Celebrating the Winners of the Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize
Honoring three remarkable voices exploring the magic, wisdom, and healing power of the natural world.
Nature speaks to us in whispers and waves, in the rhythms of the earth and the silence of the stars.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, the Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize was born out of a simple yet profound desire: 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. Having received accolades for my own writing, I know how encouraging it can be to have your voice celebrated. In fact, it was while collecting a memoir award last year that I realised I wanted to create a space for others to share their experiences and insights shaped by the natural world.
The healing power and wisdom of nature has transformed my life in miraculous ways, and I know I’m not alone in feeling this. Through this prize, I hoped to gather stories and essays that explores how the earth speaks to us - its lessons, its magic, and the way it touches us in moments of clarity, resilience, and awe.
I invited submissions that explored the feelings certain elements or animals can inspire within us, the lessons found in nature’s rhythms, or the healing power of walking in the wild. My advice to entrants was simple: rather than focusing on whether the writing is ‘good enough,’ hold your attention on the experience you want to share. This year’s submissions truly captured the beauty and wonder of those experiences, and I’m so grateful to all who participated.
Today, it’s my honor to announce the three winning entries as chosen by Literary Agent Sarah Williams of the Sophie Hicks Agency. She was hugely impressed by the longlist, the originality and emotional resonance of the pieces and how the vivid ways in which all entrants brought the natural world to life.
FIRST PLACE: Imprints
by Joanna Mary Wolfarth
Our judge Sarah Williams felt this was a tour de force essay.
‘From the very first lines where the pulse of the narrator's birth contractions act as a kind of primal, natural heartbeat; the depth of the voice and the exquisite phrasing did not leave me for days. The beauty of the West Kerry coastline sprung off the page and the intricate threading of this natural landscape with the act of childbirth was incredibly moving. I was immersed in this story and was reminded of my own mental escape routes that are provided by nature and how these become ingrained in us even when we have long departed that particular space. The meshing of memory and anticipation in Imprints and its perfect narrative arc within two different time periods and polar opposite environments was simply stunning.’
It was lovely to hear that Joanna was delighted at being longisted. She shared that her entry was one of the first things she wrote as part of her move away from academic writing and back towards the creative nonfiction she so loved to write as a child / teenager, adding: ‘I wanted to capture the weirdness of labour, the thinness of places, and where we make meaning. Or where meaning happens to us. This longlist is especially touching as I'm working on the difficult second book, along side my beautiful second baby and second guessing myself at every stage!’
Congratulations Joanna!
SECOND PLACE: Hummingbird Hymn
by Kristy A. Belton
Kristy was filled with joy, gratitude, and hope on being longlisted and shared that she was in awe of the diversity of writing and nature-infused pieces that were submitted, adding: ‘I’ll finish up with recognition of my hummingbird guide(s). The journey is long, but if we remain light and in tune with our inner compass, we can return as often as we need to complete our journey.’
Both Sarah and I agreed that right from the first read of Kristy’s piece it was impossible not to get caught up in the magic. This piece is a hymn to the resilience and fragility of life, reminding us of the precious moments of connection that shape us.
Congratulations Kristy!
THIRD PLACE: One Red Leaf
by Vinitha Ramchandani
Sarah and I loved how this piece was centered around the image of a single red leaf, bravely delving into the cycles of loss and renewal. What struck us both was how this entry turned the everyday into the extraordinary, offering a deeply personal meditation on change, growth, and the seasons of life.
On being longlisted, Vinithia shared how she remembered writing her piece, knowing she had something, but wrestling with not having time to work and polish it, which left her certain she couldn’t have been chosen.
‘To then see that my entry did make the longlist, is indescribable. I'm here at a coffee shop crying like I've been nominated for the Oscar.’
I can only imagine how it now feels to have made it all the way to the final three, congratulations, Vinitha.
THANK YOU TO ALL ENTRANTS
To everyone who submitted their work, I’m so grateful you had the courage to share your experiences with us. As some of you have already discovered, we’re sharing more of our favourites on the Wild Muse Prize Instagram account each week.
Truly, each entry was a testament to the countless ways nature inspires, heals, and challenges us. The pieces submitted this year made the judging process humbling and inspiring in equal measure. I am already excited to see what next year will bring.
The whole experience has taught me that this prize is not just about celebrating individual voices - it’s about coming together as a community to honor the healing power and wisdom of the natural world.
Please do stay connected with Wild Muse for more opportunities to share your reflections, attend workshops (see offerings below), and embrace the wild within. Together, let’s continue to celebrate the profound insights and experiences that emerge from our relationship with nature.
As always, wishing you creative contentment.
Gabriela, tree goddess.
Offerings
In this section you’ll be able to hear about my offerings and events.
JOIN ME FOR my online workshop ‘CHAKRA YOGA: writing from the body’
Thursday 5th December, 6pm-8pm (UK time)
This month, we're focusing on the ROOT chakra and exploring the theme of 'GROUNDED SELF-ESTEEM'.
No experience of yoga is required for these sessions.
As a subscriber to Wild Muse, you can receive 20% off by using the code Wild01 at checkout.
Sign up for the free online workshop: ‘Let Your Lifeforce Speak’
Thursday 12th December from 6pm – 8pm
This is an opportunity to explore how you can create with authenticity, wholeness, and flow.
Be part of the Wounds to Wonder research project.
Your experiences could help shape the understanding of how creativity can transform our wounds into wonder.
Or, go straight to the questionnaire and volunteer to be a case study.
Huge congratulations Joanna, Kristy and Vinitha! Celebrating you all. Amazing.
Congratulations extraordinary writers on your wins (& the two that most struck me upon first reading when we were long listed are there - hooray!) Please write more!
I’ve loved being part of this adventure. To have made it nearly all the way, having never put my words out to scrutiny before has been the biggest of honours. Now I must venture forth with a gentle knowing that my unique voice can touch hearts and wiggle funny bones.
Thank you team Wild Muse and again to all of you who entered….well done, we rock. 💚