We had snow yesterday. That wasn’t much, maybe an inch or two. When the sun came up this morning, we had the bright blue skies of winter and below-zero temperatures. It reminded me that weather can play an essential part in any story. You may not have a choice in the story’s setting for some reason, but it will have weather. You can use that fact to your advantage and increase the story’s realism.
Let’s look at two examples. I will start with the sudden summer thunderstorm and two people caught in it. If it is a young couple, they can’t find shelter immediately from the storm and look like a couple of drowned rats. After the thunderstorm, they find a place to dry out, but her hair and makeup are ruined, and both their clothing look like they were slept in. People suspect them of something that didn’t happen.
Let’s look at another couple who have been married for years. Their children are grown and gone. Like the young couple, they can’t find shelter immediately from the storm and look like a couple of drowned rats. When they do, she says that she must look horrible. He kisses her and tells her she is still beautiful. That sparks something to happen.
They are just two examples of how a sudden summer thunderstorm can be used in a story. Can you think of another example?
