The Clouds: A Source of Writing Inspiration

Ever reclined on a blanket in the grass or on the hood of a car and gazed at the sky, contemplating the clouds? Sure, you have. Most people have at some point or another. With all the social distancing requirements of the day, the ‘forced’ semi solitude warrants some cloud gazing contemplation. Before starting on a new project, many writers sky-gaze to get the Muse going.

In a matter of hours, on a partly cloudy day, clouds can go from dazzling puffy and white to a ‘moody’ thin and gray. Writers can see the ‘story’ unfold. Watching a thunderstorm roll in, the variety grayish-black clouds forming with ‘angry’ intensity; it showcases nature’s beauty and power. After venting their torrential ‘anger,’ once the storm passes, the clouds appear peaceful, catching rays of sun as they float past. It’s story writing basics: a beginning, rising action, middle (with thunderous climax), and dénouement.

Nature’s Soothing Teacher

Somewhere between fourth and eighth grade, we learned about weather and cloud types. There are something like 10 or 11 total cloud formations, but 4-5 main cloud types: cirrus, cumulus, stratus, and nimbus.

• Cirrus clouds are those thin, wispy ones. They resemble the stretchy pieces when a cotton ball is pulled apart. A few of these against a blue sky usually indicates a nice day ahead. Fiction writers can ponder these clouds when considering how a novel will open—when everything is rosy … for the moment.
• Cumulus clouds are the big, puffy ones we like to assign names to the shapes (elephant, rabbit, ice cream cone, etc.). They can be fluffy white (no rain in sight) or gray (rain likely). When these clouds are in the sky, fiction writers have opportunity to gaze and ponder the middle of their story, where characters or plot can go in multiple directions. Perhaps they’ll even see the shape of the murder weapon the antagonist uses in the story climax …
• Stratus clouds seem to take over the entire sky, like a solid sheet of … cloud. Fiction writers can use time viewing these clouds to inspire the moodiness of a character or setting in their book.
• Nimbus clouds are where the ‘action’ is. Dark and puffy or dark and sheet-like, these clouds are present during inclement weather when rain is actively falling. Writers can find a covered spot and view these clouds when considering the rising action, the climax, or falling action of their novel.

Clouds, Plots, and Scribbles

The pandemic has the world in upheaval, let alone our individual lives. And political, social, and economic changes have the US in a major state of flux—all of it, easy distraction for writers. So too, these changes are source-fodder for fiction plots, non-fiction books, or news articles and essays.

Writers are not always producing, but writers are always ‘writing’ (even during bouts of writer’s block). To inspire the next work or coax the Muse closer, writers use various tactics, from music to sunsets to reading other works. A session of cloud-watching, too, can inspire lots of jots and scribbles for a new character, piece of dialogue, story arc, or chapter.

The fresh air (perhaps with the smell of impending rain) always does a writer good. So, go ahead, look up … and be inspired.

Until the next blog, stay serif, stay safe, and read/write on (fiction, non-fiction, comics: you know what you like).