My daughter is always saying how much she loves fall. I have mixed feelings about fall. I always hate for summer to end, but in years past I always had my children's sport activities to look forward to. I loved watching my boys play football, my third son running cross-country and my daughter play field hockey. But it also meant school started and I would have to go back to work. This year, fall is giving me mixed emotions again.
I'm looking forward to starting this last year of my teaching career. The pillars of public education are changing and quickly. Some of it is good, some of it is really, really bad. The school I work at is a great school, doing well on all the standardized tests and preparing students for the next level. I'm proud to have been part of it. But I'd rather stay at home and write. I'm not completely done with sports as my oldest son is now coaching the high school team and I always attend a lot of events to support my students. Kids notice when their teachers are there. It matters to them. But next fall, I'll be home writing.
This fall is also when my last child, my mini-me daughter, heads way off to college. Seven hours will separate us. Ouch.
But back to my first paragraph. The seasonal weather pays a big part in that book. In medieval times, a harsh winter could bring a war to a frozen halt. Weather and the change of seasons can be an important device for setting the emotion and raising the tension or suspense in a scene.
Have you ever read a novel where it never rains, never snows and all the days are set in the perfect temperate climate? Do most novels seem to take place in summer? What seasons do you use in your writing? What season is your personal favorite time of year?
