Monday, March 25, 2013

Everyone's Asking...Where's Spring by Linda S. Glaz



On all different writers’ loops and with everyone you meet, people are asking the same question: Where’s spring?
It’s funny, when it’s hot, we all want snow, and when we’ve had snow up to our necks, we all want spring, and this year has been quite a challenge for the entire country. Spring simply doesn’t want to come riding over the hill like the cavalry with flowers and birds singing. We’ve even had apologies from Punxsutawney Phil.
We all know how important it is to have sensory details in a story, and even though no one wants to start a story with a dark and stormy night, still, a late spring that ushers in a huge snowstorm resulting in a couple trapped in a car or a cabin would be wonderful. Perhaps a rodent is murdered for his miscalculations. There are any number of situations that might arise with the late arrival of spring.
And, of course, it doesn’t have to be spring, but any of the seasons. It’s so easy in our writing to get caught up in deep pov/character development, and plot structure that the sensory details can be lost in the rush.
The small things, like a late spring, can make all the difference between a story that is average and a story that sings with details of real life, like why spring isn’t here.
The next time someone asks you where spring is, let them know it’s in the middle of your plot!

2 comments:

Davalyn Spencer said...

Yesterday at church I heard a murderous remark about ol' Phil. Had to laugh. This is Colorado. Spring is when we get our best snow!

Anonymous said...

Illinoisans are predicting no spring.Our winter came so late we are expecting summer to roll right over spring. Snow to 70 degrees in one day could catch a heroine stranded and unprepared. Think of all the possibilities.

Cindy Huff