Weather. It’s around us 24/7, and it can impact our lives positively and negatively. It can also be a great topic to explore in creative writing. What the weather is in your story can show us how your characters react to external forces interfering with their lives and give the reader insight into who they are.
Let’s get started!
Exercise #1
What’s the weather like where you are right now? If you looked out the window or stepped outside, how would your five senses react to what you are witnessing?
Write a paragraph describing your current weather using your five senses. Remember to show and not tell.
Exercise #2
As I said in the intro paragraph, the weather is an external force that can impact a character. Think back to when a weather event impacted you positively or negatively, and write a 500-word short story about it.
What led up to your encounter with this weather event? Did your response to the weather make things better or worse? How did you resolve any problems related to the weather event? If it was a positive event – like perfect sunny weather while on vacation – how did the weather make for a perfect getaway?
Exercise #3
Take one of the fictional characters you’ve created and plunk them into a crazy weather event. How will they react? How will they describe the weather? What conflict-driven issues could they have as they work to get out of the weather event you’ve placed them in?
Write 500 words about it and have some fun with the weather and this particular character. Did you learn more about your character by putting them through something like this?
Final Thoughts
The weather in a story is as important as the story’s location. It’s important to not neglect the weather in your narrative and to find creative ways to show and not tell your reader what the weather is.
Happy Writing, and I’ll see you next time!