Thread: Timeline overlap, etc.

So, Scene A begins at, say, 10:00 AM and ends a like 7:00 PM. Scene B begins at like noon and runs until 3:00 PM. This gives me fits every time I run across it because I just never know what to do. There is a slight chance (very slight!) that I might be overthinking this a little bit.

Am I the only one who cares, or is there a chance that this sort of thing could actually confuse someone?

timeless?
I don't time when I write.

K, surely you realized that was not what I meant. -.-

Originally Posted by archer88iv

K, surely you realized that was not what I meant. -.-

archer..I think I have misunderstood..could you clarify what you mean by timelapse?

I'm referring to the time that passes in the story. Say a character has breakfast at 9:00 and then dinner at 7:00--the time that passes in between those events is what I'm talking about.

Originally Posted by archer88iv

I'm referring to the time that passes in the story. Say a character has breakfast at 9:00 and then dinner at 7:00--the time that passes in between those events is what I'm talking about.

I understand what you are saying let me think.
that is where film to book does not work.
you book/ film a story meaning, a film does that for youbecause it can.
I am guessing you are trying to write in reverse which means media influence is getting it toll on writing.
I have yet to experience a film to book and by the sound of it it deos not work.
hence I think that books are better left alone when it comes to film and TV.
Media should have novel writing format.
Novel/book writing should have its own separat from TV.

what I would is get rid off the convential stereotypes you get on TV/reality/ and so on.
so all those things we do in life like routine and everyday occurances shouldnot be prioritised in books.
you should think of anew way of avoiding them all together because routine means time and time mean schedules and in between stuff to do.
so I think write in a timless zone if you like.
I don't know if this helps.

Originally Posted by archer88iv

So, Scene A begins at, say, 10:00 AM and ends a like 7:00 PM. Scene B begins at like noon and runs until 3:00 PM. This gives me fits every time I run across it because I just never know what to do. There is a slight chance (very slight!) that I might be overthinking this a little bit.

Am I the only one who cares, or is there a chance that this sort of thing could actually confuse someone?

Ask yourself if the time element is important enough. Is it strictly necessary for Scene B to be happening on the same day? If not move it to the next day. Or are the events that happen during noon and 3pm in Scene A important enough to write about? Can you cut the scene at midday and go to Scene B, then return to Scene A at 3pm?

When you start Scene B, having already finished Scene A, begin with something like, "Earlier that day..." Or, to let the reader figure it out, briefly describe something happening in Scene B in present tense that the reader has already read about in Scene A. I assume Scene A and Scene B are being told from two different POVs. It can be fun to describe the same event as interpreted by two different people. Naturally, don't spend as much time on it the second time around because your reader already knows how it turns out. C.M.