Skip to main content

Should You Write In Chronological Order?

No.

Next question? There’s a box to the right where you can ask me anything…

Okay, I’ll elaborate on this one. Getting to the end of a novel can be an impossible task, so why give yourself more hurdles than needed?

If you can write from start to finish and it works for you, then congrates – you’ve found your style! If not, then you are far more likely to get to the end if you write the sections you’re excited about.

Write the best bits first, where ‘best’ means the bits you are passionate about. Follow, kindle, develop your ideas and get into the flow of the scene until that section feels done and you don’t know where to go. These are the sections that come flowing out, right?

Those lulls between the action scenes still need to be thrilling, which may seem like an impossible task at first. This is probably because you’re not fussed about these scenes yet. You’re not entirely sure what needs to happen. But you will.

I know many individuals write chronologically so they can get their next chapter up online. Motivation like that can be very useful, but intrinsic motivation is far stronger - and that goes for everything you do in life. If your writing because it makes you happy, you're more likely to keep doing it.

I tend to not know the chronological order of all my events at first. I know lots will happen, and I know the scenes context, but not the exact placement of each moment. And when I’m deciding on order, I know what action happens where so I can avoid long stretches without much going on. Tweaks can be made later to make sure they’re context consistent.

And once you've reached the end, edit chronologically. Start from beginning to end and make sure ideas are built on, characters develop, and style choices that are made in earlier chapters are consistent in later ones. The only way you’ll know if your ideas and concepts make sense to your readers is if you read it like one.

But writing in order? If you’re forcing yourself to go from start to finish, then your writing will read like it. Isn't it more fun to write about what you want?

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Your Best Character: Quiz and Contest

The best characters are put through hell and yet can still carry the story forward on their broken shoulders. Your plot will fall flat if your characters are one dimensional and strong characters can make a cliché story really shine; characterisation takes work and thought. The key to character development is to ask questions. Maybe spend time thinking about the scenarios that have happened to your character which won’t make the final cut of the novel. The questions below are designed to test that (to some degree). [NOW CLOSED, REVIEWS PENDING] Answer at least 5 of these in a comment with a link to your story and I’ll give you an in-depth review. Reviews are approximately 1000 words and take me well over an hour, so if you’re looking to polish up your manuscript then don’t miss out. Also, the opening chapter with the most interesting and well-developed character will be featured on this blog! Feel free to write about anyone as long as they feature in the same story. You can ans...

Opening Chapter: Quiz and Contest

The opening chapter is pivotal. It needs to draw in an intended audience – it needs flare and promise of things to come, with writing that earns the reader’s trust, luring them into the next chapter.  I’ve made a quick quiz to test whether your opening has what it takes. You don’t need all of these things for a good chapter. Hell, I bet there are a few I’ve forgotten too! Answer each of the following using evidence from your opening. If you can’t, then maybe you need to spice up the chapter. 1) Is your opening line unique, scene setting, or hooking? 2) What makes your character unique? 3) Pick out your best line of description. 4) Pick out your quirkiest line. 5) Is the genre and sub-genres obvious? 6) Is it clean from silly mistakes – have you read through more than 10 times? 7) Does it end on a cliff-hanger? 8) What makes it different from other novels in that genre? 9) Does it start close to the action? 10) Are you happy with it?...

Show Vs. Tell: Round 1

Hands up if a critic has told you ‘show don’t tell’ (SDT). Keep that hand up if you found it rather unhelpful at the time or if that critic didn’t elaborate much. Yes, it’s a pesky phrase. Showing rather than telling can be a pretty powerful tool, and here's what it really means: Showing brings your words to life, creates imagery, and lets the reader know exactly what’s going on. It doesn’t tell you facts explicitly, but builds an idea in your head so that usually you understand it in far more detail than you would have. Good writing makes you realise a fact without being told it straight. As a writer it forces you to explore your imagination further really think about your story and your characters. It adds depth. *But showing is not always better than telling.* Telling adds pace. It moves the story along and sums up ideas that may be unclear if let to just showing. It doesn’t try to add detail to a relatively boring fact. It lets you know what piece of information is imp...