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Feb 28
2008
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Keeping Track of Time in FictionPosted by Rebecca Trissler in Untagged |
by Rebecca Johns Trissler
Very few writers begin a novel or memoir thinking primarily about narrative time, the days and weeks and months that are going to comprise a story. Plot and character, the meat and potatoes of storytelling, are usually what get writers motivated to sit behind the keyboard or hover over the notepad. But in my experience as a writer and editor and teacher, I’ve noticed that when narratives struggle or fail, often the culprit is narrative time. If readers tell you your story moves too fast, or too slow, or express confusion over the order of events, then it might be time to take a look at how time is working in your story. Luckily, manipulating narrative time is also one of the easiest ways to control the pacing and direction of your stories. All it requires is a little attention to the details.