Write Lightning is a blog from writer Deb Thompson.
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Everyone is welcome here.
(Some links or topics may not be completely kid-appropriate.)
Mon, May 24 2010
Writing light against the darkness
A few evenings ago our power was interrupted when someone ran into a nearby utility pole. It was at night, so we were all mostly stuck in the dark until we could find some flashlights. We do have several flameless candles here that happened to be lit and those provided us with enough light to keep from stubbing our toes on something as we roamed through the otherwise dark house. These pole-destroying events have happened before on that very twisty road, so we knew that the lights would eventually come on again. It was inconvenient, but not devastating. But I wondered, as writers will, what life would be like if there was little hope of the power ever returning.
The best way to show off a light is against severe darkness. When you write fiction, consider that the reader needs to know that the darkness is just as important to experience as the light. Depending on your story's genre and characters, subtle cues might work better than blatant ones. A protagonist may encounter many types and levels of darkness and light throughout a story. Find a way to show us that canvas.
posted at: 22:25 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
A few evenings ago our power was interrupted when someone ran into a nearby utility pole. It was at night, so we were all mostly stuck in the dark until we could find some flashlights. We do have several flameless candles here that happened to be lit and those provided us with enough light to keep from stubbing our toes on something as we roamed through the otherwise dark house. These pole-destroying events have happened before on that very twisty road, so we knew that the lights would eventually come on again. It was inconvenient, but not devastating. But I wondered, as writers will, what life would be like if there was little hope of the power ever returning.
The best way to show off a light is against severe darkness. When you write fiction, consider that the reader needs to know that the darkness is just as important to experience as the light. Depending on your story's genre and characters, subtle cues might work better than blatant ones. A protagonist may encounter many types and levels of darkness and light throughout a story. Find a way to show us that canvas.
posted at: 22:25 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry
