Thread: Storyline from the past? - Will it work?

I'm writing an urban sci-fi/fantasy that has a lot of supernatural elements. It takes place in another world and another planet that is fairly similar to ours.

The story as it is so far has a lot of high stakes conflict, and that's good I suppose, but personally I'd like to see my characters in more laid back situations. So in addition to the main story, I want to have another more casual storyline threaded throughout the novel.

A little context here-- a spirit takes away the characters' memories of a year of their lives, and this more laid back storyline will take place during that time, before their lives got crazy.

The relaxed story will reveal some very important things that the characters don't remember. The protagonist will be gradually getting memories back-- not only his own, but he'll get imperfect fragments of other characters' memories as well.

One thing I do NOT want to do is narrate everything based on exactly what he is seeing when he's remembering-- as one might do with a more standard flashback. I want it to be looser than that.

I could say more about the story but I'm trying to be brief here, so I guess just ask if you have any questions.

Here are my questions or you:

Is this a pretty tried and true method? Or is too risky and likely to not work so well?

In your opinion, is any of this gonna be a problem scientifically? Even though the loosing memory and gradually remembering it is primarily supernatural/spiritual, I still want the story to work for someone who's gonna be scientifically critical. I know that science can't exactly explain anything supernatural, but you know what I mean. Right? I just want to make sure it can't be disproved and refuted by science. I know there's some word or phrase for what I'm trying to say, but I can't think of it.

Anyway, have at it. Tell me if you think this relaxed-storyline/flashback is gonna work

Chuck Palahniuk wrote a novel called "Lullaby", in which there are two storylines happening simultaneously.

One storyline is in the present, the other is in the past (the past storyline leads up to the present).

He alternates between the two stories using chapter breaks, and one story is written in regular font, the other one is always italicized. So yes, it can work, and it can work very well, too, if you give both stories equal care.

As for the science part, I wouldn't worry about it. Most of H.G. Wells' novels are complete jokes by Scientific standards. But they are still considered some of the best fiction stories of all time.

I'm coming up with a script idea based on a 60's cult tv show, however as I know the series so well I'm finding it difficult to put my own spin on it and come up with plot twists..........any advice?

If the 'laid back' story is linked with the 'high stakes conflict' story then your idea sounds cool. But let me get it right - Your characters have lost their memories and are involved in some conflict events (which is the main story), along the way they start to remember and these memories serve as the secondary story. Is that right?

It sounds intriguing. If you get it right it should be worth reading. But do not make the 'laid back' story disjoint from what is going on in the main story. The two should be linked to each other - like one caused the other or one has a far reaching affect on the other - or resolution of one brings about resolution of the other etc.

Originally Posted by wildie1990

I'm coming up with a script idea based on a 60's cult tv show, however as I know the series so well I'm finding it difficult to put my own spin on it and come up with plot twists..........any advice?

Stop watching the 60's cult tv show and read or watch something completely different. I have been writing a sci fi story for a while, I read lots of sci fi and other stuff too. It is the other stuff (non sci fi) that I find most inspiring in what I am writing.

I could see this working, they have certain habits that others notice, or things that they just like having done a certain way. So it is not so much one pointing at a memory but the influence of the past defining still how they are, regardless that they don't remember.

Unless I'm reading your outline incorrect.

Then the slow part of the story which tells of their life prior can reflect through the rest of the story within telling directly and the readers can associate easy enough.

It's been a long day so I could have read what you want to do all wrong, DS

Interesting thought.

It almost reminds me of Christopher Nolans Memento. I'd recommend drawing out a short outline of each chapter up to a certain part, looking at it and asking yourself, 'Is this what I want?'. On top of that, make sure the more laid-back story line is interesting, and not just a bland overview of a person life.

Originally Posted by Deafening Sirens

I'm writing an urban sci-fi/fantasy that has a lot of supernatural elements. It takes place in another world and another planet that is fairly similar to ours.

The story as it is so far has a lot of high stakes conflict, and that's good I suppose, but personally I'd like to see my characters in more laid back situations. So in addition to the main story, I want to have another more casual storyline threaded throughout the novel.

A little context here-- a spirit takes away the characters' memories of a year of their lives, and this more laid back storyline will take place during that time, before their lives got crazy.

The relaxed story will reveal some very important things that the characters don't remember. The protagonist will be gradually getting memories back-- not only his own, but he'll get imperfect fragments of other characters' memories as well.

One thing I do NOT want to do is narrate everything based on exactly what he is seeing when he's remembering-- as one might do with a more standard flashback. I want it to be looser than that.

I could say more about the story but I'm trying to be brief here, so I guess just ask if you have any questions.

Here are my questions or you:

Is this a pretty tried and true method? Or is too risky and likely to not work so well?

In your opinion, is any of this gonna be a problem scientifically? Even though the loosing memory and gradually remembering it is primarily supernatural/spiritual, I still want the story to work for someone who's gonna be scientifically critical. I know that science can't exactly explain anything supernatural, but you know what I mean. Right? I just want to make sure it can't be disproved and refuted by science. I know there's some word or phrase for what I'm trying to say, but I can't think of it.

Anyway, have at it. Tell me if you think this relaxed-storyline/flashback is gonna work

Maybe you could explain that the ghosts are entities and give some technobabble to explain how the spirit can alter their brains in such a way. As far as your story idea goes I like it. I would be interested in following the characters and seeing what they remember and how it affects the story. Plot twists are always helpful in this circumstance.