I have a story that takes place in two different times. While the action is moving forward in the present, the character is also having flashbacks to forgotten memories that happened a year before. How can I show this without just saying, "he was dreaming again." before every "flashback"? Just to clear it up, they aren't so much flashbacks as two parallel narratives.
Jon
Posted by Miriel (Member # 2719) on :
You could alternate chapters. So one would be: Chapter One, Prestent, A Really Cool Chapter title. And the next one would be Chapter Two, Past, Another Really Cool Title Chapter. That's one way...just be aware that readers might resent flipping back and forth. OSC did a similar thing in his novel, Enchantment. In between chapters, there'd be a mini-chapter labeled "Baba Yaga," which would then be followed by a short scene of the bad-guy at work. These were kept short, though, so I didn't resent him switiching POV on me every chapter.
Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :
At the very least you need section breaks. Don't do the switch without them; it confuses the reader.
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
If you are really flipping at every break, the reader will pick up on the rhythm fairly quickly. Just follow the same rules that you use for establishing a new POV after a section break, since it's essentially the same thing.