A thunderstorm as a muse for a story? Sure, why not? Let’s observe it for a while and tease out some creative ideas for a book. I’m sure there are ideas in its clouds, the energy of the wind and all that lightning.
I’d like to see emotion written in words. Emotion is a complex thing. Explaining how someone feels isn’t easy. By observing a storm, its shape, texture, colour and movement, we can transpose what we see there onto a character in a story.
Sadness is an accurate word for humans to use to describe anything that’s generally bleak or glum, but good storytelling doesn’t necessarily require those words to transport a reader to a place of sadness. It needs a connection to do that. By drawing metaphors from natural elements like storms, a path can be forged to that destination. Not only is it a classier story, but the link to life itself runs deep. It’s primal. Everyone has felt a storm.
Let me explain.
From our earliest years, the inner animal knows storms. The downpour itself is its outcome. It washes the world and brings life to all things. But to get those tiny spheres to release their magic from above, we must first go through a time of great uncertainty and threat. The dark cloud in which they live must churn and grumble. There will be light whips, and the air must cry in pain. We’ll never know the storm’s true rage, so we must take shelter and wait it out. Storms give life and hope, but they can be treacherous, too.
It’s kind of like a first kiss.
Nothing about one that’s about to happen is absolutely certain. It’s the unknown that makes it so deliciously dangerous. Expectation runs high just before that storm explodes. Would-be lovers move in close, and lightning strikes. Then… It’s up to the gods to decide on an outcome! We can’t take shelter from a kiss. Kisses can be extremely dangerous.
When writing SEETHINGS, I turned to the thunderstorm for that level of inspiration. It’s a dark, adult, erotic narrative. First kisses are covered but adults have other thunderstorms in their lives. There are marriage storms, family storms, work storms, children storms, secret affair storms and storms in-waiting for anything else that comes their way.
Read my novel and watch the storm inside it develop. Pray for rain, but then hang on tight.
–Michael Forman (Author)
SEETHINGS promises a gripping psychological thriller that blends murder, passion, and secrets of a sexless marriage. Forman’s vivid prose draws readers into a world where lightning illuminates the skies and hidden truths. As the storm clouds gather, Mitchell’s journey promises to unravel more than just the mystery of the murders.
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‘Forman’s writing style is artful, with the protagonist Mitchell’s warped thought processes masterfully exposed. The author has a powerful and vivid command of language and his word pictures are stark and disturbingly real.’
Linda J Bettenay, author of ‘Secrets Mothers Keep’ and ‘Wishes For Starlight’
Discover more from Michael Forman – Author of Dark Fiction & Drama
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