Writer's Notebook - James Rafferty Blog

Change of Year, Change of Seasons

In New England, this is a time of year when one tends to wake up in the dark, experience a shortened day, then drive home in the dark.  No small wonder that all of this darkness takes a toll on the psyche. But as of the winter solstice, the days began to get a little longer, even though the visible effects are hard to see so far. 

Some effects of the change of seasons are much more obvious.  Here's a glimpse of Fall from a trip we took to North Carolina in late November.  

 
Just after Christmas, we went from a late Fall look to mid-winter.  Here's what it looked like in our neighborhood during the height of the Blizzard of 2010.  

 
Viva la difference. 

For writers, the change of seasons can be a tool, a powerful metaphor for the constant process of renewal that goes on from season to season, year to year and even longer cycles.  As the seasons change, the life of a character changes as well.  In New England, the winter season presents a built -in set of hardships to be overcome, giving characters a chance to see how they'll cope during tough times.  For New Englanders, even the summer can be challenge, since the memories of the darker seasons to come never totally recede from one's mind.  By contrast, there's little of this going on for a resident of southern California or Florida, so they need to come up with their own touchstones to mark change.  

I personally like the changes in the season and my outdoor pastimes change from walking, biking and swimming in the summer to cross country skiing in the winter.  The winter is also a time to spend more time indoors, tending to all of those things that often get neglected when the weather outside is just too good to give up. For a writer, this can be the time to clean up the clutter from your desktop and spend more time on working on manuscripts. For the reader, it's a great time to go to the library or your local bookstore and get those books you've been promising yourself.  

So what do you think about the change of seasons and the move to a new year?  Is this a time you savor or one you hope you'll soon be past?    

Writer's Notebook: Signs of the Seasons

Fall in New England is one of my favorite seasons.  I've lived in New England most of my life, but never tire of the variety this season brings to us. 

Yesterday, I rode with a business colleague through New Hampshire and Vermont.  It was Columbus Day, sometimes celebrated as a holiday in the United States, and often touted as a great weekend for viewing foliage.  Well, in most years, you won't see much but bare trees in Northern New England by the time that weekend rolls around.  Happily, this year is an exception.  We had copious amounts of rain in the Spring and enough during the summer so that the foliage this year is rich in colors of gold, harvest brown, and pumpkin orange, and many shades in between.  Smoke from wood fireplaces drifts in the air, stirring ancient urges to gather around the warmth.  As the temperature drops, we develop a taste for hearty meals such as stews, curries, and ragouts, washed down by mugs of hot cider, cocoa and pints of auburn ale. 

Frost warnings permeate the weather forecasts, but often the days are still warm enough to enjoy our favorite outdoor activities, be it tossing a football, riding a bike, hiking a trail or walking with your pet. 

For a writer, autumn presents backgrounds that tickle the senses, but the season also works as a metaphor for the passing of years and the progression toward mortality.  I've included scenes of Fall in my novels and the nip in the air, variegated colors of leafy canopies and harvest aromas can transport the reader directly to that destination, bringing it alive. 

As a reader, how to you react to seasons in writing?  Do authors draw you in with the vivid descriptions of the change that Autumn or Winter brings?  Or is there a hidden terror in these periodic changes of life and its rhythms? 

If you are a writer or another type of artist, how important are the seasons in your work?  Do they inspire you?  Do they transport your characters to new realizations or spiritual yearnings?  Let's talk about the seasons and how they affect your art.  

Taking on the Bleak Midwinter Blues

I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of reading, hearing and seeing bad news.  The financial pages have turned into a contest to see how bad it can get in countless industries.  In this kind of environment, I'm thankful to have a job, but companies expect more from those of us who are still in the ranks.  

This is a fine time to have a hobby you care about or to devote time to your friends and family.  There is also excitement in the air about the Obama administration and the winds of changes that will be coming.   So, on the personal side, it's not all bad news and it's important to try to keep your head on straight and spend time doing things where your efforts can make a difference.  

I'm in the wedge generation, with aging parents and kids that I'm still raising.  Whatever happens in the office or financial pages from day to day, my family still needs me to do those little things, such as being at the dinner table to talk about our days, helping my youngest son with his homework, and watching a movie on DVD with my wife.  

So, the next time you don't like the news, turn it off and pay attention to what's going on around you.  You'll probably find there's any number of things you can do that will make a difference in your life or for your friends and family.