Flashbacks
are an effective method to use when writing your story. Circling back to a time
before the story begins, while the narrative is still moving forward in the
dramatic present, helps to create a sense of reality and gives depth to how
time is dealt with in a novel.
Flashbacks relieve the momentum of the dramatic present, yet they themselves are
usually of a dramatic nature. You wouldn’t include an episode of your
protagonist cleaning his teeth when he was ten unless you can relate it to the
development of some deep psychosis (mmm...good luck with that one), but the
moment he realizes his parents hate each other/he’s adopted etc., is something
that can have repercussions. Flashbacks have to be used
with care and earn their place in your story. They should contribute something
valuable to the plot or to the readers’ understanding of the protagonist and his
actions as in Catcher in the Rye where,
over the course of the story, we learn the reasons for Holden’s problems.
Some
stories are told in linear fashion with events moving in one direction only,
but this can feel relentless without a time shift to relieve the inexorable
drive towards the climax. Used judiciously, flashbacks are an effective way
to vary the pace and rhythm of events.
Writing Update.
Deadlines.
There is nothing like an approaching deadline to kick start the adrenaline as
anyone who has ever participated in a Nanowrimo will testify. Last week I was
stuck in neutral but this week I’ve shot into fourth gear and am racing towards
my deadline at top speed.
Soon
my baby will be going to a beta reader. I know and have absolute trust in my beta reader
but they will be the first person, other than myself, who will read my novel.
Will they love my precious? Will it even make sense to them? That ol’ devil of doubt is back on my shoulder
but I ask myself, do I want this novel to be the best that it could be, and
the answer is yes. So although the water looks cold, I’m going to jump in.
Today's resolution: keep my head down and work through the rest of those chapters and
I might, just might, meet my deadline!
Oh,
yes...and remember life outside of writing – after all I need grist for the
mill!
Today’s
Haiku:
champak
flower scent
lingers
heavy on the air -
intoxicating
If you enjoy reading haiku, my book Gold Dragon Haiku is available as an ebook at the Amazon Kindle Store.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GOLD-DRAGON-HAIKU-ebook/dp/B00CLJ0RGK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1367505326&sr=1-1
The following link has interesting photos showing how various authors plotted their
outlines.
And
if you feel like widening your literary horizons – you could do worse than read
at least one book from this list.
Join me on my Twitter journey at:
teagankearney@modhaiku
And to all story lovers out there, good reading, and to those of you who write, good writing.
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What wonderful advice! I'm hoping my readers get the reason for my character's dreams and it make great sense. I enjoy the feel of a book, but I will have to re-think getting a Kindle. No worries, you'll make your deadline! Thanks for the advice. The best!
ReplyDeleteYes, I tend to use flashbacks in my writing to give depth to the characters. As you say, though, I try to do it judiciously.
ReplyDeleteHope you make your deadline. I'm useless with deadlines!
Christine
cicampbellblog.wordpress.com
Thank you both for your positive comments - I feel so encouraged by your responses. I think that for those of us who write, it's an ongoing challenge which is yet deeply satisfying. Good writing and best wishes.
DeleteTeagan, I think you hit the nail on the head about flashbacks. They can change a reader's whole perspective and give enough of a variance from the usual timeline to ensure that they're still hooked. Plus, learning more about the character's past has always been enjoyable for me. I think that it'd be especially helpful, though, if it was done in books that utilized in media res. Nice post and best of luck with your novel's beta!
ReplyDeleteTeagan -- I like this statement.
ReplyDelete"Flashbacks relieve the momentum of the dramatic present, yet they themselves are usually of a dramatic nature."
I've tried to use the few short stories I've written. Thanks for the food for thought!