When I was growing up, I can remember my dad being obsessed
by the weather. Every evening at five to six, the wireless (remember calling it
that?) would be switched on so that we could catch the weather forecast, only
to be turned off again as Big Ben struck the hour. Somehow, the evening news didn’t
have the same magnetic pull.
Of course, my dad was hardly unusual in that regard – we Brits
are well-known for our passion for all things meteorological. And – let’s face
it – now that our activities are being somewhat curtailed again, it’s nice to
know that we can still rely on our unpredictable weather system to fill up the
gaps in our conversations.
The weather can be a great tool for our writing, too. How
many of us have felt our mood brighten as the sun emerges from behind a cloud,
or noticed our spirits fall in tandem with the rain streaming down the window? Adding
dense fog to a scene conjures up an air of mystery or fear, while a howling
wind may be used to introduce an undercurrent of fear. Extreme weather conditions
can cause challenges for our protagonist and elicit sympathy from the reader. (As an aside, consider how often the
Bible uses weather images, particularly in the Psalms.)
The two photos accompanying this post were taken from the
same spot in mid-June, only a couple of hours apart – and yet they offer completely
different perspectives on the same view. The first speaks to me of adventure
(and maybe picnics), while the second would be more suited to Magwitch escaping
across the marshes.
So, what do you think? How would your protagonist respond to changes in the weather, or how could you use this to move the story along. And even when writing non-fiction, we can still use meteorological concepts to add colour to our words. Let’s talk about the weather…
Fiona Lloyd is Chair of the Association of
Christian Writers and is married with three grown-up children. Her first novel,
The Diary of a (trying to
be holy) Mum, was published by Instant Apostle in January 2018.
Fiona also works part-time for Christians Against Poverty.
Twitter: @FionaJLloyd &
@FionaLloyd16
This is definitely an inspiration to spike up our writing using the weather, as well as helping writers to have ideas for moving on in the opening, middle and end of their chapters or story. Great!!
ReplyDeleteLoving this idea, Fiona. I agree the weather can set mood. As a great reader of crime books, most of these take part in miserable weather, to set a bleak tone. Yet, a murder on a blazing hot beach can be even more chilling. This post has really made me think, so thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Wendy - strange how we associate the more miserable types of weather with crimes and dark deeds!
DeleteGreat blog Fiona. Few words but graphic – prompting much reflection. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Eileen!
DeleteWe only had the wireless (no TV) which boomed the news and weather from the Dansette in which is was housed. True. The weather really does play a huge part in our lives and therefore should in our protagonists'. Mine listens to soft summer rain in the last chapter as she sits crying in her kitchen, but I haven't really used it very much. This has made me think though - thank you Fiona.
ReplyDeleteNo TV in our house, either, when I was growing up - no wonder I'm a bookworm! Thanks for reading and commenting.
DeleteGreat post - and I love the pictures. That's a startling difference in such a short time! That's the dramatic side of nature that I love, when it does things like that.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Fran. The weather round here can be very dramatic - we can sit in our lounge and watch the fret creeping across the valley towards us.
DeleteYes, the contrasts in the two photos remind me of some photos I took on a holiday in Wales: the Preseli Hills on a lovely afternoon, and later as storm approached! We of course had a "Wireless' and my Grandpa was News-obsessed - I remember the weather but then, the News: we had to be mouse-quiet while that was on! (Maybe it was when the wonderfully named Archbishop Makarios was up to something - Grandpa was half Greek and I heard a lot about Makarios's doings when I was about 5 or 6!) Protagonist? She's painting scenery for the school play with her friends: in the Art Room, with soft rain coming down outside, & they are full of fun and laughter as have just finished GCSEs...
ReplyDeleteyou talking about the weather forecast brought to mind listening to the fishing forecast (is that what it was called) that always fascinated me with it's dull, but mysterious names and relevance.
ReplyDeleteI remember the fishing forecast - it always sounded like a mysterious code to me! Brilliant names, too.
DeleteEnjoyed your blog. The weather can often add to a scene, either by being part of it or in sharp contrast. The weather forecast in the old days was quite a hit and miss affair, i seem to remember.
ReplyDelete