Friday, October 26, 2007

Feeling Fall-ish

The northeast has a special kind of beauty in the fall. The sound of crunching underfoot, blindingly clear blue skies and the faint scent of woodsmoke wafting in the air. As trees find brilliant burst of color and leaves rain to the ground the world seems magical, as if it knows a secret it's yet to reveal. And with spooky ghosts tumbling from trees and scarecrows on every corner, I feel the lure of the unknown beckoning me. Pumpkins gain personalities all their own and even the most ordinary winter squash looks festive when propped beside a bundle of cornstalks. Yes, I love fall.

But hey, I'm a sucker for any season! It's true. I love 'em all. Each one brings a different slant to my writer's mind. Each season encourages its own sort of story.

Winter makes me want to write cozy, snuggle-in-and-hibernate, contemplative stories. Spring, of course, brings tales of renewal. Maybe an adventure, or even two, with optimistic, outgoing characters. Summer? Hot, romantic love stories come to mind, and my fingers itch to create characters who live in the warm, passionate moment. And then there's fall...

Mysterious and alluring, fall naturally encourages me to write stories magic, the unknown, ghosts, goblins and things that go bump in the night. Too, I yearn to write about endings, followed by beginnings. Doesn't seem logical, does it? Most people think the end follows the beginning, but I feel it's the other way around. Why? Because although the last leaf is about to drop, the first snowflake is waiting to flutter to earth. A new beginning, seamlessly following the last ending.

I've got to admit, my writing is greatly influenced by the seasons. I'm beginning to flesh out the plot of a new novel in these fabulous fall days. It is a tale of murder and intrigue, one whose last chapters will be more about what's found rather than what's been lost. An opening of sorts, at the close.

I just hope those last few leaves hold to the maple branches outside my window long enough for me to become engrossed in writing this one. If not, I may end up with a novel whose ending is somewhat wintery!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

6 comments:

margaret blake said...

What a lovely post,so evocative, Sarita. I could even smell that woodsmoke drifting over the scarlet and bronze leaves. Fall is SO beautiful in the east. I remember it well. Your post has brought back some lovely memories for me, especially a walk I took by the shore at New Rochelle. October 23rd l964 - nine months pregnant, wandering through the pines - oops, water broke! Being so scared. But next day my son popped into the world. Ah yes, Autumn in New York is extra special to me.

Thanks for the memory,

Margaret Blake.

Sarita Leone said...

Oh, Margaret, thank you so much for sharing such a beautiful memory with us! And a very happy belated birthday to your son. I can see why autumn in New York holds a special spot in your heart. :)

margaret blake said...

Thanks, Sarita, it is a lovely memory - but there I go again with my typos that I don't seem to be able to delete and alter, it should be l965.

Margaret.

Kathleen said...

Lovely post! I'm so nostalgic for winter in the North East. Here in Florida plastic pumpkins are bleached white by the tropical sun. But it's cooler here today than it has been. Enjoy the weekend!

Tory Richards said...

Good post! I absolutely hate the summers I'm sorry to say, because I live in Florida. I hate the heat. I love fall and winter, when we are lucky enough to get weather cool enough to open the house up and enjoy it. I like hearing the wind howling through the trees.

Sarita Leone said...

Oh my, maybe next fall we Larks should plan a get together in the northeast! What fun we'd have!