The white-peaked roof is where we bought ice-cream in December,
while visiting my dad.
As writers we try to come up with the strongest themes and story-lines. Add conflict. Create tension. But no matter how creative we are, nature always seems to create a bigger, scarier scene with all the conflict you could ever imagine. It always manages to surprise and frighten me.
I always thought floods were slow moving events. The water gradually rises until it blocks of roads or fills your house, wrecking your carpet. I never understood that it could rush through a town wiping out everything in its path without notice. I've been shocked by the destruction, but mostly by the loss of life. There have been some tragic stories, and some very heroic ones. I've heard of people managing to save lives, only to lose their own. Parents sacrificing their safety for their children. It's heart-wrenching and I don't think you could ever 'create' characters like this. I'm sad for the survivors and proud of them.
As my dad's place has no power (he's up on a hill, so his house is fine, but just down the street the shops are underwater), he's been spending his spare moments writing (good on ya' Dad). He's about to become very busy in his neighbouring towns with the clean-up.
There are a lot of people helping out at this time and I found a Facebook group of writers doing their bit:
I thought I'd post the link because they will be holding an auction filled with books, writing and editing services - so you might find some useful goodies there!
Do you think fiction can ever capture the level of conflict that nature can create or the characters that emerge from these tragedies?
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