Friday, March 1, 2019
Thursday, February 28, 2019
Writing About the Weather in Fiction by Connie Vines
Writing about the weather in your novel, and writing about
it well, is critical for an atmospheric story.
It’s also a great shortcut…
A simple description of storm clouds gathering on the
horizon, say, can foreshadow troubled times ahead in the plot, or act
as a symbol for
the character’s mood. And it can do it in a short space.
It’s easy to forget just how important a part of our everyday
lives the weather is.
We think about it so much that we’re rarely conscious of
thinking about it at all. But it affects everything.
·
Our mood.
·
Our health.
·
Sometimes even our survival.
Ignoring the weather in the stories we tell just isn’t an
option.
In the real world, we chat about the weather even when
there’s nothing much to say. Which is fine – small-talk helps to oil the cogs
of society. But having two characters in a novel talk about unremarkable
weather, or having the narrator describe a perfectly ordinary rain shower, say,
can send the reader straight to sleep.
Another problem with writing about the weather is that it’s
easy to resort to cliches.
·
The rain lashed down on the
rooftops.
·
The heat rose off the tarmac in
shimmering waves.
·
The wind made the tree branches
dance.
Good descriptive
writing should be fresh, original, memorable – even unexpected.
But because we talk about the weather all the time (and read so much about it
in fiction, too), finding unique and exciting ways to describe thunderstorms or
blizzards or perfect summer days can be tough.
WHY WEATHER IS IMPORTANT IN A NOVEL
Here are four reasons why weather matters in fiction.
1. It’s
Part of the Setting
Not only that, it’s a crucial part of
the setting,
particularly when the weather shifts from being ordinary to extreme.
Imagine two characters in a novel, a husband and a wife,
driving along a deserted highway. They’re fighting about whose fault it is that
they’re lost. Outside, it is…
·
Freezing. Everywhere is white with snow and it’s tough keeping the
car on the road.
·
Scorching. It’s the hottest August day on record… and the air
conditioning is on the blink.
·
Stormy up
ahead. And they’re driving right into it!
·
Foggy. They can barely see the road in front of them.
Each of these conditions would give the scene a totally
different feel. But even when the weather is not especially remarkable – a warm
summer’s evening, a cold and bright morning in autumn – it still gives scenes
very different moods and atmospheres.
But if you don’t mention the weather at all in your writing,
not even briefly, an important element will be missing from the mental image in
the reader’s mind.
2. It
Affects Character
Just as the weather affects our mood in the real world, so
it affects the mood of a character in a novel.
·
If a character is feeling blue, a
cold and wet day will form the perfect backdrop.
·
If the sun comes out, it’s a sign
that their spirits are rising.
The viewpoint character’s mood complements or contrast with
the weather outside is just another small way to add dimension to your fiction.
3. It
Affects Plot
Even the most ordinary weather can affect the plans of
people in the real world and, also, characters in novels.
·
Rain can spoil a wedding.
·
Fog can disrupt travel plans.
·
Drought can play havoc with a prized
garden.
Make the elements more extreme and you ramp up the stakes. Writing
about extreme weather can be a primary source of conflict in a
novel.
4.
Weather Is Symbolic
I mentioned earlier that weather can affect a character’s
mood. Taking this one step further, you can have it actually symbolize how
a character is feeling inside.
Suppose a mother is worried that her young son is late back
home. As she stands by the window waiting for him to return, she notices the
wind picking up. At this point, she is merely concerned.
One hour later, though, the garden furniture is cartwheeling
across the lawn… and by implication, the woman is really starting
to panic. The writer doesn’t even need to describe her panic. The scene outside tells
the readers everything they need to know about how the woman is feeling inside.
5. Don’t
Ignore It
If you can, mention it in every scene. Even if the weather
isn’t that important to a scene, still write about it, however briefly.
When Mary left for work the next morning, it
was still raining.
It was colder than Frank had expected when he
stepped out of the house.
The snow started right after lunch.
There are no fancy descriptions here – no adjectives, no
metaphors.
·
It’s raining.
·
It’s cold.
·
It’s snowing.
The reader can then take their experience of rain, say, and
use it to imagine a rainy scene.
6. Show,
Don’t Tell
When Mary left for work the next morning, the sky was as dark as
slate and the icy north wind was blowing the rain straight into her face.
The entire sky was white with snow.
The sound of a dog pawing at the back door waiting to be let
inside.
Use the best details you can imagine. Engage all of the
senses (how the weather sounds and smells and tastes).
The wind began
to blow, hot and restless. It drowned
out the sound of my fists pounding against the door. It drowned out my cries for help. I felt clammy, yet the heat of the day was
trapped inside the attic. The heat
clawed at my like the talons of a vulture—cruel and without mercy.
Sweat poured
down my body. My legs were heavy with
fatigue. Allowed myself to rest upon the
floor. White spots danced before my eyes
like moths. My head pounded with a wild
throbbing pain.
Sister Enid
reminded me of Old Woman from my band.
She had appeared to be like everyone else. She ate, she moved about, she spoke. Only she wasn’t really like other
people. She was a woman in an empty
body. Old Woman’s sound had been taken
from her. . .
Did my details draw you into the scene?
Did you experience Tanayia's reality?
Do you have a favorite 'weather scene' in a novel you've read?
Why is it a favorite?
Thank you for stopping by today at BWL Insider Blog.
I hope you enjoyed this month's post :-)
Happy Reading,
Connie
Labels:
##novelsbyconnievines.com,
#BWL Author Blog,
#historical novels,
#NativeAmerican Romance,
#Weather,
#WritingTips
Connie Vines is married with two grown sons. When Connie isn't writing. . .
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Thinking up the future – by Vijaya Schartz
ANGEL FIERCE - Azura Chronicles Book 2 Find it with other BWL titles from Vijaya Schartz here |
You can’t stop the proliferation of technology. The visionaries warned us in the nineties that progress would require a severe loss of privacy. They weren’t kidding.
We already have AIs in our homes, who talk back and do our bidding. They tell us when to get the pie out of the oven, when to order more milk and when to change the air filters. They can also record our conversations. The cameras on our computers can be activated without our knowledge. Most houses have motion-activated cameras that capture the life of the entire neighborhood.
Self-driving cars are delivering our groceries. |
We can clone body parts. Our cars drive us, not the other way around. We find our mates on dating sites that match our profiles. Our phones have become banking machines, movie screens, and a lifeline to all the people in our lives, whether we know them or not. Our daily lives are displayed for all to see and judge on Social Media. The authorities have access to all this information and our DNA can be used to solve cold cases...
More and more teenagers who are not strong enough to sustain the pressure and the bullying on Social Media commit suicide. I see it as a gruesome reminder of what unchecked technology can bring to our lives. Or is a natural selection occurring, weeding out those unable to adapt?
Let’s face it. It’s a new era. Where will it stop? What will the future look like? Soon we might improve embryos in the womb, or grow babies in test tubes. We might even make ourselves more intelligent.
Human nature can adapt, but not as fast as our technology. I believe there will be a breaking point, and a severe backlash. Some visionaries believe in robot uprising. It could happen. Or the divide between the rich and the poor will cause a revolution and topple governments. Or a war, or a computer glitch will destroy most of the planet, and leave society in shambles. These are the usual themes of dystopian novels and movies, like the Hunger Games, the Divergent series, the Mad Max series, the Postman, the Terminator series, and many others.
I’m of the opinion that yes, some segments of society might rebel, and no, we will not destroy ourselves or lose all our technology. We shall adapt enough to survive. Then, when space exploration develops and becomes accessible to most, I believe many of us will sail into the unknown, like the adventurers who followed Christopher Columbus, like the pioneers who rode their wagons West. Some will look for riches, others for fame, for adventure, or for knowledge and the study of alien species. Others yet will look for a simpler way of life, for religious tolerance, for a chance to raise their family in peaceful surroundings.
Despite the rapid evolution of our technology, I believe we humans will slowly evolve, but our passions will remain the same. We’ll learn from our mistakes, we’ll love, we’ll fight for our freedom, and we will continue to do so, as long as the human race exists in this universe.
That’s why I enjoy writing the future. No matter what the technology becomes, humans will always be humans.
My latest novel, ANGEL FIERCE is set on a planet populated by angels.
Something’s rotten on the angel planet. When Avenging Angels turn up dead, Urielle, their Legion Commander, suspects the handsome intruder brought unspeakable evil to Azura.
Maksou never met a woman he couldn’t seduce. He came to the forbidden planet to rescue his friends and get rich in the process, but the jungle crawls with lethal life forms… including a gorgeous warrior angel, who saves his life but keeps him prisoner and challenges his irresistible charm.
Urielle, sworn to protect Azura at all costs, has no use for a maverick who ignores the rules and endangers the planet… no matter how attractive. Especially when the Galactic Trade Alliance (GTA) wages a secret war to get their greedy hands on the priceless crystal at Azura’s core.
HAPPY READING!
Vijaya Schartz, author
Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB
Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.com
amazon - B&N - Smashwords - Kobo - FB
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Popular Posts
-
Deadly Undertaking Click here to purchase ‘Tis the season of the year when the transformation occurs from the darkness of winter to th...
-
I tied my manuscript up in an electronic bow and sent the final version off to BWL Publishing. Let me tell you, there were days during...
-
AVAILABLE HERE I have a cousin in Australia who loves to travel. She and her husband are currently in Vietnam, and the photographs she share...
-
Goodbye winter. Hello spring. Another round of setting clocks ahead is behind us as well as all the rant on social media about why we co...
-
Sometimes I wonder how much one person’s voice can actually help when “fighting the good fight” against what seems like ...
-
Happy Belated Birthday, Dear Wolfgang! 261 years young & still delighting audiences... http://www.bookswelove.net/autho...
-
The cover of the Ontario offering for the Canadian Historical Mysteries Collection from BWL Publishing to be released November 2024 To fin...
-
Click here for purchase options for this award-winning series. https://www.bookswelove.net/kavanagh-j-c/ In last month's blog, I told ...
-
Click here to purchase. Winner of Best Historical for 2023 How do I make a German officer during WWII sympathetic? I make him a real pers...
-
Please click this link for author and book information Last month I visited the Canadian War Museu...