Story-Starters: Weather – One Minute to Better Writing
Unless you’re Edward George Bulwer-Lytton beginning your story by telling me what the weather is, is a non-starter.
“It was a dark and stormy night, the rain fell in torrents–except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.” excerpted from “Paul Clifford” by Edward George Bulwer-Lytton.
Notorious for being the absolute worst single opening sentence of a story ever committed to paper, “It was a dark and stormy night…” epitomizes the wrong way to garner the interest of your readers.
It’s quite simply really, do not tell me about the weather. I’m not far enough into the story to care what the weather is, or even know how it’s pertinent.
It’s dry, and it’s boring. Sure it may set the scene. The scene of my departure to see what’s on television rather then begin reading this.
If you want my attention, show me some action baby! Get my pulse beating and involve me in the conflict. Set the scene later, as it revolves around the action and the characters.
If any of your writing sounds like this, don’t be discouraged, because good old Edward also had his good days, as he is the one who coined such phrases as -
- …the pen is mightier than the sword…
- …the great unwashed…
- …the almighty dollar…
Who knows, maybe you’ll coin the phrase that rings true for the next hundred years. Just don’t let it be about global warming.
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Tags: Bulwer-Lytton, openings, weather, Writing
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August 8th, 2009 at 8:55 am
Good work. Most of my articles end up sounding horrible, because I don’t take any time writing them.
August 8th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
You have nicely pointed out about the relevancy of writing anything in a short story.It is true that there is no scope for writing all sorts of nonsense.Nothing excessive should be there.That is the foremost characteristic of writing a short story.well written article.Thanks for sharing.
August 8th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Excellent advice. I will never start my story with a weather report. LOL. Actually it is a classic example of a bad beginning. Thanks for sharing. I had no idea Bulwer-Lytton was reponsible for the other…
August 9th, 2009 at 2:14 am
Yeah, you’re right. It’s like starting a boring conversation with “how’s the weather down (or up) there?”
Thanks for the tips.
August 9th, 2009 at 6:28 am
Include the weather if its necesary. But to me the opening lines were interesting, almost mystifying. Well I’ve read famous writers with this type of opening lines. Thanks for sharing.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:16 am
I thoroughly disagree with most of you who deprecrate the opening sentence of Bulwer Lytton\’s \’Paul Clifford\’. It sets the mood perfectly…and that is the thing. Down the years it has become fashionable? to decry and mock \’it was a dark and stormy night\’, highlighted by ham actors and comedians, and has been taken up by second and third rate critics. Also, let us not forget, the scene was set in Victorian London, therefore the picture comes alive in our mind…if we have one!