seasons and story

[marycatelli]

Was all done with the outline and all set to start writing. . . with the beginning of school.  The beginning of fall, I thought.

Except that as soon as I looked ahead, to the settings where they would stay, that was impossible.  Too many green and growing things, too little snow (like, none).

Not to mention that gadding about in the outside in a way that would rather change the plot.  Like a character being left unconscious on a hillside has rather more implications if it's below freezing.  Like, fatal.

So -- a term right after Christmas?

No, two boys are gadding about in a way that would get them at least cold and wet in a way not contributing to the plot.  It will have to be a term that starts in spring.  Early spring would work, with the trees all leafless still. . .

I may have to fudge up a reason why they have to have a term each season.  Shouldn't be too hard in a wizarding school where time transitions are part of the magic.

Comments

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Is the format based on a school? Why did they have folks take time off between terms?

I know in the US, it was partly because a/c wasn't a thing and partly because the kids were working-- and Christmas break, or Easter break, is because if you don't close school then you won't have anybody showing up anyways. (Ditto for "the week of [sport] when we made state" or "hunting season started.")

[marycatelli]

It's a boarding school, so there's also the "go home, see those two old people and the rest of family elements."