Plotting Timelines by Sandy-Dunes Introduction Hello there! Whether you are an SWCer working on the weekly or simply a curious passerby, welcome to the workshop on plotting timelines. In it, I’ll go over the concept of timelines and how you can create them. Let’s jump right into it! Part One: Types of timelines What are timelines? First off, what exactly are timelines? Strictly speaking, they are representations of a sequence of events arranged by time. A timeline is traditionally structured graphically in a line format, true to its name; however, it can be organized in any format, as long as it indicates the passing of time and the corresponding events. In writing, timelines are often used to record the plot progression throughout the story, and presented as narrative structures to a reader. Note that other aspects of your story, such as character development, will also benefit from being organized with a timeline. However, this workshop will mainly focus on timelines in regards to plot! There are two main types of timelines: linear and nonlinear. Linear timelines Linear timelines present the events of the story in the order in which they occur. The narrators can change, there can be short time skips, but overall all of the events are happening in chronological order. Many books and short stories utilize this format of storytelling. In a linear timeline, characters undergo a relatively constant change throughout the story – there are no sudden shifts or differences that you might see in a non-linear timeline. Non-linear timelines Although linear timelines are common, there are occasions where an author may opt for non-linear timelines! They involve the events of the story being presented in a non-chronological order, and the narrative may be jumping back and forth in time. One specific type of non-linear timelines is a dual timeline, which involves two or more separate stories happening in different times. An example include Alan Gratz’s book, Refugee, where the three protagonists’ storylines take place during the 1930s, 1990s, and 2010s, respectively. Another type is a framed structure, which involves a story within a story. There is a beginning primary story that sets the stage for one or more secondary stories, and the primary story can offer information that is difficult to glean from the secondary story/stories alone. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is an example of this structure: in the beginning, the narrator rescues another character, whose secondary story details right up to how he wound up in the situation of the primary story. Time traveling would also count in this categorization! They involve parallel timelines – as explained by the multiverse theory, new universes are created by every differing action. This means that when a character travels back in time, the consequences of their actions create a new, alternate timeline. A collection of such timelines is the multiverse. Common non-linear devices include flashbacks and flashforwards, which are often utilized in an otherwise linear storyline. Part Two: Outlining timelines Fundamentals of timelines Now that you know about the types and devices of timelines, it’s time to put them into action! As mentioned, a timeline is dictated by two factors: events and time. They are arranged so that events are chronological. For example: Event ———— Event ———— Event It's a good idea to attach markers to represent time, whether they be for time/dates within the story or the plot stages (or both!) Event (January 1st midnight, rising action) ———— Event (January 1st dawn, climax) ———— Event (January 31st, epilogue) This is what a typical linear timeline might look like! General timeline tips Some folks may prefer flexibility in planning, while others prefer specific details, and that’s perfectly fine! However, there are some aspects of your story that are best determined before you start writing. For example, the main conflict and resolution should be figured out. They don’t have to be extremely detailed; just make sure you have these backbones of your story fixed. Plot points are the critical events that build up your plot and drive it forward. They usually have large effects on your characters, making an opportunity for character development to occur. And you should map your plot points out in your timeline. Consider the relationship between them: is it cause-and-effect, where one event causes the next? Or are they relatively unrelated? Are they caused by the same character or another plot point?
Nonlinear Timelines/Devices For nonlinear timelines and devices, there are several techniques you can use. Maintaining consistency in point of view/tense is a good idea when switching between timelines. POVs and tense can be changed according to the structure and time, but it can be confusing when there are too many shifts. Stick to third person past tense for the main timeline, and first person present tense for flashbacks, for example. Another thing that can be helpful in switching between narratives are visual indications – page dividers, italics, a different storytelling voice/format (shifting from prose to poetry, for example), etc. – when deviating from a linear timeline. This will make your timelines more identifiable to the reader. Finally, build suspense! Suspense is one of the advantages of nonlinear timelines over linear ones – the revelation of information have a huge potential for impact. Creating a complex storyline and placing the key plot points at the right places can be very meaningful, often in unique ways. Dual timelines outline Here’s an example of what a dual timeline might look like! Timeline 1: Event #1 (1914, chapter 1) ———— Event #2 (1915, chapter 5) ———— Event #3 (1999, epilogue) Timeline 2: Event #1 (1940, chapter 2) ———— Event #2 (1942, chapter 6) ———— Event #3 (1999, epilogue) The plot would follow the timelines back and forth, switching in every chapter/page break or so. For dual timelines, it’s important to keep both/all timelines equally interesting, so readers won’t be overwhelmingly favoring one over the others. Be sure to reduce dissonance: the pacing, intensity, and plot revelations (among other aspects) should more or less match between the timelines. And of course, the timelines should become increasingly convergent. There are a variety of ways to do this, but the reader gradually sees how the timelines are connected. (In some cases, the end of one timeline also becomes the beginning of another; for other timelines that take place at the same time, with intersecting points where both timelines share a plot point.) Do the protagonists meet? What is the significant thread linking these timelines together? There is often a common motif among the timelines: one example of which is a harmonica that all three protagonists encounter, from the book Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan. You’d have to find a way to bring the entire story together, showing how the characters, plot, and themes of the separate timelines are entwined with each other. Personally, this is what I love the most about dual timelines! Time travel outlines The parallel timelines utilized in time travel stories look something like this: Original Timeline: Destination —<—<—<— Original point —————> | New Timeline: ——————————————————————> Characters depart from the original point to a destination point in the past, and their actions will leave consequences affecting the future, creating a new timeline. When traveling to the future and the future alone, there would still be a parallel universe created, but it won’t affect the original plot point. It’s helpful to keep track of the major actions that the travelers take and how it would affect the present. Start with the most drastic – the ones that are plot points and affect future plot points. Also, take note of small actions that undergo the butterfly effect: their significance can be amplified very much, even if they seem inconsequential in themselves. Considerations In outlining your timelines, be sure to resolve your key plot points! Answer the key questions that the readers have in mind. Perhaps your characters are on a journey; did they reach their objective? What happened to the antagonists? Are there any items that you need to explain the significance? And remember, timelines should not contradict themselves. If you want to leave some things unanswered, that’s alright! Just know what you’re leaving out in case you plan to return to these topics later. In some cases, it can also be a good idea to emphasize these intentionally unexplained elements so that the readers can be aware of them too. Regarding characters, be sure to introduce your characters at a certain point, before or when they appear. And keep track of their statuses throughout the story – it’ll be strange to have a supporting character drop out of the plot for absolutely no reason at all. Clarity is also an important aspect of timelines. Specify the objective that the characters have in mind, as well as the conflict of the story, to the reader. Mediums Finally, where would you go about outlining timelines? I find that spreadsheets are very helpful: you can make columns/rows for time and events, and it’s relatively simple to read through. You might want to limit elaboration on your plot points, as spreadsheets can get clunky and difficult to navigate with too much text. (cont in comments)
