The Weather's (Not) Fine

It’s been a beastly summer in a lot of the world, so I can’t help being drawn to thoughts of ice. In Frankenstein, the monster is impervious to extreme temperatures, which only makes them all the more important. We open with Robert Walton noting the chill as he travels north toward the Pole, hoping to uncover the secrets of magnetism. Eventually he glimpses the creature, riding a dogsled in his first, spectral appearance. Later on (but earlier in time), the creature scampers nimbly across crevasse-ridden glaciers. But the monster also appreciates the glories of springtime and summer. Attention to the passing seasons and various climates of her story help Mary Shelly mark time and show her creature's humanity and inhumanity, alike.

PROMPT: Extreme weather won't suit most narratives, but whatever your story's about, mind the seasons and the weather in your narrative. Make hot mean something, and when it's hot, make sure your reader knows it. Don't forget rain and other forms of humidity, even dew. It's a big part of our consciousness of our surroundings, so make sure it makes it into your text with some regularity, especially whenever you are setting a scene or need to mark time.