Blog 66: Storms and Daffodils

Welcome to another blog, and if you were lucky, maybe you have had a bit of blue sky and sunshine. As we are well and truly in the season of spring now, the weather is being much kinder and making us feel a little lighter. That shot of vitamin D from the sun certainly lifts our spirits and gives us much-needed motivation and energy for the day.

The weather, including the seasons, can be a useful thing to think about when creating a specific atmosphere and demonstrating the current mood. This is called the Pathetic Fallacy, where inanimate objects are given personification, such as showcasing anger, despair, fear, happiness, or hope. For example, the setting of Dracula by Bram Stoker includes harsh Transylvanian landscapes, stormy coasts, fog, cold weather, and moonlight symbolising danger, suspense, and supernatural forces.

In contrast to this, during my secondary school days, oh so long ago, my English class was all given the task of learning the Daffodil poem by William Wordsworth. I still remember it word for word today. I forgot what I came in the room for this morning, but I remember this poem!  Do you recall back in the old school days, when you used repetition until it was engraved permanently into your brain? Anyway, that poem demonstrates pathetic fallacy and personification extremely well. Even the title, I wandered lonely as a cloud, mirrors the character’s loneliness, much like an isolated cloud in the vast sky. If you know this poem, then you will realise there is a shift in mood when the character comes across a lake lined with daffodils that are “Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.” This instantly changes the atmosphere of the poem, and the reader can feel how the character is uplifted by the beautiful scenery.

I have read stories where the weather or other descriptions don’t quite convey the appropriate mood. Imagine a horror movie with a serial killer on the loose. You would expect it to be nighttime, dark, perhaps it’s raining outside and windy. There are eerie sounds making you jump, a creaking door, and a sudden flash of lightning as you see the killer standing there with a knife. It wouldn’t have the same effect if it were a beautiful sunny day, nothing seemed untoward, and then he just came in and stabbed someone. It's all about building up your scene, the atmosphere, and allowing your readers to feel their way through what is happening or going to happen. If you don’t choose your surroundings carefully, it can give off the wrong tone and feel confusing to read.

Let’s have a look at some more examples: -

The moon was a half-closed eye, and they floated on water as dark as his thoughts. The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.

This is a High Fantasy book where one of the characters has been sent away from his home and must visit an evil and dangerous island, where it is unlikely that he will survive. The moon, with its half-closed eye, gives the impression that it cannot bear to watch what is to come.

The noise stops, and there is a moment of silence, as if the sea itself were holding its breath. Then, with a peal of biblical thunder, a wide semicircle of walkway is hauled seaward by the weight of the broken girders underneath. The Pier Falls by Mark Haddon.

Here, there is a wonderful sense of foreboding that something bad is about to occur, as even the sea seems to hold its breath, before the pier begins to fall.

At the moment, I am copy-editing a psychological thriller, and there is a brilliant scene where the protagonist walks into a room that leads to a confrontation. The sun is streaming through the windows, but it casts a shadow, creating a dimming effect that unnerves her. This subtle detail lets us know that all is not well and makes us shuffle a little further towards the edge of our seats.

As you write, try to be aware of the mood you want to create, and use the surroundings, similes, metaphors, and vocabulary to fit it and enhance that all-important atmosphere.

On a separate note, despite the beautiful weather we have been having over here and the relaxing walks in the sunshine I have enjoyed, my health has become an issue at the moment. I am taking it as a hint from my body to take time to rest. So I have made the decision to take a slight break from blog writing for a few weeks and focus on some self-care. But don’t worry, I shall be back with more tips and interviews about writing and editing soon.

Until next time, keep writing, keep editing, and don’t forget to think about the weather.

See ya.