Writing A Story Help

[LoisKnight]

I am currently writing a story which starts at the end and then flits between past and present. I was just wondering if this will make it too confusing for the teacher reading it and if I should just write it in the order stuff happens?

Thanks

[dannyk13]

I would say keep the thread of the story by writing it in chronological order. That way you are less likely to confuse the reader.

[jackthehat]

Providing the story and characters are well-written, using the backwards-and-forwards style of story-telling can be a rewarding challenge for the reader.

[jno]

it can be done (one of Martin Amis's books goes backwards), but it depends how good you are at doing it, and how easily confused your teacher is. To be on the safe side, I'd go for chronological order too.

[Arksided]

Could be confusing, Rob Grants novel 'Backwards' has time running well... backwards, after each chapter I had to think about what had happened going forward. Excellent read.

Follows on from Better than life, Red Dwarf

[LoisKnight]

Thank you all. I might start in the present but then go back to the past and keep it in order from there. Do you think that will work?

[jourdain2]

Lois, it all depends on how clearly you can write to explain time-shifts. It's a difficult thing to do. You could establish fixed references....erm..e.g. an autumnal oak-tree seen through a window in one time period, and refer to it every time you were in that time shift. It would have to be more complex than that I'm afraid. How long have you got to do this? Good luck if you go ahead. You refer to 'teacher', if it's a piece of course-work you will have to sacrifice other ideas I think.

[jourdain2]

Should have added that your second idea of starting in the present and referring to the past is much safer, but be careful not to give too many hints as to how the present came about otherwise it will become pedestrian. Once more, good luck (I'm struggling with a similar sort of thing at the moment).

[Canary42]

The simplest for the reader to understand (other than straight chronological) yet meeting your preferences would be a prologue (the past, and basis/explanation for later events), then chronological with possibly flashbacks along the way.

[bibblebub]

If you were to have separate chapters for present and past episodes then you could put them in whatever order you want, and add an appendix that lists the chapter numbers in story chronological order for someone who wants to read it like that.

[LoisKnight]

So far I have a rough idea about what the story is going to be about, i just need to sort out the details.

So the rough outline of my story is going to be about a young girl who lives on a narrowboat (canal boat) with her very alternative parents and her younger sister. When she was younger she thought the lifestyle was amazing, but as she has grown up has realised that she doesn't fit in with anybody else at her school and is considered a freak by the other people. She is badly bullied at school and as a result falls into severe depression and starts self-harming. This continues until she begins to notice that her younger sister is following the same path as her and spots a few cuts on her sisters arms. She loves her sister dearly and is determined to help her sister out. In the process of healing her younger sister she begins to realise that she may also be able to help herself.

What do you think of the idea? Honest opinions please!!

[shoota]

It's good.
And I can see how your idea of present - beginning would work with it.
Best of luck.

[LoisKnight]

Thank you Shoota