While revising yesterday I came upon a scene that I'd written before I was completely sure what time of year the story was taking place. Now I know, and whoops! Fox hunting season started on November 1.
Now, granted, the viscount in question doesn't live in Canada, and hardy folks wouldn't balk, and I could come up with a decent excuse for him to do that (trying to toughen himself up for the next expedition) but I thought that might give readers pause and pull them out of the story.
What do you think? Go with the skinny dipping and excuse of toughening himself up, or find another way for the heroine to see the hero in all his naked splendor later in the book?
The final decision will be mine, of course, but I'm curious to know what if others would find a character skinny dipping in November too distracting -- and not in a good way.
5 comments:
I like the toughness of skinny dipping in November. The view: maybe just from the back as the icy water shrivels the nice and naughty bits.
Susanne
I took that part out for now, to see how the scene reads without it and if it better fits the overall tone of the story.
I hear you on the toughness, which is why I thought it was feasible. I never intended anything full frontal, though. That just ain't my style.
How about he gets dumped from his horse into the water and ends up stripping on the side of the river/pond where the heroine spies him. I can't see swimming in November in England to be much more enticing than here. Although then again, didn't one of the schools in Scotland (one that Prince Phillip was so hot on) force their students to do things like that to toughen them up? Maybe he just kept it up? (LOL, now THERE's a double entendre.)
As long as there was no snow on the ground,
I think I, as a reader, would be fine with cold weather swimming.
If there is snow on the ground,
well,
when I tell people
I've done polar bear swims
(back in time),
I usually get an 'are you insane?' reaction.
I don't know if that is what you want for your hero.
My word verification for today is
messes.
I think that sums up my latest manuscript quite well.
Leah, good idea and yes to the school thing. I think they had to bathe in cold water. Shades of Jane Eyre!
Kimber, my ms. is also in the messy stage.
I've taken out the skinny dip for now but it's good to know others think it could work if I feel compelled to put it back. thanks!
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