I love events in stories. They can play so many different roles. Sometimes the event is a holiday and can show traditions that otherwise might not be mentioned, leading to clues and history. They can show a different aspect of a specific character. They can be recurring or singular. Planned or unplanned. Joyous or mournful. They can start a story, cause a change in direction for one or give our detective a clue they might not have found otherwise. These events can lead to plot twists, emotional growth or deepen a readers understanding of a situation.
For the purpose of this weekly writing exercise we are going to define an event as an occurrence that is atypical for a character’s daily life. Today’s event is an Ice Storm.
That’s right, ice storm. This is different than snow storms. There are no fluffy white flakes and mitten-ed children making snowmen in the yard. An ice storm is something different. It blows in and coats the world in a shiny, glass like coat. It sounds like fingernails tapping on the glass. It weighs down and snaps power lines and tree branches. Wind can cause ice coated branches to rub together creating eerie sounds. An ice storm is a far different beast than snow.
For the first part of today’s exercise describe the storm blowing in and how it arrives. You can do this as a simple description of the storm or as one of your characters watching or listening to it come in. Describe it coming in first during the day light when you can see the ice forming. Then describe it at night when you can’t see, only hear.
Then once you have the storm arriving, write about the storm ending. The ice is there and no more is being added. Was there a loss of power? Are their trees snapping from the weight or is the wind blowing? How does the world look and sound? How does it feel? Again do one description in the daylight hours and another in the darkness.
Finally, add a character who has to deal with the storm. You may have already created one to watch it come in or to look at the after effects, but looking and dealing with are two different things. How does your character cope? Do they just settle in and wait for it to melt? Are their things to do that might require them to leave the house? Dogs to be walked, children to pick up from school? How are they different when dealing with the storm than they are in their normal lives? Think of this sentence…Normally I would never, but today, because of the ice storm…
You can change it from first to second or third person, but you get the idea. The goal is not only to describe the event but to show how dealing with an event can alter how a person acts, showing a different side of them or the world they inhabit. Have fun with this. Make it a one off or the event that sends your character on an unexpected journey into unforeseen events. How you take it is up to you.
Ten til Midnight 