This week: Through the Seasons Edited by: Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline More Newsletters By This Editor
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What is your favourite season? Why?
Each season can set a different mood, a different tone, and may evoke a different sense of urgency.
This week's Action/Adventure Newsletter, then, is all about the changing seasons.
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An icy wind roars around the mountains. Your main character hugs their travel-worn cloak around their aching frame. It’s snowed again; the climb ahead is treacherous. Will they make it through?
The winter’s a great setting for an adventure story. It brings to the world a dangerous beauty. Those of us in colder climes know the scent of cold in the air, and the way that the wind can hurt your face and bring tears to your eyes. Travel in such conditions is not something most of us would feel desirable – we can imagine the hardship of passing through snow-covered mountains and the difficulty of building suitable shelter to survive the night.
On the other hand, winter brings with it thoughts of light and festivity. A log cabin with a roaring fire where one can curl up nice and toasty, hot chocolate in hand. There can be warmth and comfort in the middle of the dark and the cold. And the end of winter brings with it the hope of spring.
When I picture spring I see swallows and house martens, butterflies and lambs. Here in Scotland nests are built under the eaves of my cottage, and toads emerge from their hibernation to explore the garden for snails. Spring brings new life, then, and renewal. It is a perfect time for action. For new beginnings, new adventures.
Summer shows life at its fullest, but it can be as unforgiving as winter. The heat is as destructive as the cold. Fires can tear through wood and home, forcing people to leave behind everything that they own. Around here, though, sheep lose their winter coats under the watchful eyes of their lambs. Bats fly over loch and tree to the calls of the local owls. The woods are filled with scent and sound, twitching my cats' little noses and ears. It is a good time to be in the outdoors – at least in milder temperatures. When it gets too hot even the boldest adventurer is better off with an ice bucket and a fan.
Autumn is spider time here in the UK – great, big ones that’ll cover the palm of your hand with their long, hairy legs. Colourful leaves cover pathway and field, and kids (and Kits) fill their pockets with conkers. The wind may grow fangs, but there are still gloriously warm nights to be had before we enter the dark months. Families and friends may gather around a hilltop fire, telling stories of heroes of old.
Of course, the above reflections are based on my own experiences, and experiences differ. Your seasons will bring with them their own sights and scents, tastes and sounds. There are all these many sensory experiences, though, and incorporating them into your story will help your readers explore your world along with your characters. What does winter smell like where they are? How do they experience the first rays of spring upon their skin? What does the apple, picked fresh from the tree, taste like? What sounds are carried on the autumn breeze?
If your story is set in this world you can base your descriptions on what you know of where you live, or have traveled, or get some assistance from the observations of others. If you create your own world you are free to take us readers out into the unknown – as long as you paint a vivid enough picture to prevent us from getting lost.
I personally think that all seasons have merit as a background to an adventure story depending, of course, on the type of story you are going for. Each season can set a different mood, a different tone, and may evoke a different sense of urgency. For how long will the mountain road remain passable? What happens if your characters cannot get through?
My first summer here in Scotland has so far brought with it many delights. I am surrounded by stunning nature, and the other day I saw a mother hare nurse a baby – there is a lot of wildlife in this area. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you are having a wonderful July. May it provide you with plenty of inspiration for your next piece.
Kitti the Red-Nosed Feline
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Wishing you a week filled with inspiration,
The Action/Adventure Newsletter Team
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