Dreaming of Blues Skies, or the Eternal Suffering of Yorkshire Folk

I’m back for the blog hop with romance author Viviana MacKade.

This week she asks: Do seasons have an effect on your writing or reading?

Erm…no.

MacKade: Why so blunt?

The answer to that and the original question is the same. I live in Yorkshire. Yes, lovely Yorkshire in the UK, where we are renowned for our rather blunt demeanour and our relatively consistent weather—namely grey skies and rain.

So, whether I’m reading or writing, it’s likely I’ll be doing it beneath a grey sky. In winter, it may be colder and nights longer, but the clouds will be grey and even dark during the day. In the summer, I may read or write while wearing a t-shirt and shorts, but at least fifty per cent of the time there will be grey skies and/or rain.

Thanks to living in Yorkshire, if I only felt inclined to write when the weather was dry and bright, I wouldn’t be very productive. I think that’s why those in the UK, and particularly Yorkshire, have developed a reputation for being resilient, for we must “crack on” whatever the weather, which as I mentioned is usually rain, be it icy rain or warm rain. (Oh, except snow. These days when it snows, everything falls apart in the UK.)

However, the spring and summer of 2022 were very unusual, as Great Britain did not experience its usual downpours. This year, we had a rather dry spring and summer, and even long periods of cerulean sky overhead, with temperatures reaching 30 plus Celsius (that’s 86 F). Many fainted with shock before the heat had the chance to get to them.

MacKade: Did this affect your writing or reading?

Not in terms of productivity, it only changed where I could read or write and, for once, I could enjoy prolonged sessions of reading and writing outdoors in the fresh air. What a delight! I even bought a comfy reclining chair and a laptop stand, so I could lounge while I wrote.

MacKade: Sorry to interrupt, but you’re talking about the weather. I asked about the seasons.

I apologise. I did that other British thing and talked about the weather.

I’ve never been one to suffer from seasonal affective disorder, but 3 per cent of the UK population suffers a form of significant winter depression. SAD can seriously affect an individual’s energy levels, sleeping patterns, and appetite, sometimes leading to depression and suicide.

So, while I’ve been joking about the Yorkshire weather, SAD is not a laughing matter and affects people in their daily lives.

I try my best not to let my reading and writing be affected by the seasons.

With reading, I’m quite happy to cosy up with any book, whether it’s a dark winter evening on my couch, or a bright summer day on the recliner in my garden. In fact, I will choose to read over any other form of activity, whether in winter or summer.

Regarding my writing, I’m a member of the 5 am club so, apart from about six weeks around June, it’s usually dark when I’m up and about. I’m used to having to motivate myself despite the gloom outside. If I didn’t, I’d get no writing done.

What about you? Leave a comment below.