Nixon explains that novels and other forms of imaginative writing can be an important influence in raising awareness about climate change and environmental issues. According to him, such writing can provide “scientific and imaginative testimony”(2367). to ecological injustices in a way that captures public attention, stirs emotion, and inspires concrete political action. By telling stories and creating images that are “capable of shining a spotlight on acts of violence that are not easily reduced to media spectacles”(2353), activist writers can help draw public and political attention to the problem of slow violence.  Nixon is doing what he is proposing people to do. Nixon raises the question:  “How can environmental activists and storytellers work to counter the potent political, corporate, and even scientific forces invested in immediate self-interest, procrastination, and dissembling?”(2362).  He discusses the representation of climate change in novels and how it can be challenging to convert the slow-moving and long-term effects of environmental disasters into compelling narratives that can rouse public sentiment and warrant political intervention. He mentions Michael Crichton‘s 2004 environmental conspiracy novel, “State of Fear,” which argued that more data gathering on climate change was needed before any policy decisions could be made. He also notes that Rachel Carson faced a similar dilemma almost half a century ago as she sought to dramatize the environmental impact of pesticides in her book “Silent Spring.” Novels have a special role to play in helping us think more richly, more clearly, and more deeply about climate change due to their capacity for storytelling and empathy-building. Novels have the power to weave together these different aspects into compelling narratives that resonate with readers on an emotional level. 

          Now, the way Nixon corroborates this claim is unusually interesting. Nixon’s use of a slow and gradual writing style can be seen as a deliberate technique to reflect the characteristics of slow violence. Slow violence unfolds slowly, yet it has a significant impact on humans. That is exactly what Nixon is doing. By employing a similar writing style, Nixon creatively and strategically aims to create a parallel experience for the readers. The gradual unfolding of his narrative mirrors the gradual unfolding of slow violence itself. This technique allows readers to immerse themselves in the subject matter and gain a deeper understanding of its complexities. The use of a slow and gradual writing style also has an indirect psychological effect on the readers. As they progress through Nixon’s text, they are subjected to a proposition made by the same author. The proposition here refers to the argument or message that Nixon is conveying about slow violence. By immersing readers in a slow and gradual narrative, Nixon invites them to contemplate and internalize the issue at hand. Furthermore, readers not only encounter Nixon’s proposition but also experience the effects of the enduring issue being discussed. The gradual and chronological nature of Nixon’s writing allows readers to witness the unfolding consequences of slow violence firsthand. This immersive experience can evoke emotional responses, empathy, and a sense of urgency in addressing these issues.

          By “practicing what he preaches” and strategically unfolding his events gradually to mimic the effects of slow violence, Nixon’s excerpt can be seen as a form of literary activism. By embodying the principles he advocates for within his own writing, he builds credibility to his arguments and demonstrates the transformative potential of literature, indirectly making the readers feel the effects of slow violence and helping them understand how “novels have a special role to play in helping us think more richly, more clearly, and more deeply about climate change.”