By Susan G. Haws
I just started composing my blog today when I heard the rumble of thunder muffled by the house walls and the rapid splat sounds of a downpour. I walked to the door to watch the rain pound the dirt in the back yard flowing into puddles in the low spots and making multitudes of mini, splash waves in the pool.
In literature weather adds conflict or illustrates concepts depending on how it is judiciously used. A rain storm is a prayed for blessing in a drought. Gentle rain refreshes the air, and nourishes a garden. Rain can fill a river and flood a town. Rain can be part of a hurricane. But just as rain can save a crop, hail or flood can kill a crop.
Weather physically changes the setting of a story and this leads to emotional and economic conflicts. Rain saves a crop and thus a farm financially. A torrential rain blinds a driver so they tragically maim or kill a pet or person.
The building of a storm can parallel building conflict or foreshadow events. Characters can supernaturally manifest their emotions in physical storms. Other fantasy characters can consciously control the weather as a weapon.
Do our characters throw a hurricane party or pack their car and evacuate? How the people in our stories react to the weather can provide insight into their character. Even today with our high tech lifestyle the weather can influence feelings and actions. Weather can be a means to bring characters individually and collectively back in tune with the earth, ancestors, values, and God.
Weather, rain, is significant in one of my projects. How have you used weather in your works?
I just started composing my blog today when I heard the rumble of thunder muffled by the house walls and the rapid splat sounds of a downpour. I walked to the door to watch the rain pound the dirt in the back yard flowing into puddles in the low spots and making multitudes of mini, splash waves in the pool.In literature weather adds conflict or illustrates concepts depending on how it is judiciously used. A rain storm is a prayed for blessing in a drought. Gentle rain refreshes the air, and nourishes a garden. Rain can fill a river and flood a town. Rain can be part of a hurricane. But just as rain can save a crop, hail or flood can kill a crop.
Weather physically changes the setting of a story and this leads to emotional and economic conflicts. Rain saves a crop and thus a farm financially. A torrential rain blinds a driver so they tragically maim or kill a pet or person.
The building of a storm can parallel building conflict or foreshadow events. Characters can supernaturally manifest their emotions in physical storms. Other fantasy characters can consciously control the weather as a weapon.
Do our characters throw a hurricane party or pack their car and evacuate? How the people in our stories react to the weather can provide insight into their character. Even today with our high tech lifestyle the weather can influence feelings and actions. Weather can be a means to bring characters individually and collectively back in tune with the earth, ancestors, values, and God.Weather, rain, is significant in one of my projects. How have you used weather in your works?
Great post, Susan! Weather even influences my nonfiction writing. What a great tool!
ReplyDeletehugs~
I've used weather to coincide with the stormy feelings of one of my characters. Here is one example . . .
ReplyDelete“Come on, boy.” I opened the door with Charlie on his leash. He led me out across the small parking lot to the tree-covered area. Dried pine needles and yellowed grasses littered the ground, but it suited Charlie’s needs. I stood on a rock while he sniffed and poked around—my toes were freezing. I looked up into a cloudy sky. It seemed only fair. My mood was as dark as the clouds.
Great post. Weather can be an important element in a plot, that's for sure. And the rain yesterday was wonderful!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments.
ReplyDeleteDebra, thank you for sharing the excerpt from you novel. You illustrated my message perfectly and you painted such a clear picture with just that little bit.
Kari, that is a good point. I watched 17 Miracles recently.
Valerie, that storm was lovely I would enjoy a few more this year.