A timeline is every writer\u2019s mind map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How we use a timeline helps us make sense of both time (in the story) and the story itself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we’ll define the term story timeline, and provide our best tips to help you create timelines that serve your story well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What Is A Story Timeline?<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nA story timeline is essentially the arrangement of important events that occur in a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Every story has a beginning, middle, and end<\/a>, but they don\u2019t necessarily need to be told in that order.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe can choose the sequence of significant events that best grips the reader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arrangement of a timeline essentially occurs in three steps. Beats, stories, and plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A beat is a single event, as yet unconnected to the other events in the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A story is a collection of multiple beats presented in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A plot is the context that conveys why the beats belong together in the story, sequentially, if not chronologically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Structure Your Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nStructuring your story timeline essentially gives you a sequential framework. There are four types of story timeline \u2013 linear, fractured, framed and real-time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linear Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen story events are presented in the order they occur in, they create a linear story timeline. The story can contain a few flashbacks to provide some backstory<\/a>, but the primary narrative is chronological.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Harry Potter <\/em>series by J K Rowling works with such a linear story timeline, with a few flashbacks that act as supporting information to the main story. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFractured Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen a non-linear timeline story is told with frequent back and forth between the past, present and\/or future, it\u2019s called a fractured timeline story. The beats of the story are not in the sequence they occur in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think the movie Memento<\/em>. The ending<\/a> of the movie is presented in colour at the beginning<\/a> of the film, and the beginning of the movie is presented in black and white towards the ending of the film, with the complete story merging in the middle to make sense. This fractured story timeline helps the audience experience the protagonist, Leonard\u2019s, memory loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"line-graph-story-timeline\"](\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/story-timeline.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFramed Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen a story has one major flashback, with the narrator walking others through it, it\u2019s called a framed story timeline. It\u2019s a story within a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily Bronte\u2019s Wuthering Heights<\/em> is a classic example of such a narrative<\/a> with the he-said-she-said nature of it adding to the gothic quality of the story arc. <\/p>\n\n\n\nReal-Time Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nA linear story with no breaks in terms of flashbacks<\/a> or flashforwards can still be compelling. In fact, a real-time story is exciting because time in the story moves exactly as it does for the reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTake Scottish author Ian Rankin\u2019s Inspector Rebus<\/em> series, for instance. The characters in his novel age with the publication dates. Inspector Rebus, who is said to have been born in 1947, retires at 60 years of age in the 2007 novel Exit Music<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow To Create Your Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nCreating a story timeline can help keep your story free of plot holes and give you a sense of direction whilst writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how you can create your story timeline: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Age matters:<\/strong> Decide on the age of your characters and how old they\u2019ll be when the story begins<\/a> and ends. Knowing what portion of your character’s life<\/a> you want to include is key whether you’re writing one novel, the first story in a series with separate timelines, or a multiple timeline narrative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set it up: <\/strong>Zero in on a primary location for the beginning, middle<\/a> and ending acts, unless, of course, it remains the same throughout. The setting<\/a> of your story will induce the mood for both you and your readers. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Inciting event:<\/strong> Knowing at which point in the three-act structure<\/a> you want the inciting event to take place will help determine the overarching narrative flow. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Character\u2019s goals:<\/strong> What is the goal of your main character(s) and why? This not only dictates each character arc<\/a>, but also the plot\u2019s narrative arcs<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Resolution:<\/strong> What is the event that your main characters are headed towards? The primary goal\/obstacle is the whole point of your book, so deciding when and how to bring the resolution about is imperative. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How To Write A Multiple Timeline Story<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen a story has two or more periods of time coming together, it\u2019s called a multiple timeline story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kate Morton\u2019s The Clockmaker\u2019s Daughter<\/em> is a good example of a narrative with more than one timeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019d like to attempt a story with two timelines or more, here\u2019s how you can do it: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can choose the sequence of significant events that best grips the reader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The arrangement of a timeline essentially occurs in three steps. Beats, stories, and plots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A beat is a single event, as yet unconnected to the other events in the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A story is a collection of multiple beats presented in order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A plot is the context that conveys why the beats belong together in the story, sequentially, if not chronologically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How To Structure Your Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nStructuring your story timeline essentially gives you a sequential framework. There are four types of story timeline \u2013 linear, fractured, framed and real-time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linear Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen story events are presented in the order they occur in, they create a linear story timeline. The story can contain a few flashbacks to provide some backstory<\/a>, but the primary narrative is chronological.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Harry Potter <\/em>series by J K Rowling works with such a linear story timeline, with a few flashbacks that act as supporting information to the main story. <\/p>\n\n\n\nFractured Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen a non-linear timeline story is told with frequent back and forth between the past, present and\/or future, it\u2019s called a fractured timeline story. The beats of the story are not in the sequence they occur in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think the movie Memento<\/em>. The ending<\/a> of the movie is presented in colour at the beginning<\/a> of the film, and the beginning of the movie is presented in black and white towards the ending of the film, with the complete story merging in the middle to make sense. This fractured story timeline helps the audience experience the protagonist, Leonard\u2019s, memory loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFramed Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhen a story has one major flashback, with the narrator walking others through it, it\u2019s called a framed story timeline. It\u2019s a story within a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emily Bronte\u2019s Wuthering Heights<\/em> is a classic example of such a narrative<\/a> with the he-said-she-said nature of it adding to the gothic quality of the story arc. <\/p>\n\n\n\nReal-Time Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\nA linear story with no breaks in terms of flashbacks<\/a> or flashforwards can still be compelling. In fact, a real-time story is exciting because time in the story moves exactly as it does for the reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTake Scottish author Ian Rankin\u2019s Inspector Rebus<\/em> series, for instance. The characters in his novel age with the publication dates. Inspector Rebus, who is said to have been born in 1947, retires at 60 years of age in the 2007 novel Exit Music<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow To Create Your Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nCreating a story timeline can help keep your story free of plot holes and give you a sense of direction whilst writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s how you can create your story timeline: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Age matters:<\/strong> Decide on the age of your characters and how old they\u2019ll be when the story begins<\/a> and ends. Knowing what portion of your character’s life<\/a> you want to include is key whether you’re writing one novel, the first story in a series with separate timelines, or a multiple timeline narrative.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Set it up: <\/strong>Zero in on a primary location for the beginning, middle<\/a> and ending acts, unless, of course, it remains the same throughout. The setting<\/a> of your story will induce the mood for both you and your readers. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Inciting event:<\/strong> Knowing at which point in the three-act structure<\/a> you want the inciting event to take place will help determine the overarching narrative flow. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Character\u2019s goals:<\/strong> What is the goal of your main character(s) and why? This not only dictates each character arc<\/a>, but also the plot\u2019s narrative arcs<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Resolution:<\/strong> What is the event that your main characters are headed towards? The primary goal\/obstacle is the whole point of your book, so deciding when and how to bring the resolution about is imperative. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
How To Write A Multiple Timeline Story<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\nWhen a story has two or more periods of time coming together, it\u2019s called a multiple timeline story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kate Morton\u2019s The Clockmaker\u2019s Daughter<\/em> is a good example of a narrative with more than one timeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019d like to attempt a story with two timelines or more, here\u2019s how you can do it: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When story events are presented in the order they occur in, they create a linear story timeline. The story can contain a few flashbacks to provide some backstory<\/a>, but the primary narrative is chronological.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Harry Potter <\/em>series by J K Rowling works with such a linear story timeline, with a few flashbacks that act as supporting information to the main story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a non-linear timeline story is told with frequent back and forth between the past, present and\/or future, it\u2019s called a fractured timeline story. The beats of the story are not in the sequence they occur in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think the movie Memento<\/em>. The ending<\/a> of the movie is presented in colour at the beginning<\/a> of the film, and the beginning of the movie is presented in black and white towards the ending of the film, with the complete story merging in the middle to make sense. This fractured story timeline helps the audience experience the protagonist, Leonard\u2019s, memory loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a story has one major flashback, with the narrator walking others through it, it\u2019s called a framed story timeline. It\u2019s a story within a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Emily Bronte\u2019s Wuthering Heights<\/em> is a classic example of such a narrative<\/a> with the he-said-she-said nature of it adding to the gothic quality of the story arc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A linear story with no breaks in terms of flashbacks<\/a> or flashforwards can still be compelling. In fact, a real-time story is exciting because time in the story moves exactly as it does for the reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take Scottish author Ian Rankin\u2019s Inspector Rebus<\/em> series, for instance. The characters in his novel age with the publication dates. Inspector Rebus, who is said to have been born in 1947, retires at 60 years of age in the 2007 novel Exit Music<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Creating a story timeline can help keep your story free of plot holes and give you a sense of direction whilst writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s how you can create your story timeline: <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a story has two or more periods of time coming together, it\u2019s called a multiple timeline story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kate Morton\u2019s The Clockmaker\u2019s Daughter<\/em> is a good example of a narrative with more than one timeline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019d like to attempt a story with two timelines or more, here\u2019s how you can do it: <\/p>\n\n\n\nFractured Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFramed Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Real-Time Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How To Create Your Story Timeline<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
How To Write A Multiple Timeline Story<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"woman-with-a-clock-and-books-narrative-timeline\"](\"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/narrative-timeline.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n