tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post5582723483847972322..comments2023-12-30T09:35:40.561-07:00Comments on Chiseled in Rock: Don't Open Your Novel With the Weather?Chiseled in Rockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02545077591839974850noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-60330934745871052302011-02-21T00:49:14.164-07:002011-02-21T00:49:14.164-07:00We were taught to open descriptively, including we...We were taught to open <i>descriptively</i>, including weather diatribes, back in the writing/composition classes of the early 70s.<br /><i>Times change</i> as do audiences, however … so, write … whatever sells to an agent/publisher (to pay the bills) and what you ’<i>feel</i>’ to express yourself.Royce A Rattermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081151126997369515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-40724323836841559372011-02-19T18:12:59.881-07:002011-02-19T18:12:59.881-07:00Yeah... much better to start with a dream, or driv...Yeah... much better to start with a dream, or driving in a car, or having a cup of coffee... B^)Ron at CMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10075044892993504475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-27690342373964254682011-02-18T10:25:12.157-07:002011-02-18T10:25:12.157-07:00I agree with Elizabeth, if you can write it well, ...I agree with Elizabeth, if you can write it well, then go for it!Kerriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09850852586149578236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-47105006987039671492011-02-16T11:24:33.405-07:002011-02-16T11:24:33.405-07:00Thanks to everyone who stopped by to check on the ...Thanks to everyone who stopped by to check on the weather and left excellent comments.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-10556532359852215862011-02-16T09:37:17.559-07:002011-02-16T09:37:17.559-07:00Mystery writer Richard A. Thompson (Fiddle Game, F...Mystery writer Richard A. Thompson (Fiddle Game, Frag Box) opens all of his books with weather. Even his very first one. I guess he's the exception that proves the rule.Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-40840959513958842362011-02-16T07:27:11.499-07:002011-02-16T07:27:11.499-07:00This became a popular because it is one of Elmore ...This became a popular because it is one of Elmore Leonard's Ten Rules for Writing. (His 11th rule? "Unless it makes a better story.")<br /><br />If you have a bad habit, it sometimes helps to ban it from your writing, at least for a little while. I cut out all adverbs for a while, and now use them sparingly(Ha!) One of my favorite writers, Mario Puzo, sprinkled in adverbs everywhere. Go figure.<br /><br />BTW: I hate putting weather in a story. I hate placing my stories in a definite place and time. I also hate naming characters. But many readers demand these little touches.William M. Brocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-36805444459330913492011-02-16T03:36:13.060-07:002011-02-16T03:36:13.060-07:00Oh, I think if the writer can write weather effect...Oh, I think if the writer can write weather effectively (like the great authors in your examples), then why not? :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-29025576765209599952011-02-15T22:22:22.776-07:002011-02-15T22:22:22.776-07:00These are well-written. I remember in my earlier ...These are well-written. I remember in my earlier writings I went overboard with description. No one would have wanted to read about my take on the sky or temperature.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-6229168993246352262011-02-15T22:02:43.449-07:002011-02-15T22:02:43.449-07:00I guess one thing we'd need to avoid these day...I guess one thing we'd need to avoid these days is the John Michener environmental opening, although I have to admit that I always read and enjoyed them (in the old days).Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-20394094519658379762011-02-15T21:21:50.629-07:002011-02-15T21:21:50.629-07:00Some of my favorite books have some great descript...Some of my favorite books have some great descriptions of environment and I think that if it's handled well it really is a great way to open.Kenney Mencherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16685559624262422961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-78743722138371331492011-02-15T17:35:01.607-07:002011-02-15T17:35:01.607-07:00Those are great examples, Pat. I think it's a ...Those are great examples, Pat. I think it's a case that you have to know the rules before you can break them effectively. These are, as you put it on Facebook, "seasoned" authors; they know exactly what they're doing here.<br /><br />Elle<br />HearWriteNow & Blood-Red PencilElle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-71124081817496258962011-02-15T15:13:45.353-07:002011-02-15T15:13:45.353-07:00I think when done right like in your examples it&#...I think when done right like in your examples it's wonderful. Just better make sure I do it right if I do it!Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-21142867392053780722011-02-15T14:44:52.914-07:002011-02-15T14:44:52.914-07:00I think many agents/editors/publishers don't l...I think many agents/editors/publishers don't like weather openers is because it's been done to death. But then, like you say, there are those authors who just do it right. And they do it well.<br /><br />Lyn<br /><a href="http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">W.I.P. It: A Writer's Journey</a>Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-55181446631302064982011-02-15T12:33:58.113-07:002011-02-15T12:33:58.113-07:00You've all made great points. I keep going bac...You've all made great points. I keep going back to a novel idea where the action begins during a hurricane (or other bad storm). It would be pretty sad to have a book rejected on page one because the first paragraph set the stage with howling winds and pouring rain. :)Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-54567752101610579722011-02-15T12:01:44.568-07:002011-02-15T12:01:44.568-07:00If the weather is integral to the starting action ...If the weather is integral to the starting action and indicates the setting ... why not?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14115085533635353291noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-61096904286527511642011-02-15T11:27:22.773-07:002011-02-15T11:27:22.773-07:00I don't understand why not, either. These begi...I don't understand why not, either. These beginnings set a mood, set the scene: roughly the time of year and sometimes the place as in Pitts Bay. I agree that they're very good. They encourage me to keep reading.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-79689712460360097282011-02-15T11:09:42.468-07:002011-02-15T11:09:42.468-07:00Patricia, those are all excellent examples and you...Patricia, those are all excellent examples and you didn't even have to refer to the one that starts out, "It was a dark..." you know it. I agree with you. Weather when well written can add an element like nothing else.<br />Nancy<br /><a href="http://nrwilliams.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">N. R. Williams, fantasy author</a>N. R. Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02174506528962095858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-23846615200142778842011-02-15T11:04:53.492-07:002011-02-15T11:04:53.492-07:00My book originally opened with the weather, but th...My book originally opened with the weather, but then I added the mini stand alone adventure to start things off. And the character is inside so the weather at this point is a bit irrelevent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-42802218176470024982011-02-15T10:35:37.476-07:002011-02-15T10:35:37.476-07:00Hi Pat,
Very interesting. I was just reading Pim...Hi Pat, <br /><br />Very interesting. I was just reading Pimp My Novel's blog, and he was listing what agents don't like in a first chapter, and a couple of them declared the weather to be one of those things that dooms you to the rejection pile. But, you're right, many novels, by great writers start with a comment about the weather. <br /><br />My thought is, since we're not these big writers, why push our luck with a weather hating agent?<br /><br />Besides, why do we like the weather so much? It's sort of like someone telling us about a dream they had ~ boring (unless said dream is filled with Brad Pitt look-alikes). Well just a thought. <br /><br />Great blog, got me thinking so early in the morning!J.A. Kazimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10876584250229776810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-25351779053498639272011-02-15T09:59:00.656-07:002011-02-15T09:59:00.656-07:00If junior high English is any indication it's ...If junior high English is any indication it's because a world of literature took place on that "It was a dark and stormy night." Very over used and not much of a hook.Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-17245189605837668682011-02-15T09:56:10.181-07:002011-02-15T09:56:10.181-07:00Yes, that weather comment comes from every agent&#...Yes, that weather comment comes from every agent's mouth. I'm so happy you gave us some recent examples where weather is mentioned. Thanks for proving that we can take a Gutsy approach and break the rules.Gutsy Livinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02226653890127738115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-46751932188370851292011-02-15T08:40:37.223-07:002011-02-15T08:40:37.223-07:00Of course, choosing examples by these most excelle...Of course, choosing examples by these most excellent authors makes a difference, too. We need to learn all the "rules" and pay our dues before we can break them.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-78800197212395006292011-02-15T06:18:49.413-07:002011-02-15T06:18:49.413-07:00Interesting post and great examples.
I had heard t...Interesting post and great examples.<br />I had heard the rule about the weather; maybe it's to avoid openings like "it was a dark and stormy night."<br />Donna V.<br />http://donnasbookpub.blogspot.comDonna Volkenannthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04540727800410234483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2582274004296638852.post-24665938775433401062011-02-15T06:07:43.812-07:002011-02-15T06:07:43.812-07:00Pat - Oh, thanks for mentioning Michael Connelly; ...Pat - Oh, thanks for mentioning Michael Connelly; he's one of my all-time favourites. I, too, have heard that "rule" about the weather, but the fact is, weather can add a real layer to a story and if it's done well, why <i>not</i> start with that context?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com