Elif Shafak & Robert Macfarlane: Two Novelists Have an Epic Conversation | How I Write

Writing serves as a bridge between the human imagination and the natural world, functioning as a tool for both deep attention and moral inquiry. Language often fails to perfectly capture the essence of nature, yet the beauty of the craft lies in the attempt to articulate these ephemeral moments. By shifting from "paying" to "giving" attention, writers can dismantle the hierarchy between humans and the environment, fostering a more egalitarian connection to the living world. Literature acts as a durable technology for encoding ecological and emotional knowledge, exemplified by the enduring lessons of the Epic of Gilgamesh. Ultimately, creative work should undergo a "casket test," where authors consider whether their writing offers meaningful engagement with the existential crises of the present, ensuring that stories remain vital for future generations navigating a precarious planet.