Inspire Your Writing with Fireworks

4th of July is Fireworks time! Fancy mixtures of minerals and explosive that dazzle the eye and shock the ear. Well, how about putting some of that “sound and fury” to work? Inspire your writing with fireworks.

Can Fireworks Inspire Writing? Why Not?

If you’re expecting a typical writing inspiration (think about the firework: how it looked, how it smelled, how it made you feel), then, you’re in the wrong place. This writing inspiration is more about the big picture of fireworks: all the complications that people don’t always consider.

Complications that could easily inspire a plot twist or conflict.

Odd Legalities

I don’t know if all states are like this, but where I live, it’s pretty common for it to be illegal to set off fireworks. Sure, people can use sparklers or little fire crackers. Anything beyond that, however, is supposed to be left to the professionals. And since just about every single town has their own fireworks display, you’d think that’d be easy enough.

Au contraire. Even though it’s illegal, it’s pretty common to people to set off their own as part of their backyard parties.

But if it’s illegal, surely they can’t buy them?

That’s where the odd legalities come in. Around here, there are plenty of stores where you can buy fireworks. Legally. (kind of). All it requires is a little lie: you have to tell them that you’re planning to set the fireworks off in another state. Where it’s legal.

Right.

It’s so common that everyone really has to know it’s a lie – the people selling them, the police, etc. But no one really does anything about it.

That’s pretty revealing about the area, and the odd contradiction between law and custom could be pretty useful in a story.

Kids, Animals, & People with PTSD

It’s so common to use fireworks around certain holidays (Independence Day, Memorial Day, New Year’s, etc.) that we don’t really think about how startling and frightening they can be. In fact, many people would scoff at the idea that fireworks could be anything other than fun.

Because sudden explosions aren’t scary at all.

*sigh*

With the effort people have to go to to get their kids used to fireworks, you’d think more people would be aware of how shocking and frightening they can be. But no. Fireworks are fun, so very few people consider any negative effects they might have on others. Namely, those that don’t know what’s going on (kids and animals) and those with reasons to respond poorly to sudden, unexpected explosions (such as people with PTSD or even autism spectrum).

Now, the scheduled city firework shows aren’t the ones that generally cause of sudden panic attacks. Those are so prominently scheduled that people expect them and can take steps to avoid them (like keeping an animal inside or leaving the area for a few hours).

It’s the ones set off with no warning in the neighbor’s backyard. Those are the worst offenders. Some try to prevent the issue by putting signs in their yards – telling people a veteran lives there and asking for warning or consideration.

This aspect of fireworks – the way they can be such a joy for some and such a hazard to others – could be useful in plotting not only for the situation and society’s ignorance of it but also for the reactions and solutions that those affected try.

Gunfire

Not expecting this aspect? You should be.

Gunfire sounds a lot like fireworks. When guns go off at the same time as fireworks (or as fireworks could reasonably be going off), it can lead to a variety of problems:

• People don’t run from attacks, making the attack more deadly.
• Bullets shot in the air aren’t heard.
• Crimes aren’t noticed as quickly.

Yes, people do commit crimes during fireworks. It’s like using a silencer but not*.

(I don’t think I need to explain how these ideas could work in a book…)

Spiritual Beliefs

According to legend, fireworks originated as a means of scaring off evil spirits. Being so loud and all. And, since scaring off evil spirits was great news, fire works became used for celebrations, as well.

That makes me a little sad since I always heard that they were used to send spirits to the heavens (good story), but since people are apparently shooting off their dead relatives’ ashes in them, I guess that’s not entirely false now.

Plus, fireworks are used to celebrate religious holidays or mark the end of them. If using fireworks for general celebrations weren’t common in the world of the book, then, the presence of fireworks at religious events would be much more significant.

Danger & Stupidity

Beyond gunfire, there are plenty of ways for fireworks to cause injuries and death. For example:

• Car accidents: Extra people on the road due to a holiday + looking at the fireworks instead of where they’re going = a bad combination
• Fires: Yes, people will still set off fireworks during a drought.
• Firework accidents: From drunks trying to set off fireworks from their heads to sober people setting them off from their hands.

Long story short, if you need some examples of how people get hurt doing stupid things, look up firework accidents.

Chemistry & Color

If your characters have any interest in scientific matters, fireworks could pose some inspiration for that. The colors of the different fireworks come from the way different minerals burn. Not to mention the work involved in getting different shapes and styles of explosions.

I don’t know a lot of the specifics. But here’s a starter article on firework science.

Timing

Compare a meh fireworks show with an awesome fireworks show. What was the difference? The timing of the fireworks. The pauses, the build, and the way it all went with the music.

That is not something that is easy to do. Part of it goes back to the science. The rest has to do with using timers and fuses. There’s a real art to it, and none of that work is really ever seen – just the end result.

Kind of like a book. Happy writing!

-Em

^{*Both hide the crime, but one’s a lot louder.}