I have a few scenes of training montage then:“No longer burning from the impact of the long drop, his muscles were now fine-tuned and flexed in anticipation of the shard run. A grin flashed. This time he would make it. Unscathed.”
I actually started with the protagonist who experienced a flash back and have written the final chapter with same character. The reader finds out the character dies in the last line of the first chapter and the am using the series of events to show the passing of time. Thank you for your presentation, very helpful
This is a reply to the question at the end of the video about "how do you make time pass?" If we're jumping just a few days ahead in a story, I often follow Iris Murdoch's simple use of "It was Friday..." (or "Sunday" or whatever). When there was a jump of eight years, I started the next chapter by showing a seven-year-old boy as a strong, tall teenager. Also, the use of date stamps in a chapter title can be ok for big gaps of time. A prologue began with "May 12, 1992, 2:35 a.m." (It was the teenage protagonist having a horrendous hyper-real nightmare, then waking up and wondering why he's so tormented all the time, and if he can ever be normal). The next chapter is date stamped with the words, "Eleven years earlier," and starts with him as a carefree boy of four. Then the following chapters take us gradually into the horrible traumas he endures when he's six and seven (which will cause his teenage nightmare in the prologue to make sense to the reader).
I usually intercut between characters to show the passage of time. I've used a flashback one time, and I did so by having my MC explain how she came to acquire a deck of Tarot cards to another character.
This video is so timely! I’ve been trying to find information about how to pass time in novels. When I started writing about my protagonist on her third morning of “she got up and washed her face,” I knew there was a big problem, lol. I realized that my novel was starting to be like a reality TV show with a 24/7 camera crew following her and all irrelevant stuff.
I just recently found NY Book editors videos on TH-cam and I'm quite glad that I did. I just finished my third book in the series and I'm constantly struggling to gain more knowledge on the writing process and how to unfold a story to the reader in the best possible way. I've been using change of seasons, which seems very elementary, and also just quoting a specific date from time to time to keep the reader up with the progression of the novel. I also use Big Voice / Little Voice in my stories to add foreshadowing, color commentary, as well as some timely humor. Think Thomas Magnum. Anyway, I've enjoyed the historical TH-cam videos from NY Book Editors thus far and hope they continue to come out!
While the first part of the novel was vaguer re time except for school holidays, after th boys dad is kidnapped, I move to: it’s been a week, day 11, week three, etc because that is what my protagonist is worried about. The exact passage of time since the kidnapping.
This was very helpful. As a beginner, I am having trouble with this and find that I have been stuck in the minutiae of the day trying to show the passage of time. And thought, "wow! this is really boring!" Thanks for some tips.
I write in my diary a lot, most people have diaries. So sometimes my character will write in his or her diary. Sometimes I have a montage. And when it fits I use big voice little voice. I do show the passage of time by putting specific dates in my book if it has some importance to it. A good example of a novel having importance to certain dates is Stephen King's The stand. He has certain dates but he makes it work very well because he's showing how quickly the virus has spread and how quickly things have gone bad and crap has hit the fan. Stephen King is one of the few people who can use specific dates and make it work well. He is also one of the few people who can use flashbacks and make it work well. He is very talented in that way. If you want an author to read to show you how well these things work I would suggest Stephen king. He is one of the best authors out there hands down.
Use a new chapter to jump ahead in time. Put a character from the last chapter in a new place. You can also mention other changes: weather, clothing, companions, etc.
Yeah, that's really good. Maybe try to open yourself up to moving ahead in time within the chapter as well every so often, just so you get comfortable with it in case that's what the story calls for.
That's fantastic, James. I love that you make it clear using events. It reminds me of a piece of advice Gene Wolfe once gave Neil Gaiman. He said, "You never learn how to write a novel. You only learn to write the novel you're on." If you find yourself writing one in which the sequence of events aren't as logical, I'm sure you'll figure out a way to convey it that's as smooth as your current method.
@@NYBookEditors I have a dilemma with my manuscript. It right now starts with a storm at sea and the 6 teens scared and courageous at the same time as they battle the storm. But several have suggested putting myself in the front of that just for a paragraph so at the end, I can return to make the final reveal. This is similar to how the storyteller appears in Life of Pi (tho more than before and after) or in Titanic. Will me inserting myself before I'm told the story dampen the excitement of the storm as a beginning? Even in small voice?
@@nancywang8540 No, it won't dampen the excitement. If anything, it will enhance it. We're all humanitarians, so of course we feel somewhat for 6 teens who are battling the storm... but the truth is we don't feel that much until we know them. There are ways to get us to know them quickly, but without having read your writing, I would agree with your current readers. Most of the time, we need to learn who you are (and like you or feel for you) in order for the storm to carry enough tension.
Perfect! Intercutting between characters was used really effectively in that Jeff Wheeler series if you'd like a good example. I'm so pleased to hear you're learning a lot!
The video made me think about the time line that I had adopted in my novel. I just made it simple from doing one thing after another . I don't know if it is correct or it lends some credence to the story . Would like your comments on it!!
Yes, if it's the way Carrie did in that scene with Matthew McConaughey. If the thoughts of the character are based on the action, what they're experiencing, and remains objective, then it's little voice. If it's a commentary on what's happening -- not the facts but the character's interpretation of events, then it's big voice.
I usually need about three examples and repetition of the concept... and even then, I’m likely to forget! I’m glad you asked the question, I’m sure it will reinforce it for someone else as well. I feel like I go through these pretty quickly in the video to keep it snappy.
![[FULL INTERVIEW] How to Write a Novel](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/2fL87wQYP34/mqdefault.jpg)
I have a few scenes of training montage then:“No longer burning from the impact of the long drop, his muscles were now fine-tuned and flexed in anticipation of the shard run. A grin flashed. This time he would make it. Unscathed.”
I actually started with the protagonist who experienced a flash back and have written the final chapter with same character. The reader finds out the character dies in the last line of the first chapter and the am using the series of events to show the passing of time. Thank you for your presentation, very helpful
This is a reply to the question at the end of the video about "how do you make time pass?" If we're jumping just a few days ahead in a story, I often follow Iris Murdoch's simple use of "It was Friday..." (or "Sunday" or whatever). When there was a jump of eight years, I started the next chapter by showing a seven-year-old boy as a strong, tall teenager. Also, the use of date stamps in a chapter title can be ok for big gaps of time. A prologue began with "May 12, 1992, 2:35 a.m." (It was the teenage protagonist having a horrendous hyper-real nightmare, then waking up and wondering why he's so tormented all the time, and if he can ever be normal). The next chapter is date stamped with the words, "Eleven years earlier," and starts with him as a carefree boy of four. Then the following chapters take us gradually into the horrible traumas he endures when he's six and seven (which will cause his teenage nightmare in the prologue to make sense to the reader).
I usually intercut between characters to show the passage of time. I've used a flashback one time, and I did so by having my MC explain how she came to acquire a deck of Tarot cards to another character.
This video is so timely! I’ve been trying to find information about how to pass time in novels. When I started writing about my protagonist on her third morning of “she got up and washed her face,” I knew there was a big problem, lol. I realized that my novel was starting to be like a reality TV show with a 24/7 camera crew following her and all irrelevant stuff.
I just recently found NY Book editors videos on TH-cam and I'm quite glad that I did. I just finished my third book in the series and I'm constantly struggling to gain more knowledge on the writing process and how to unfold a story to the reader in the best possible way.
I've been using change of seasons, which seems very elementary, and also just quoting a specific date from time to time to keep the reader up with the progression of the novel. I also use Big Voice / Little Voice in my stories to add foreshadowing, color commentary, as well as some timely humor. Think Thomas Magnum.
Anyway, I've enjoyed the historical TH-cam videos from NY Book Editors thus far and hope they continue to come out!
While the first part of the novel was vaguer re time except for school holidays, after th boys dad is kidnapped, I move to: it’s been a week, day 11, week three, etc because that is what my protagonist is worried about. The exact passage of time since the kidnapping.
Thank you very much! This was very useful. I've been trapped in the linear loop for so long!
So happy to hear it helped! Bust your way out of that timeline!!
This was very helpful. As a beginner, I am having trouble with this and find that I have been stuck in the minutiae of the day trying to show the passage of time. And thought, "wow! this is really boring!" Thanks for some tips.
Love hearing this, thanks Carol! I did this video with you in mind, or authors like you, so I'm terribly pleased to hear it resonated.
I write in my diary a lot, most people have diaries. So sometimes my character will write in his or her diary. Sometimes I have a montage. And when it fits I use big voice little voice.
I do show the passage of time by putting specific dates in my book if it has some importance to it.
A good example of a novel having importance to certain dates is Stephen King's The stand. He has certain dates but he makes it work very well because he's showing how quickly the virus has spread and how quickly things have gone bad and crap has hit the fan.
Stephen King is one of the few people who can use specific dates and make it work well. He is also one of the few people who can use flashbacks and make it work well. He is very talented in that way.
If you want an author to read to show you how well these things work I would suggest Stephen king. He is one of the best authors out there hands down.
Thanks, I've been wrestling with fiction supposed to be occuring pre, then during the pandemic. This helps.
Use a new chapter to jump ahead in time. Put a character from the last chapter in a new place. You can also mention other changes: weather, clothing, companions, etc.
Yeah, that's really good. Maybe try to open yourself up to moving ahead in time within the chapter as well every so often, just so you get comfortable with it in case that's what the story calls for.
I use a logical sequence of events. That presents a passage of time implicitly, yet clearly.
That's fantastic, James. I love that you make it clear using events.
It reminds me of a piece of advice Gene Wolfe once gave Neil Gaiman. He said, "You never learn how to write a novel. You only learn to write the novel you're on."
If you find yourself writing one in which the sequence of events aren't as logical, I'm sure you'll figure out a way to convey it that's as smooth as your current method.
Small voice with action is my way of pulling in the reader immediately -
Small voice with action is the way to do it! 😀
@@NYBookEditors I have a dilemma with my manuscript. It right now starts with a storm at sea and the 6 teens scared and courageous at the same time as they battle the storm. But several have suggested putting myself in the front of that just for a paragraph so at the end, I can return to make the final reveal. This is similar to how the storyteller appears in Life of Pi (tho more than before and after) or in Titanic. Will me inserting myself before I'm told the story dampen the excitement of the storm as a beginning? Even in small voice?
@@nancywang8540 No, it won't dampen the excitement. If anything, it will enhance it. We're all humanitarians, so of course we feel somewhat for 6 teens who are battling the storm... but the truth is we don't feel that much until we know them. There are ways to get us to know them quickly, but without having read your writing, I would agree with your current readers. Most of the time, we need to learn who you are (and like you or feel for you) in order for the storm to carry enough tension.
Thanks! Really helpful and perfect timing!
Thanks, enjoyed it. Re: flashbacks... one of Carl Hiaasen's strongest techniques.
Love Carl Hiassen!
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, there are always exceptions. What I should have said is it's hard to make flashbacks work.
Intercut betweeen characters. Also flashback.
Thank you for this video. I am learning a lot
Perfect! Intercutting between characters was used really effectively in that Jeff Wheeler series if you'd like a good example.
I'm so pleased to hear you're learning a lot!
The video made me think about the time line that I had adopted in my novel. I just made it simple from doing one thing after another . I don't know if it is correct or it lends some credence to the story . Would like your comments on it!!
I need help with my first book
Can Big Voice be the thoughts of a character as he navigates a scene?
Yes, if it's the way Carrie did in that scene with Matthew McConaughey. If the thoughts of the character are based on the action, what they're experiencing, and remains objective, then it's little voice. If it's a commentary on what's happening -- not the facts but the character's interpretation of events, then it's big voice.
@@NYBookEditors Okay, I guess that was the whole point of the example. Sometimes I need reassurance. 🤷♀️
I usually need about three examples and repetition of the concept... and even then, I’m likely to forget! I’m glad you asked the question, I’m sure it will reinforce it for someone else as well. I feel like I go through these pretty quickly in the video to keep it snappy.
Big voice/little voice