Setting the setting: Water colors

Hi friends of reading and writing,

Do you enjoy the setting details in reading or do you skip over them?  I've heard both from friends who read a lot.  I enjoy setting details myself, so I can go over the top in writing about them.  I have to remind myself about music, films, other good time markers, but when it comes to water, I can write a book on that alone.

Watching water is one of my favorite mind-regenerating activities.  It looks remarkably like doing nothing, I admit that.  But the colors change, reflect the sky's moods, show more or less reflection of the shore depending on the wind and current and the sun's position.  And the water can be its own color.  I posted a photo of a great blue heron at Newport Back Bay on FB.  People liked it, commented on their experiences with this bird.  Since I'm writing about North Carolina's lowland rivers and swamps, I said that for my setting in current writing, the water should be tes-brown or black.  Shiny like coal, great at reflecting egrets but great at hiding herons.  I just hope that the color of water means something to my readers someday.  It means a lot to my protagonist, Holly McLain, growing up into an environmental activist in North Carolina, then California.

What do you feel about settings in your writing and in your reading?

cheers,
Laura

Z is for zebra for February 26 on Alphabetaphilia

Hi readers and writers,

This is the last day for this year's alphabetaphilia so if you're still enthused about alliteration, feel free to go back to any letter you'd like and add a sentence using 5 words starting with that letter on Feb 27 and Feb 28 or any other day you visit the blog.

Here's a zebra, Equus quagga to scientists,a favorite photo from Creative Commons, to inspire you today to find 5 z-words, use in a sentence, and post in comments.  The coat of the zebra has to be one of the wonders of the world.  If you watch a herd gallop by in real life or in TV, the optical movement is overpowering.

cheers,
Laura

Y is for Yarrow on Alphabetaphilia for February 25

Dear readers and writers,

Here's a photo from Creative Commons of yarrow plant to inspire you to find five y-words, use them in a sentence, and post it on comments below.  Only one more day of Alphabetaphilia this year (although you can always go back and fill in for your favorite letter(s).

cheers,
Laura

X is for X-ray on February 24 in Alphabetaphilia

Dear readers and writers,

Here's a famous x-ray, one by the discoverer of X-rays, taken of his wife's hand.  Let it inspire you to find five x-words today and use in a sentence that you post under comments.

cheers,
Laura

W is for Wave on February 23 for Alphabetaphilia

Dear readers and writers,

My computer problems continue, but I'm trying to at least get through the alphabet!  Here's a wave to inspire you to choose 5 w-words and use in a sentence that you post in comments.

cheers,
Laura

V is for Vanilla on February 23 on Alphabetaphilia

Dear readers and writers,

For February 23, we have V for our letter.  Here's a photo from Creative Commons, with thanks, of vanilla beans.  I was over 30 years old before I realized my favorite flavor, vanilla, was a product of beans!  Thank goodness, someone else had discovered that long since and shared it with the world.  Let vanilla inspire you to some aromatic and tasty thoughts using 5 words starting with V today, use them in a sentence, and post in comments.

cheers,
Laura

U is for Umbrella on Alphabetaphilia February 22

Dear Readers and Writers,

If you have Rihanna's hit song, "Umbrella" stuck in your brain, feast your eyes on this display of umbrellas in Wuhan, China to give it a new direction.  Then, write five U-words and use them in an unusual sentence, post in comments.

cheers,
Laura