We were in Zimbabwe, Africa,
in early September, which is around the time when the dry season ends and the
rainy season begins. What we experienced was more like the dry season as there
was no rain while we were there.
Apparently that was also
the best time to see Victoria Falls. According to our guide, the falls are sparsest
in the middle of the rainy season. And they are so full of water in the middle
of the dry season that you can’t see them for the heavy mist.
That seems
counterintuitive until it’s explained. The Zambezi River is fed by a natural catchment
area that absorbs rainfall like a sponge during the rainy season and then releases
it gradually. By the time the water reaches Victoria Falls, 1000 kilometers
downriver, the dry season has begun.
The fact that Victoria
Falls is fullest during the dry season is hard to believe until it’s explained.
If I just made a bald statement that more water goes over the falls in the dry
season than in the rainy season, would you be inclined to believe me? If you
know me, probably so. But what if you don’t?
As writers, we must be
careful how we deal with mysterious events or those that appear to be unlikely.
That doesn’t mean we should eliminate them or give away our secrets too soon,
but it does mean we need to include enough logic and foreshadowing during the
course of the story for the reader to say “of course” or “that makes sense”
once the solution is revealed. Otherwise, we’ll lose our audience.
So make sure you put
enough information in the story to make it ring true at the end.
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