
01-02-2008, 12:06 AM
It depends on what sort of scene you want to write.
If you want to write a sad funeral and need a fast way to increase the gloom factor, describe the weather as rainy, grey, dank, dark, et cetera. I know it's a bit cliche to have the weather reflect people's moods, but if you're trying to write a sad scene, the weather can really contribute to the atmosphere. As for characterization, speaking in hushed voices helps the mood quite a lot, as does picking one character and really getting inside their angst. If you write in a way where you don't express thoughts or emotions the scene will feel flat.
If, on the other hand, you want a slightly happier funeral, brighten the weather up a bit. Make it crisp and sunny, have birds singing, the light filtering through the trees, etc. Have your characters feel reflective but not angsty. Talk about all the good times they had with the deceased, how they're in a better place now, so on and so forth.
With funeral scenes, as with any writing, it is helpful to have someone else read and review before you post. Funeral scenes especially can easily go from effective to overly melodramatic and sappy, so you need to be careful with how much angst and cliche you pour in them. It's like salt - a little can make all the difference in the world, but too much ruins the dish.
Good luck with your writing!
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