Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Non-contiguous, mulitple POV timelines...

This is topic Non-contiguous, mulitple POV timelines... in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/writers/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=005744

Posted by skadder (Member # 6757) on :

I have a question.

I have a story that I wish to write using multiple (3rd limited) POV's. The problem is the POV's join up at the end of the story, yet each of the stories (at least two of them) are in different time frames.

e.g.

Jack becomes a vampire 2000 years ago and his story is about that event and coming to terms with it. At the end of his story her sleeps for 200 years.

Jill is a modern girl, investigating ancient graves when the zombie apocalypse happens (doesn't it always!). Her story is her battle to find a way to survive the apocalypse with some cognitive faculties. She finds jack's grave. they fall in love, blah, blah.

Now with the above it would seem reasonable that you could flick from one story to the other as the reader is gonna spot stuff that shows the different time periods, yes? However I recently read a book (sci-fi) where it isn't obvious as it's all futuristic. Guy A goes to sleep in space craft for 20 years and the in next paragraph about him he wakes...meanwhile the paragraphs that intersect these are about someone else (GUY B) is having a conversation with someone and then the following paragraph is going home on the bus.

Do you get what I mean?

I found it mildly confusing at first, but now I find it okay. Its like reading two stories that are not relationally connected yet.

It was not something I considered doing. I always felt that time had to flow equally through each story. Hence, I thought you had to start with the earlier story or employ flashbacks.

Thoughts?

[This message has been edited by skadder (edited August 18, 2009).]

Posted by alliedfive (Member # 7811) on :

I think you can pull it off without being totally linear. It would be important to give the reader very clear indications of which time they are in. You could even do little year indicators at the beginning of each section. i.e.

5 A.D. - Jack the vampire sunk his teeth in to a tasty neck...

2009 A.D. - Jill wiped the grave dirt from her cheek...

7 A.D. - Jack climbed in to his coffin...

2009 A.D. - Jill wondered where the handsome vampire had been all her life...

Something cool would be if you connected the time frames with parallel imagery, that would help it feel more like parts of the same story. Lots of possibilities here.

Posted by Owasm (Member # 8501) on :

I agree with allied five. You need some indicators.

I don't suggest you use different colored ink or italics. Although for short little scenes, I have seen italics work.

You can also split them up with a big break, like chapters which only works with a long story.

The point being get it across to the reader in a comprehensive way that doesn't jar too much when read.

Posted by Kaz (Member # 7968) on :

Yes, going back and forth between dates would be distracting, if not annoying. This is a more cinematic technique, but in cinema you get the image by default. Make me forget the dates and you'll be set.

Also, considered dividing the story into several neat sections in the style of The Hours? Could come together quite nicely.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

Just recently read TAMAR by Mal Peet which is about the Dutch resistance during WWII in 1945 and about the search a young girl goes on to understand why her grandfather committed suicide in 1995. The story moves between these times in multi-chapter sections that are clearly labeled "1945" and "1995," and I had no trouble with it. (By the way, it's a powerful novel with a well-set-up "reveal" at the end, and I recommend it.)

Posted by philocinemas (Member # 8108) on :

Consider looking at The Historian, which is a Vampire story that takes place in three different time periods. It is a little on the literary side of writing, but I think it is very interesting how the author told the three stories simultaneously without too much confusion.