The Sequel, Five Years Later
Welcome to Narrative Notes, the quarterly newsletter of journalist Lindsey J. Smith, whose writing explores the way climate change is altering our relationships with the places we love. Did you stumble across this by accident? Click to subscribe.
Hello, friends!
When you signed up for this “occasional newsletter” back in 2019, you probably thought you’d receive it once every few months. Instead, some five years later, here’s the second installment.
I truly did intend for it to arrive in your inboxes more frequently! But, as you know, the past few years threw us all some real curveballs. The moment never felt right, even when I had exciting professional or personal news to share. And then it hit me recently—the moment never is right, but I should get back on the wagon anyways.
So here I am, committing to sending this out at least once a quarter. As I did back in 2019, I still hope that this little letter can be a meaningful and personal way to connect with all of you.
Where have the past five years taken me? In the moment, I’ve often felt like I’m standing still, treading water. But when I look back, I realize there’s been a lot of forward motion.
Like this: I’m writing a book! After many years spent working on a book proposal, my brilliant (and patient) agent sold my first book to University of California Press late last year. It’s a work of narrative nonfiction that blends journalism and personal essay to explore “managed retreat” as a response to climate change in California. Managed retreat is the coordinated movement of people and infrastructure away from risks; as you can imagine, it's a controversial idea with passionate proponents and ardent opponents. That’s why I love writing about it—at its heart, it’s a human story about our attachment to the places we love, and how climate change is challenging those attachments.
Writing a book is better and harder than I ever could have imagined. I’m deep in the manuscript’s first draft and my deadline feels simultaneously all too real and like a mirage on the horizon. I don’t quite know yet how I’ll get there, but I’ve made it this far one interview at a time, one page at a time, with the unflagging belief and support of my friends and family (many of you reading this!), and especially AJ, my husband (!!! There’s another update from the past five years!).
As of now, the book is scheduled to be published in 2026. That means you’ll hear a lot more about it from me in the months (and years) to come. If you can’t wait that long, check out these related articles I wrote, published by the BBC and San Francisco Chronicle (Chron subscribers only, sorry). Better yet, if you’re local to the Bay Area, come hear me read an excerpt this Friday, September 20 in San Francisco at the Writers Grotto’s monthly (free!) reading.
The other thing that has shaped my work life in unexpected and truly wonderful ways is a part-time role I took on at the beginning of 2022. A climate publication I’d never heard of, DeSmog, was looking for an editor to pitch in a few hours a week. DeSmog covers the fossil fuel industry and climate denial and disinformation, things I knew little about when I started. They were willing to let me learn on the job, and it seemed like a great way to come in from the cold of full-time freelancing.
Honestly, I didn’t expect much from it other than a steady paycheck and the (virtual) camaraderie of coworkers. But my work at DeSmog quickly became so much more—fascinating, enlightening, and deeply meaningful. It has transformed my perspective on the climate crisis and has influenced my book in surprising ways. I’m on leave from DeSmog to focus on said book, and am enjoying cheering them on from the sidelines. I encourage you to check out their work and sign up for their newsletter(s).
Which brings me to a trio of other things that I’ve loved over the past few years and want to share:
The Big Freeze by Natalie Lampert. I can’t pretend to be unbiased here—Natalie was my roommate and fellow Literary Reportage classmate at NYU. But I’d recommend this book even if I didn’t know her. It’s Natalie’s debut, and it’s stunning. It blends reporting and personal narrative to dive deep into egg freezing and the fertility industry. Now, I’m a big fan of libraries and library books… but if you have any interest in this book, or know anyone who does, I highly encourage you to buy it for yourself or a friend (or both!). Sales are incredibly important for first-time authors, as I’m learning.
The Petroleum Papers by Geoff Dembicki. In 2022, I took on the assignment for DeSmog of reading this book and writing a Q&A with Geoff. In The Petroleum Papers, he meticulously tells a breathtaking story about the links between Canada’s oil industry and U.S. and international networks of climate denial. Doesn’t sound like your cup of tea? Try it anyway—buy it, if you can—it’s absolutely gripping. (Don’t just take my word for it though; the Washington Post named it a best book of the year!)
For short-form reading and listening about climate change, the fossil fuel industry, and disinformation, I’ve been loving ExxonKnews and Heated (newsletters), and Living on Earth and Drilled (podcasts). When I need a change of pace, I sit down at the sewing machine I inherited from my grandma, pull out a project to work on, and put on an episode of the Love to Sew podcast.
All our lives have changed a great deal since I sent out my first newsletter years ago. If you no longer want these occasional updates, please unsubscribe. No hard feelings. If you want to keep reading, please feel free to drop me a line at any time and let me know how you’re doing and what’s on your mind.
Until next quarter,
Lindsey
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