"You don’t need the whole mountain – sometimes one red leaf is enough."
The Willingness to See What’s Already There
In this interview, I speak with writer
about her moving piece One Red Leaf, which placed third in the 2024 Wild Muse Nature Writing Prize. Set against the backdrop of a chaotic hospital stay in Mumbai, her story reminds us that even in the most turbulent of times, a single leaf can ground us.In this conversation, Vinitha opens up about grief, resilience, motherhood, and the connection between creativity and survival.
She shares how nature – especially in the fragments available in urban life – has been her refuge.
We explore the role of sensory detail in writing, the emotional muscle of daily creative practice, and how stories often arrive uninvited, shaped in the depths of upheaval.
If you are navigating transition, questioning your creative path, or learning how to hold tenderness alongside chaos, this conversation is for you.
Vinitha’s reflections offer a quiet kind of medicine, reminding us that we don’t need vast landscapes to write about nature – only the willingness to see what’s already there.
To honour Vinitha’s words and make them more accessible, I’ve shared the full transcript here.
Ready to Reflect – Journaling Prompts
These questions are offered to deepen your own connection with the natural world, creativity, and inner resilience.
What is a small detail in your daily environment that brings you calm or clarity – something you might have overlooked before?
When has nature helped you survive something difficult, even if it was only a single glimpse, sound, or sensation?
What creative expression (writing, art, movement, voice) helps you process emotions that feel too big to hold?
Do you trust that your story is worth telling, even if it's unfolding in the middle of chaos? What might that story be?
How can you show up more consistently to your creative practice – not for perfection, but for presence?
"I think we’re all nature writers – we just need to look closely."
Honouring the Voices of the Wild
Read the winning entries and watch an intimate interview with our first and second prize winners.
1: First Place: Imprints by Joanna Wolfarth – read
2: Second Place: Hummingbird Hymn by Kristy Belton – read
3: Third Place: One Red Lead by – read
My interview with Joanna Wolfarth
My Interview with Kristy Belton
Don't Reject Yourself on the Inside
"If you’re brave enough, your soul can speak louder than your mind."
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