Writers for a Sustainable Future

Sending this to all WSF members, and posting on the bulletin board, for any new members. First of all, my best wishes to you, your family, and your projects. Welcome to WSF and thank you for making the time to join us. Hello from Alison in Oregon, the administrator and originator of this site.

I dropped out of sight there for some months with an important family matter and WSF went stagnant as well. However, I am back (as of June 2009) and wanting to nurture this group into the potential it has for getting the "new" paradigms into mainstream media, and supporting the writers creating that work.

i am asking for your input, whether you become a member or not, whether you are a reader or a writer or both. What is going on in your life now? What are your main projects? How can WSF support those projects? What information, reviews, links can you share with WSF? Please post in the member introductions or send me a private message as you prefer.

There was some interest in having reviews of on demand and other self publishing options and services. Personal reviews of services you've used and their terms, or links to another source of information re this would be very helpful. Reviews or references to existing ecofiction (which is rare!) would also be helpful. Links to environmental writer groups restricted to nonfiction also good...I will search for these too.

Beth Alderman proposed creating a yearly conference for ecofiction.  I'll be pursuing this. Entered WeMedia's contest this spring with a proposal that would have moved that forward, didn't get picked out of the almost 400 proposals from all over the world, but can find the resources for this over time. Need more writers and their works! I have plenty of ideas about how to promote them but hope this group will give me a body of work to promote. Very simple will be creating a reader's list of ecofiction, environmental writers, and other categories to offer libraries.....you know those little bookmarks that list other mystery writers, or "if you like this writer, here are some others you might like". Can include links to ongoing reviews, additions. Send me your categories and lists if you have some already!

Discussions of difficulties/challenges and solutions always helpful in a group. For general issues in common with writers of all genres, let's provide links to writer forums with maybe a mention of the topic. I'd really like WSF to stay focused on and provide useful discussion and tips re changing media to "new" and more useful paradigms.

U.S. media and writers are not the only ones still framing the majority of their work in conflicts/and dramas of war, hierarchical structures, crime, violence, and so on. I want to challenge writers to come up with mysteries not based on murder, to present the drama of our "new" pioneers in solving the many challenges of a trashed climate/environment. People adjusted to or struggling with the changes needed to restore environment, sustain life and do so in an equitable way. I want our kids and teens to be excited and challenged about replanting forests, cleaning up rivers, inventing technology and community solutions. I want them to feel the drama and excitement and heroism of contributing, of challenging themselves with hard work, creative problem solving,or the harsh conditions of helping in a natural disaster. How about a TV show based on disaster relief or other heroism instead of more CSI spin-offs? Any screenwriters out there?

My focus is still to get more fiction, film, TV and other media into the world that presents and integrates sustainable lifestyle elements. Creative nonfiction told in story form can be even better.

Your example, your lifestyle and story could be inspiring to others. Fiction based on it allows you to also accomplish the changes you haven't been able to yet. Changes in story can become changes in reality.

For example, in a novel I've based in my current and well-loved neighborhood, I've been "able" to add in a primary, 2 room health clinic. A nurse/physician's assistant can check your ears, lungs, and so on, treat simple conditions, and refer more complicated ones. I also got rid of my least favorite slimy convenience store! I substituted a neighborhood store selling basics plus neighborhood products, from extra tomatoes to woodworking, that also hosts bulletin boards for barter, services, etc. Someday soon I'll have strong enough excerpts to start taking to neighborhood meetings and otherwise sharing with neighbors. Who knows what could happen?

All through human history one can find documented the power of storytelling, of dramatic narrative, to affect the real choices and paradigms of people and societies.  I am a fast and constant reader myself and hey, I want more satisfying choices, darn it!

I am excited to be working on this with others, and look forward to any input you can make time to share!  

Alison in Oregon, June 2009