Weather as a Metaphor

If we could sum up the use of weather as a metaphor in a single word. . . .

No.

Don't do it.

As writers, and especially beginning writers, it can be tempting to force the weather to mirror our characters' moods and the situations in which they find themselves.

We have good intentions, of course--it's for effect, to add layers and depth to a scene. 

After all, there's nothing like a sudden thunderstorm to interrupt the throes of outdoor passion. Or a heated argument in the rain (I admit, that's a favorite of mine). Or a perfect spring day to match the kindling of a new love.

And sure, sometimes in real life we fight on dark, wet days. And those afternoon picnics with the ones we love are, in fact, spent beneath a warm sun. But aligning the weather to every situation in our novels is a bit pedestrian.

As humans, we respond to weather. It's also one of the easiest things to describe in a story.

But it's not a perfect metaphor, so use it sparingly as one (if at all).

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

On Finding the Best Way to Tell a Story

There's more than one way to tell a story, and a writer who doesn't consider every option--every character, style, point of view--is doing himself a disservice.

The solution? Try writing a few paragraphs or even a chapter from a variety of perspectives to find the most compelling possibility.

It's worth the time and effort to find the narrator and point of view that will bring out the best in your writing and storytelling skills.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~

Always a Writer

On Silence

Sometimes what a writer doesn't say is as important as what he says.

Just like a musician will let a note hang suspended to create drama and tension in a piece, so can writers use this kind of lull to their advantage. 

Too much information, in fact, can detract from a scene and slow down the pacing of a story to a detrimental degree. 

The antidote to this? 

Silence.

Silence is what ignites the reader's imagination, allowing them to take your story and fill in the empty spaces.

There isn't enough room to cover everything, so it comes down to what needs to be real within the scene and what can be implied. 

Sometimes less really is more.

Be Brilliant!

~Katie~