I’ve written before about the use of pets in writing. But what I am writing about now is not domesticated animals or houseplants. Of course, there are lots of versions of nature writing, from guides to insects, shells, birds, etc., to books like Hawk, which gets into all sorts of emotional and philosophical issues—but I’m not writing about that, either—no, not writing in which nature is the focus.
Nature to illuminate character. Does your character respond equally to flora and fauna? Why or why not? Does your character respond very selectively to nature? Maybe only attracted to or aware of rabbits?
Or maybe your character is a gardener in his/her leisure time. How does that play out? Flower arrangements for a dinner or wedding? Flower shows? Garden club commitments that conflict with plot demands, creating tension?
Is your character an indoor person rather than an outdoor person—generally keep the natural world at arm’s length?Why? Allergies? Fears? Sun sensitivity? Physical handicap?
What sort of nature draws your character? The great outdoors? The eastern woods? Again, why?
All of these sorts of things can be inserted as grace notes, dropped in strategically, not highlighted but effective.
Nature to set the mood or tone.
Thunderstorms give us one tone—threat, foreboding, physical danger.
Sunny landscapes and/or skies create the opposite—good cheer, good luck, a generally upbeat tone.
So, including nature notes can illuminate character and set mood or tone. How else do you use bits of nature?