Once you start weather going, don’t forget about it Ahahaha, yes, I've certainly done this to my heroes' convenience. And, come to think of it, I'm not sure the consequences of the weather are realistic enough, either even if they did die from hypothermia. Hmm, you certainly give us stuff to think about, Limyaael. These last two rants have particularly given me cause to stop and think. So keep it up! It's awesome!
And I can't tell you how many times I started rain in one scene, stopped writing for the day, and then came back and forgot it was raining the next day. :)
I remember a college assignment--describing an attack on a castle in England in the springtime. I was the only one who allowed for things like rain, mud, flooded rivers that made crossing at a ford all but impossible, and the difficulty of marching and moving heavy, mud-caked siege weapons over rutted (and often washed-out) roads.
Good for you! Sometimes I think our own world influences far too much of our thought, and people start thinking armies in medieval England just marched along paved roads and bridges over every river.
I remember reading K.A. Applegate's Everworld series, where the heroes of the story explore through areas of sweltering rainforest, only to emerge into snowy tundra the next moment. Of course, Everworld was in fact shared by various different gods who preferred different types of weather in their own territories, so I supposed that can be excused. :P Just tought about that when reading your rant.
2) Once you start weather going, don’t forget about it.
I, too, confess to this crime. :P I mentioned my characters were in a blizzard once, then forgot all about it in a few spaces of dialogue. The blizzard vanished and they peacefully set up camp. :)
BbHtrYoink
anonymous
December 30 2003, 16:53:15 UTC
Just another example of how much I love your rants! :)
Also, though, I'd like to contribute something that I've gotten from reading various writing guide books, for what it's worth. The authors of some of these books mention that sometimes, the weather can be used by the author to portray mood. As long as it isn't obvious, it can let the reader know that "global events are happening," and increases the importance of your story to the reader. For example, if your main character is sobbing up a storm, it might be gently raining outside, or if she has just found her true love, it might be sunny.
Personally, I think this is mostly a load of bull, (smacks of author manipulation, which it is) although I've read a very few examples where it does work. The only one I can think of now is The Secret Garden, in which the main character is taken to a mansion that is on a moor, and during the frequent storms that occur, she hears someone crying. This "someone" just happens to be a sickly boy who becomes her best friend, and by the end of the
( ... )
Re: BbHtrYoinklimyaaelDecember 30 2003, 20:09:33 UTC
I tend to distrust this technique. As you said, it can be done well, but it's very hard. It's even worse when the author takes note of it (as in one of the DragonLance Chronicles, where Weis and Hickman actually note the rain is like weeping). When it doesn't work, it's another heavy-handed way of the author telling you how to feel about her characters.
I think it can work when the author's already established that a particular weather pattern is normal- someone weeping in what you've already been told is a monsoon season, for example- or when it's used as irony, such as a bright and cheerful day on which a battle happens.
Re: BbHtrYoinkfarmercuerdenJanuary 12 2005, 20:46:19 UTC
Heh, the idea of a bright and cheerful day for battle reminds me of W.S. Gilbert's parody of the same:
When anger spreads its wing And all seems dark as night for it, There's nothing but to fight for it, But 'ere you pitch your ring, Select a pretty site for it, (This spot is suited quite for it.)
God, yes. And it isn't limited to those who are commonly accounted hacks, either. My most painful moment, watching The Two Towers was when the rain started at the Helm's Deep scene. I could just see it looming, and I was huddled in my seat whimpering, 'but... but bows can't fire in the rain. Wed bowstrings!'
It completely ruined the entire scene for me. I mean, I could maybe have taken Elven Magic Bowstrings!, but the Rohirrim also used bows.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou, I've been thinking 'what, am I nuts for thinking that was Incorrect and giggling about it?' for the last year and some! Rather compounded by having been working on a novel with an archer in it and wondering how people were going to try taking me to task with "but I saw in TTT where..." when she's disarmed by rain at a critical juncture. :)
Comments 13
Ahahaha, yes, I've certainly done this to my heroes' convenience. And, come to think of it, I'm not sure the consequences of the weather are realistic enough, either even if they did die from hypothermia. Hmm, you certainly give us stuff to think about, Limyaael. These last two rants have particularly given me cause to stop and think.
So keep it up! It's awesome!
Reply
And I can't tell you how many times I started rain in one scene, stopped writing for the day, and then came back and forgot it was raining the next day. :)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Of course, Everworld was in fact shared by various different gods who preferred different types of weather in their own territories, so I supposed that can be excused. :P Just tought about that when reading your rant.
2) Once you start weather going, don’t forget about it.
I, too, confess to this crime. :P I mentioned my characters were in a blizzard once, then forgot all about it in a few spaces of dialogue. The blizzard vanished and they peacefully set up camp. :)
Reply
Also, though, I'd like to contribute something that I've gotten from reading various writing guide books, for what it's worth. The authors of some of these books mention that sometimes, the weather can be used by the author to portray mood. As long as it isn't obvious, it can let the reader know that "global events are happening," and increases the importance of your story to the reader. For example, if your main character is sobbing up a storm, it might be gently raining outside, or if she has just found her true love, it might be sunny.
Personally, I think this is mostly a load of bull, (smacks of author manipulation, which it is) although I've read a very few examples where it does work. The only one I can think of now is The Secret Garden, in which the main character is taken to a mansion that is on a moor, and during the frequent storms that occur, she hears someone crying. This "someone" just happens to be a sickly boy who becomes her best friend, and by the end of the ( ... )
Reply
I think it can work when the author's already established that a particular weather pattern is normal- someone weeping in what you've already been told is a monsoon season, for example- or when it's used as irony, such as a bright and cheerful day on which a battle happens.
Reply
When anger spreads its wing
And all seems dark as night for it,
There's nothing but to fight for it,
But 'ere you pitch your ring,
Select a pretty site for it,
(This spot is suited quite for it.)
-Princess Ida.
Reply
God, yes. And it isn't limited to those who are commonly accounted hacks, either. My most painful moment, watching The Two Towers was when the rain started at the Helm's Deep scene. I could just see it looming, and I was huddled in my seat whimpering, 'but... but bows can't fire in the rain. Wed bowstrings!'
It completely ruined the entire scene for me. I mean, I could maybe have taken Elven Magic Bowstrings!, but the Rohirrim also used bows.
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