Changing Weather and Writing
We’re going through that Midwestern time of year when it’s not really summer and not really fall. Today, the temperature was a cool 76 degrees. After 90 and 100 degree days, it felt heavenly. Just walking out to pick up the newspaper was a treat, with a cool breeze blowing on my face.
Tomorrow, the weather is supposed to climb back into the upper 80’s, with cooler weather possibly arriving later in the week. After that, the weatherpersons will take another stab at the unpredictable possibilities.
So, what does this have to do with writing? One of the reasons I love living in the Midwest is the changing seasons. I like seeing the golden leaves of our neighbors’ tree when I sit in the living room. I also enjoy that first peek of the buds on the trees right after a cold winter. And a snow day can bring out the kid in me just as fast as my boys can pull out their sleds and snowboots.
The change in temperature helps me with my writing. When the boys were babies, I read a parenting tip that said to change their temperature when they were crying. If inside, go outside. If outside, go inside. Just the shift would make them settle down, interested in the new sensation. It worked every time.
So, for me, the change in weather gives me a new sensation. The crisp feel of fall, the changing leaves. . . all give me a new lease on life and I can look at my story differently. After playing outside in the snow for an hour or two, I love warming up with my characters again. And when it’s hot and muggy, it’s the perfect time to sit next to the fan and bring up some conflict for my hero and heroine.
And the change doesn’t have to be major, from hot summer to snowy winter. For years, we lived down south and I still noticed the subtle changes of the season. Some of that change was due to dates: the start of school, summer, holiday time. Just enough to shift my brain into another direction.
So, if you’re a writer, have you found that the seasons make a difference to your writing? If you’re a reader, do you choose books differently based on the seasons?
