Five Things About Writing - Part 3

I must be a frustrated meteorologist because I write about weather conditions so frequently throughout my book Patch Town - A Letter From Miss Wingate. I lived in a coastal community, and every time it rained or was foggy, vacationers would be bummed out. But I found the thick gray fog calming, and the rain a reason to slow down for the day. I like to use descriptions about the weather when I write because all readers can relate to a misty, rainy or sun-filled day. Weather can create atmosphere (no pun intended) and be a tool to give the reader a tangible glimpse into the spirit of a person.

When reading a book don't gloss over the weather information. Frequently it adds details that will enrich your experience.

Robert Parlante

February 2015

Five Things About Writing - Part 2

I wrote my first short story at age 13. The title of the work was Fool’s Gold, and it was about a grizzly prospector and his companion mule roaming the land trying to find gold. It was full of head rattling because I changed viewpoint multiple times, and even included the mule's perspective! The story also committed a common beginner’s writing mistake by resolving the conflict through unpredictable coincidence. That first experience greatly influenced me to write the entire Patch Town novel from one single viewpoint and to make sure conflict is always resolved logically.

Robert Parlante

February 2015