Time passes in our stories, but communicating that to readers can be tricky.
Not acknowledging the passage of time can leave readers confused about “when” they are in the story.
But bogging down your narrative with every blessed minute of a character’s life is a freight train to Dullsville.
How do you help your readers follow the timing of your story?
First, create a timeline of events. You can do this before or after your first draft, depending on whether you’re a pantser or plotter.
I can’t stress the importance of this enough if you’re including flashback scenes or your novel plays with time in more complicated ways.
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