This week: Writing the Natural World Edited by: Kit of House Lannister  
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Nature is wonderful. It is filled with beauty and can give us humans great peace and inspiration. When using a natural setting in our writings, however, we must add a touch of realism - surviving in nature is not always easy.
This week's Drama Newsletter, then, is all about the wild.
Kit of House Lannister |
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I love nature. It can be a bit of a one-sided love at times, because I am definitely not as light-footed as an elf and am therefore prone to tripping and stumbling over things. The majority of insects frighten me – basically anything that can bite or sting or looks like it can bite or sting. Thank goodness for butterflies and moths – I like them! Still, being out in nature is wonderful. It both soothes me and lifts my spirit. A walk in the woods can help me process my thoughts, or might spark a new idea.
It’s a shame that we tend to be somewhat isolated from the natural world around us. We get up, go to work, work, come back home and spend time in front of various screens. Increasingly, we gaze at a screen even when we are outside. I don’t believe that being shut off to nature like that is doing us much good. And as writers, we may miss out on opportunities for inspiration.
Have you ever sat in a wood, observing what is going on around you? If you sit quietly, as time goes on you will notice ever more life and activity around you. It is fascinating, almost like you are visiting a different world. You may even find that other beings are as curious about you as you are about them, and once you have shown yourself to not be a threat, they might stop by for a closer investigation.
That doesn’t mean that nature is always calm and peaceful. We all know this on some level, but the skills that it takes to survive in a wild environment are not to be underestimated. I think that most of us know the basics of survival: find a source of water, build shelter, create a fire, but if you ever had to spend, say, a month in the outdoors with only basic equipment, could you do it? I don’t think I could.
Water needs to be filtered. I am not very strong, so even building a basic shelter might be a struggle. And if you have to move from A to B you’d have to build a new shelter every night. I know the theory behind building a fire and starting it, but in practice I doubt it’s too straightforward – even finding the correct materials might be problematic depending on the environment you’re in and on the weather.
You’d need the right clothes, and good footwear. Sooner or later you’re going to have to eat something and finding food – even identifying edible materials – can be a tricky and dangerous endeavour. Are those berries safe to eat? Are you certain? What if you do get bitten by something? What if you get injured, or fall ill?
If your characters are going to spend time in the outdoors, then, it’s more than just a case of them walking, and walking some more, and tightening their belts a little. It takes more than them being spooked by a hooting owl or the howls of wolves prowling through the forest to show the reader the reality of their situation. Some novels, such as the Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel are pretty realistic in that respect. Others... not so much.
Of course, as always, how much detail you need to add depends on the piece you are writing, the space you have available, and there needs to be a balance with pace, action, character development and so on. I once read a book where the first few pages consisted of a very detailed description of the initial setting and it is fair to say that that didn’t draw me in, nor give me much hope for the rest of the story. As it turned out, it was actually rather good, but it’s a risky move.
Whatever natural elements you would like to add to your work, I do encourage you to step outside. Enjoy yourself. Observe. Relax. Even if nothing comes off it writing-wise, it’s always worth it.
Kit of House Lannister
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Drama: July 03, 2019 Issue [#9636]
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