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Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize for Creative Dreamers

( the theme )

Nature’s Wisdom and Healing

The prize invites personal stories, articles and essays that explore our relationship to the natural world. If you’ve felt a meaningful connection to the elements when you’re out walking, found solace in the arms of a tree, sudden clarity at the top of a hill, or a taste of determination while witnessing a rainstorm, we’re eager to hear your experiences, whether you’re an experienced writer or someone who loves to express their unique reflections.

Your piece might recount a personal healing journey, where nature played a pivotal role in your restoration. It could be a meditative story about the deep calm you feel in water. Alternatively, you could offer insights inspired by animals or plants, or showcase the profound lessons we can learn from observing the rhythms, patterns, and interconnectedness of the natural world.

  • 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 )

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1.

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

2.

We open for submissions on Friday 15th March at 9am (UK time) and will close on Sunday 15th September at 9pm (UK time).

3.

The entry fee is £10. Please 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Personal stories, articles and essays should be original, unpublished works, and written in English.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 Sunday 15th September at 9pm (UK time).

meet the judges

gabriela blandy portrait by the tree

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!

Sarah Williams portrait

Sarah williams

Literary agent at Sophie Hicks Agency

I was thrilled when Sarah agreed to be my co-judge for this prize. I happened upon a short interview of hers online and in the words of Tom Cruise, she had me when she described the impact Annie Dillard’s Pilgrim at Tinker Creek had on her: ‘It is the most beautiful meditation on solitude and the changing seasons around us.’

Sarah represents writers who work within the areas of food, lifestyle, personal development, humour, popular science, travel, nature and memoir, which I feel makes her a great fit for a prize that asks for an exploration of your experience of the natural world and therefore may include aspects of other non-fiction genres.

Sarah loves to be challenged to think differently, be it about a place, or a phenomenon, or a person. She wants to feel that her own world is being expanded. Her advice would be to understand that nature is surprising, and can feel utterly magical, and that your writing can be the same.

You can watch a clip of my interview with Sarah below, as well as the full interview - where we go deeper into the essence of nature writing -  on my YouTube channel.

Share Your Journey of Nature’s Wisdom and Healing

( 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 can take my online workshop – Journaling, Breathwork & Nature Healing to transform your Creative Process – for free, which will help you craft the best submission possible. My fortnightly posts 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.

( UNLOCKING NATURE’S WISDOM AND HEALING )

CRAFT your PRIZE-WINNING ESSAY

Over the next several months I’ll be hosting a series of interviews on my YouTube channel to help with your submissions and provide deeper insight into the ways that nature can both inspire and heal us. 
Watch my clip with Sarah Williams on the right.

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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 March 15th 2024. Entries will be accepted until 9pm (UK time) September 15th 2024 (‘closing date’). The longlisted entrants will be notified by the Promoter in October 2024. The shortlisted entrants will be notified by the Promoter in November 2024 and the name of the three winning entrants will be announced in the Wild Muse Substack community at the end of November, 2024. 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 a section of 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 2025.

    • 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

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.

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