Timelines and Plotting Your Novel – Part 2

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

Last month, we talked about creating a timeline for your novel. We discussed the questions and items you needed to keep your story on track. Today, we want to continue to help you see the value of developing a solid timeline and how it can help get rid of unnecessary information.

Let me begin by saying that the time span of your novel has nothing to do with the word count. We could write a character’s lifetime in a paragraph. So, remember, your timeline could serve as only one day in the life of your character. That’s fine if all the incidents that happen in the story fit into that day, and you don’t slip up and make something happen the next day. The timeframe of your story is up to you, but the job you have is to make sure everything ties together nicely and no holes form.

Timelines and Plotting Your Novel

by Cindy K. Sproles @CindyDevoted

Timelines can be tough. I struggle with dates myself. Every writer has a weakness, and the key to becoming a truly proficient writer is to address the weaknesses and learn methods to help strengthen you. For me, it’s dates in a timeline. 

When publishers ask me for a timeline, I do my best to provide and then as editors begin to work through the novel, they’ll call my hand on a spot where the line isn’t clear. Thank goodness, I’ve never had them say, “This doesn’t work.” The hitch in my giddy-up is usually how many days have passed.

As I spent some time on my newest work, charting my timeline, I realized I never learned this at a conference. I can’t remember anyone ever addressing what this was or its value to my novel, so today, we’re going to touch on my weakness, nemesis—the timeline in a two-part post.