Don’t Forget the Weather

Don’t Forget the Weather

Never open a book with the weather is one of Elmore Leonard’s rules of writing. But is it a rule or a suggestion? How should you handle the weather in your novels?

When I lived in Los Angeles, “weather” was no big deal. Some winter rainstorms, and a miserable heat wave was guaranteed for the first week(s) back to school in September. That one was made more miserable by no air conditioning in the buildings because who needs a/c for 2 weeks a year. On top of that,  back i...