How do you mark the passage of time? By the holidays? The garden? The solstices? Some other internal clock?
When I was a church choir geek, the Holy Days kept me on track. Beyond Christmas and Easter, smaller celebrations like Pentecost (school’s out!), Assumption (fall is right around the corner!), or All Saints Day (Halloween!!) grounded me in time. Every year had a rhythm, and even Ordinary Time – everything that wasn’t Advent, Christmas, Lent, or Easter – had a way of marking the seasons.
Most writers I know, at least the ones who self-publish, have it all turned around. I mean, if you want to release a Halloween story, you better start writing it in May. A holiday romance? That bad boy better be in edits by August.
Writers know the unique pleasure of stranding their characters in a snowbound cabin while the outside temperature is somewhere over 80 degrees. (That’s 26 degrees for those of you who speak Celsius.) Writing a spooky ghost story that takes place in the darkest part of the year? Don’t look out the window because the azaleas are blooming.
Though there is something to be said for writing a beach romance in February. You’re giving yourself a little mental vacation, even if you are snowed in.
In my own work, I gravitate toward stories that are set during the fall. Those long nights work well for my vampire characters. I live in Seattle, where the late November sun sets by 4:30pm. For me, there’s something incredibly peaceful in the way nature goes to sleep for the winter, even if it is dark and blustery.
And my vampires love it. (LOL)
As I look outside my office window, spring is definitely on its way. The cornelian cherry tree is covered with yellow blooms and the spirea is starting to send out its pretty orange leaves. Yet most of my garden is more about hope than beauty. Next month, though, y’all should come by, because the bulbs will be going crazy.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
I don’t spend nearly as much time in church as I used to, though this year I did give up candy for Lent. (Much easier said than done!) I’m more likely to bake a King Cake for Mardi Gras than learn a new chant for Easter. Seasons change and so do people, you know? And since the book I’m currently editing is set in late October, I just have to conjure the cold and the dark from memory.
What about you? Are you currently visiting some sunny vacation spot for your characters’ benefit? I hope so…
Liv Rancourt is a multi-published author of gay and m/m romance. Because love is love, even with fangs.
Liv is a huge fan of paranormal romance and urban fantasy and loves history just as much, so her stories often feature vampires or magic or they’re set in the past…or all of the above. She also co-authors two m/m paranormal romance series with Irene Preston. Their partnership works because Liv is good at blowing things up and Irene is good at explaining why.
When Liv isn’t writing she takes care of tiny premature babies in the NICU. Her husband is a soul of patience, her kids are her pride and joy, and her dog Burnsie is endlessly entertaining.
Liv can be found on-line at all hours of the day and night at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter. For sneak peeks and previews and other assorted freebies, go HERE to sign up for her mailing list or join the Facebook page she shares with her writing partner Irene Preston, After Hours with Liv & Irene. See you soon!
10 comments:
Liv, thanks for guesting with us at Romancing The Genres! So you are the reason the PNW is having a longer winter? I woke up today to the ground covered in sleet or hail (I'm not going outside right now to confirm which...it is icy though). 36 degrees when I got up so I think you have the cold covered. Dark out? not so much.
As for my books, I write to the pagan high holy days so fit the story, setting, etc. to their seasons.
Hi Judith!
Is it too late to say Happy Ostara? I'm not going to take responsibility for the danged weather, though I think temps in the 30s at the end of March is somewhere south of stupid!! (lol)
Love this - and so, so true! The nice thing is that during a blizzard, we, as writers, can lose ourselves in a beach or lake scene in mid-July. All we have to do, is ignore the snow blustering against the windows, while we crank up the heat so we can channel summer while we imagine and write our scene - win-win!
PS - temp is 39 in Maine and snow due this afternoon into evening. But I'm channeling s late summer round-up,
I mark the passage of time by how late my dog sleeps. Petey is a 'first light' alarm clock. The longer the days, the more often I get up, take him outside, make coffee, and fall asleep again.
I don't mind this winter running into spring, because I don't do well in hot weather. I DO mind it because I worry about climate change.
I'm planning a story for an anthology right now, but the details are foggy. Maybe it should be set in the fog?
Love your post and that you like to blow things up!
Liv, Fun post. today in SE Oregon we have two inches of snow and it's 29 degrees. I wish spring would show here! My stories tend to be plotted toward seasons- Not just Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, but hunting and fishing seasons. LOL The main character in one of my series is a game warden so I have to take into consideration what he would be doing for his job at the time I set a murder. Thanks for being a guest!
Great post, Liv--thanks! I am writing fall scenes this week--at least it's better than dwelling on snow!
I love this post. Former Seattle resident here and used to not having much daylight, Summers are unbeatable. I live in Sunny Florida now with no real transitional seasons. Time goes fast and one day looks like the other, except for rain in the hurricane season. I gave up wine for lent, helps with my Glucose numbers.
Liv,
Enjoyed your post!
29 when I woke up this morning. 55 now with a wind chil of 49. sunny and chilly!
Monday and Tuesday we're supposed to have snow again here in Paradise, CA.
Thanks to everyone who commented!! I hope true spring weather comes to all of us soon!
Post a Comment