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Post by Rosie on Feb 16, 2018 0:25:05 GMT 10
Soooo, I have been wanting to try non-linear fiction for the longest time. I really love fics where you're presented with a scenario from, say, halfway through the narrative, and when you actually reach that point in the fic and you have all the context, everything reads differently. (unfortunately, I don't yet have a plot to accompany my dream, but these are minor things)
Has anybody attempted non-linear fics? Any tips?
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Post by devilinthedetails on Feb 16, 2018 4:43:11 GMT 10
With non-linear stories, I like to have a clear, straightforward timeline for my own reference of what events happen and in what order from a strictly linear perspective. Even if I'm writing in a non-linear way, it helps me to know the sequence of events. For me, it doesn't have to be a super detailed outline; just outlining the main events and when they happen in relation to each other helps me keep everything in order in my head even if the story will scramble the sequence of events.
Once I've figured out the chronological order of events, I try to figure out what order I want to present these events in my story. Here it helps me if I approach a non-linear story as a bit of a mystery with a reveal and clues sprinkled throughout that will guide readers in sort of solving the story. I make decisions about when it is best, from a narrative perspective, for the reader to learn a piece of the puzzle. Sometimes for this process, I write the major plot points on Sticky Notes and move them around until I have the narrative order of events ironed out.
After I've decided on the narrative order of events, I pick how I will reveal each piece of information. Here there are many different options such as a major flashback, several smaller flashbacks, hints in dialogue, or multiple point of view characters giving readers snippets of information that they can use to figure out exactly what happened and how they should think or feel about it. What works best can often depend on the story and what is being revealed. That's part of the fun of a non-linear story, I think.
Non-linear stories are definitely a challenge for me to write (more so than a sequential one) and tend to require more thought.
Best of luck with your story! I'm sure it will turn out great:D
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Post by Kypriotha on Feb 18, 2018 11:55:40 GMT 10
I have not attempted a non-linear fic, so don't have any tips (the closest I've come is flashbacks inserted between the main plot, but I'm not sure that's quite what you're talking about? Also I wrote that so long ago I can't actually remember why or how I did it...).
But! I did just recently read genuine fraud by e. lockhart, which is a YA suspense/thriller novel which is told backwards and I really enjoyed it. It started at chapter 18 and went backwards. Every chapter was headed with the date and location and each next (previous?) chapter was set further back in time than the preceding one. Each chapter would start with something like "before she was in this place, she was in that place" or "three weeks before that event, she was in this place" to show how the story linked together. Hints were dropped about things in the past and I could speculate on what happened before actually reading about it in a later (earlier?) chapter.
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Post by Rosie on Feb 28, 2018 20:48:25 GMT 10
Thank you both! Definitely going to use the post-it tip, and I will try to pick up Genuine Fraud!
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Post by devilinthedetails on Feb 28, 2018 23:12:28 GMT 10
Thank you both! Definitely going to use the post-it tip, and I will try to pick up Genuine Fraud! Glad to help! Good luck with your story.  |
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Post by Rachy on Jun 24, 2018 15:48:18 GMT 10
The Last Mrs Parrish and On the Jellicoe Road both have good examples of this, I think. It’s def not something I’ve attempted, and only seen with dual narrators? Does anyone have a single narrator? I feel like it would be quite a challenge, and devilinthedetails you’ve given a great explanation if I’m ever tempted to do one |
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Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!