tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post4942403385399439348..comments2023-09-16T05:02:59.946-07:00Comments on Heroines with Hearts: Timeline definition within novels: is it necessary?Debra St. Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-67723297770609694642011-01-12T03:05:44.095-08:002011-01-12T03:05:44.095-08:00Hi Danette, JEFritz, Ju, Talei & Margo,
Good ...Hi Danette, JEFritz, Ju, Talei & Margo,<br /><br />Good to see you here and taking part in discussions.<br /><br />best<br />FFrancine Howarthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02326542867876257042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-29499811421443264742011-01-11T03:30:47.819-08:002011-01-11T03:30:47.819-08:00Thank you for this, I agree that is so annoying wh...Thank you for this, I agree that is so annoying when the reader has to work hard on fathoming timing. I think one of the gifts of a good writer is when timing flows seelessly and the reader is simply carried along.<br />There is a blog award for you over at mine,<br />http://margobenson.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award.htmlMargo Bensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06759845391358543223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-44202865367563827092011-01-10T15:19:12.942-08:002011-01-10T15:19:12.942-08:00Great examples. I've read books like the one y...Great examples. I've read books like the one you describe where I go, "Wait a minute. When did THAT happen? Did I miss something?" A little hint is always nice.Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-40170167818719223972011-01-10T14:50:59.092-08:002011-01-10T14:50:59.092-08:00If there's a reason why the main characters do...If there's a reason why the main characters don't meet during a period of time, then I think it's quite feasible to have a long gap. But if they're still 'in contact', then I would wonder what happened between them in that gap.Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-20671799329020943752011-01-10T14:39:29.847-08:002011-01-10T14:39:29.847-08:00I feel as long as the reader is able to follow the...I feel as long as the reader is able to follow the skips in time, six months is not too long. It's all in the clarity of the writing, isn't it?Ana Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12325215832587691886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-46136579305032774432011-01-10T14:31:56.263-08:002011-01-10T14:31:56.263-08:00Ha! I loved your last example of how not to write ...Ha! I loved your last example of how not to write a timeline -or rather, why you should write a timeline. Very tricky indeed. <br /><br />Your first example was perfectly executed btw. loved it too. <br /><br />I'm revising now and I need to make tweaks in the timeline so this is a very timely post! I wonder if I can your first example and extend it for a 3 or even 6 month gap? Would that work or is it too long to wander about the garden. Something I need to ponder. Thanks so much for sharing with us! xTaleihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07317577935549931974noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-9884870051919065212011-01-10T13:48:52.933-08:002011-01-10T13:48:52.933-08:00If someone left me to puzzle it out, I'd proba...If someone left me to puzzle it out, I'd probably go stir crazy. I would prefer not to have much of time gaps for the story (a week to a month is fine), unless it is very crucial for me to follow a story over a period of years.. (Harry potter being the obvious exception).<br /><br />If something happened in the past that colours the present, I would prefer it be trickled in as a backstory rather than a time jump within the story. But that's just me.<br /><br />My stories have a POV shift or a chapter change for the time jumps, if any :)Ju Dimellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05898589783338403889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-24891719203176005782011-01-10T13:01:29.321-08:002011-01-10T13:01:29.321-08:00Great examples, Francine. (I also love your pictur...Great examples, Francine. (I also love your pictures!)<br />Isn't this where a beta reader becomes valuable, someone to identify what was missed or inadvertently edited out during intense writing?Ana Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12325215832587691886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-79897973798210915422011-01-10T11:42:05.408-08:002011-01-10T11:42:05.408-08:00I hate random shifts where you have to go back a c...I hate random shifts where you have to go back a chapter and reread. The dreaded "telling" is required, at least a little, when there is a leap or you might end up like above, wondering when Amy went from being pregnant to having a baby of unknown age.J E Fritzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03372746219262163566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-61613182994078104602011-01-10T10:18:41.893-08:002011-01-10T10:18:41.893-08:00Your last scenario (about Amy, Xander etc) is an e...Your last scenario (about Amy, Xander etc) is an example of the kind of thing that really annoys me too. Quantum leaps through time always make me wonder what has actually happened in the meantime!Paula Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10040623635956769807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2999125118927001112.post-76503780821728862442011-01-10T08:10:41.171-08:002011-01-10T08:10:41.171-08:00A little timeline is definitely helpful! I keep no...A little timeline is definitely helpful! I keep notes at the bottom of my Word document to help me keep track of things or have a separate Word document that I open and refer to it as I go. Right now I am writing a fairly complex time sequence where things are happening in the same time sequence from different points of view-- I don't want them to match exactly but I want there to be some similarities too so it's important to refer to the other work.Danettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15043881305977386629noreply@blogger.com