature-connected writing will be revealed shortly.

The Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize begins with a careful reading panel drawn from our community of writers. From there, our guest judge reads a curated longlist and selects the shortlist and winners.

This year’s judge will be someone whose writing meets land, story, and inner life with care and depth. We look forward to introducing them soon.

Share Your Journey of Nature’s Wisdom and Healing

The 2026 Competition opens on 1st June

( substack community )

STAY UPDATED and ENHANCE your WRITING and HEALING JOURNEY

If you’re considering entering the Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize, then joining the community on Substack will be the perfect way to ensure you don’t miss any important updates or deadlines. But that’s not all. The Wild Muse community offers valuable content designed to inspire nature lovers and creative dreamers.

New members will juicy discounts codes for my online workshops: ‘Safe Creativity’, ‘Chakra Yin Yoga: Writing from the Body’, and ‘Journaling, Breathwork & Nature Healing to transform your Creative Process’. My weekly posts and podcasts will also provide guidance on how to tap into creative flow, heal emotional blocks, and uncover your magic by fostering your relationship with nature’s elements.

Please subscribe to the supportive and informative Wild Muse Community and take the first step towards sharing your voice with the world.

join the community

( UNLOCKING NATURE’S WISDOM AND HEALING )

CRAFT your PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY

Need inspiration for your healing and writing journey?

Check out the Podcast interviews with our past judges and winners, and also enjoy a selection of the shortlisted and longlisted entries on the Wild Muse Substack to help with your submissions and provide deeper insight into the ways that nature can both inspire and heal us. 

Watch my clip with Joanna Wolfarth our 2024 winner on the right.

Subscribe to Wild Muse on Substack

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( competition rules )

  • By entering this Competition you agree to accept and be bound by these terms and conditions and acknowledge that failure to comply with them may result in disqualification. The Competition shall be void where prohibited by local law. All national and local laws and regulations shall apply.

  • This Competition is open to anyone except for employees and trustees of Wild Muse (‘Promoter’), their families and any other company connected with the Competition. The Promoter will accept multiple entries per entrant. Incomplete entries will be deemed invalid.

  • The Prize will open for submissions at 9am (UK time) on Monday June 1st 2026. Entries will be accepted until 5pm (UK time) Monday September 14th, 2026 (‘closing date’). The longlisted entrants will be announced via Substack on November 3rd, 2026. The shortlisted entrants will be announced via Substack on November 17th, 2026 and the name of the three winning entrants will be announced via the Wild Muse Substack community on December 1st, 2026. If the prize is declined or unclaimed by the three winning entrants, or if the winners cannot be contacted from the details supplied within 5 business days of notification, a replacement winner may be selected at the Promoter’s discretion and will be notified by the Promoter. The original entry that was selected will then be forfeited.

  • The following prizes shall be provided by the Promoter: £750 (seven hundred and fifty pounds Sterling) to the winning entrant, £300 (three hundred pounds Sterling) for second place, and £150 (one hundred and fifty pounds Sterling) for third place.

  • Copyright in the works submitted remains with the authors, but the Promoter reserves the right to publish the winning entries in the Wild Muse Substack Community.

  • Entrants are advised to retain a copy of entries as the Promoter will be unable to return any submitted entry.

    Each entry must be:

    • Written in the English language;

    • Be no longer than 2,000 words in length (including the title;

    • An original work of which the entrant is the sole author;

    • Entries must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online.

    • Essays, standalone extracts from unpublished books, and diaries may all be submitted. If the work is planned for publication this must not be before January 2026.

    • Submitted via the Wild Muse website (http://www.gabrielablandy.org): double-spaced, set in Times Roman 12-point type, with numbered pages. Save as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx) with the essay title as the file name.

    • No English translation of an entry written originally in any other language is eligible.

    • The author’s name must not appear anywhere on the work itself.

    • The entry fee must be paid, unless Entrants are one of the 10 bursaries offered.

  • Entries received after the closing date and/or which are not in accordance with the entry requirements set out at clause 6 will not be accepted.

horses in nature buy sunset

  • By submitting an entry, you warrant to the Promoter that your entry is original to you, does not infringe copyright or any other intellectual property right and does not defame or invade the privacy rights of any third party, or infringe any other legal rights, regulations or laws.

  • Events may occur which render the awarding of the prizes impossible due to reasons beyond the control of the Promoter and the Promoter may, at its absolute discretion, vary, amend, suspend or withdraw the prizes or amend these Terms and Conditions with or without notice.

  • The judges’ decisions will be final and no correspondence will be entered into in relation to their decisions or the Competition. Experienced readers assist the judges in selecting the “long list”.

  • The winning entrant and runners-up also agree to the Promoter’s use of his/her name and photograph in relation to publicity material.

  • Personal details will only be retained and used by the Promoter for the purposes of this Competition and will be deleted thereafter, unless Entrants have subscribed to the Wild Muse Substack Community, in which case personal details will be retained as indicated. Personal details will not be passed on to third parties.

  • 13.1 The result of the Competition is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

    13.2 The Promoter cannot accept responsibility for or liability arising from participants taking part in the Competition or for taking up the Prizes. The Promoter gives no warranty or guarantee in relation to the Prize and accepts no responsibility or liability for the Prize being amended by the Promoter. To the fullest extent permissible by law, the Promoter excludes liability for all loss, damage or claim arising as a result of the participant’s entry into the Competition or use of the Prize.

    13.3 These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with English law. Disputes arising in connection with this Competition shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

  • The Promoter’s contact details are: Upper Woodford Farmhouse, Upper Woodford, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP4 6PA

    Any enquiries relating to the prize should be emailed to: wildmuseprize@gmail.com

man sitting alone in the forest and writing

A Call to Connect:

Share your Journey of Nature’s Wisdom and Healing

If you’re ready to submit your entry, please click on the payment button below. Once you’ve provided the entrance fee, you’ll be redirected to our online form where you can upload your submission.

Do remember we’re offering 10 bursaries for those who might find the entry charge prohibitive. Please email wildmuseprize@gmail.com with evidence of your financial need.

The 2026 competition opens on 1st June

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( 2024 winners )

three remarkable voices exploring the healing power of the natural world.

FIRST PLACE: ‘Imprints’ by Joanna Wolfarth

SECOND PLACE: ‘Hummingbird Hymn’ by Kristy A. Belton

THIRD PLACE: ‘One Red Leaf’ by Vinitha

Please ensure you’re subscribed to the Wild Muse Substack to stay up to date with the prize.