How does one write alternating storylines?

[Jeff Gerke]

Excellent!

[Divides the Waters]

Needless to say, I was ecstatic. In a time already filled with turmoil and uncertainty, it really crushed me to think that all of that work was lost.

It's been a bleak week, but now the ideas are slowly rolling back in.

[morganlbusse]

Something I've done with my book that has not been brought up is I've used something like a calendar. Since my main characters do not meet until the end of the first book and I wanted a nice, even, logical flow to my book, I actually had to time out when different events occurred (like a timeline). In order to do this, I planned out each character and what was happening in their lives to bring them together at the end, then placed their lives along a timeline. Each point on the timeline became a chapter. So at the end of my book, the time flow for each character is in real time and the reader knows what is happening at that moment, even though I've switched characters and places. All of this leading to the ending where the three characters finally meet and set the stage for book 2.
Yeah, kinda confusing, easier to explain with a chart (can ya tell I'm a visual person, ;P)

[Caprice]

I use timeline-type software to keep track of this for sequence of events. It's called "Storyline" and you can have three separate threads in the demo, if I remember correctly. It's unlimited threads if you register. Well worth it to me. www.writerscafe.co.uk/ Because it gives you color coded "cards" for entries, I also use it for non-linear writing applications, like keeping track of character traits (features, race, occupation, etc) of all my characters (even minor ones--if I give them a name, they go in here) The software suite also comes with a thesaurus and a "scrapbook" application (random notes), and a couple of word games for good measure.

[dizzyjam]

I say watch all six Star Wars films one right after the other from Episode I to Episode VI in one sitting (like I did one time) to see how the master keeps up with many different characters all doing things at the same time. It was George Lucas that really opened my eyes to see how this could be done - and done excellent!

Episode III is the best example followed closely by Episode VI IMHO.

If after watching those you don't have a good idea on how to do it, I'm not sure if that's what you should be doing with your characters.

[Divides the Waters]

Hi, Dizzy! Glad to see this hasn't died completely (even if my ability to write has nearly done so).

I'm well aware of the Star Wars approach, as I run one of the premier Star Wars timelines on the web (in sad need of updating at the moment, I'm afraid). I've collected the novels for years, and love the way they keep a story going across multiple fronts. Fantasy novels have done this ever since Tolkien, though they have streamlined his approach a bit in order to keep you from wondering too long what happened to the other characters. George R. R. Martin is my most recent influence, and one could say that my novels fall somewhere in between in tone.

If you look back to the original posts, though, you'll see that the question was not so much how to keep the story going across multiple fronts as it is how to actually write it most effectively. That process, to me, is much more difficult than understanding how the finished product works. I've already written my "Star Wars," if you will (to use the analogy, the Death Star has been destroyed, but the Empire is still alive and well), and the book following is structured more like "The Empire Strikes Back," in the sense that after a few chapters, the characters are split up and have to carry on their own adventures that tie in to the overall plot. (This wasn't an intentional mimicry, by the way, but rather the subconscious way the acts of the play worked themselves out.) Since this gives me about four or five different points of view to deal with, it's a little trickier.

[dizzyjam]

Pardon me. I wasn't meaning to infer you wouldn't be aware of the Star Wars approach. I think a lot of people on here was influenced by the grand saga of Mr. Lucas. Indeed, it's good to see how much you are involved! No, what I meant was more of a reminder. Also, if you really haven't watched them one after the other yet without stopping for anything but soda, tacos, pizza and popcorn, then I highly recommend it!

I suppose the best way (if you've got so many to deal with that it's just plain confusing) is to treat it like you would a braid: write each as a separate story with the end result meeting place always in mind, and then as you write them, if any ever turn out to intertwine, tie those together first, then weave the rest in one at a time until you have your complete story.

That's my advice. Hope it helps.

[Divides the Waters]

No pardon necessary, my friend. Just letting you know that I'm a huge SW fan, as you are also, it seems. I love marathons! Wish I could afford a big screen TV for a real one! Of course, I include all of the television, as well (I trust you're watching the weekly Clone Wars shows on the cartoon network?).

Good advice. I'll let you know as I progress what route I take, and what proves most effective.

[torainfor]

Poop on a stick! Clone Wars is on? I need to be taping that for my kid.

[Divides the Waters]

You've missed five episodes ... hope your kid is "as forgiving as I am...."

[dizzyjam]

Divides,

Actually, I saw the movie starter for Clone Wars, I'm collecting the comic book for it, I've got some figures for it, but I keep forgetting to watch it on the TV. Friday nights I usually don't watch TV, I'm either interacting with my two year old son while my wife's at work or when he's not as active I'm reading. I'll probably have to catch it this Friday - if I remember to that is. (I know - shame, shame, shame)

When I do think about it at times, the only problem I really have is that sunset is happening earlier as the seasons change and I follow the Israeli Sabbath as God has led me to. The only entertainment I allow myself during that time is something produced for and is explicitly Christian based. I haven't found a church that meets on Saturdays that I feel comfortable with, so I still go on Sundays in the evening, but I might have a conflict with Clone Wars if it starts airing right after sundown.

[scintor]

Watching the Clone wars cartoons, I couldn't help but notice the plot first emphasis. In one episode they are racing to save a hospital facility for clones. The bad guys show up and destroy several ships full of wounded clone soldiers, an no one so much as bats an eye at the thousands of dead.

Scincerely,

[e-mail]

[metalikhan]

Don't know if it's too late to put my 2 cents in, but here goes. I write straight through; but when I'm well into the story, I create a second file for solo characters. I copy and paste all chapters from the main characters POV in uninterupted sequence. The same for secondary characters. For important characters where I don't sink into their POV, I pull all dialogues with them, again in sequence. When I review each character's POV without intervening chapters, I can see whether I'm keeping that character consistent, whether the changes in that character are logical, whether the character's growth is organic or contrived.

Working with a timeline is more difficult for me. I think the characters should be able to get where their going a lot faster that the story physically allows.

[Jeff Gerke]

And it's hard to see that objectively as the author.

Emotional changes are especially hard to monitor as a novelist. Because it takes me an hour to write a scene, I think that should be plenty of time for the hero to go from joy to despair. But when someone reads it, it seems like it's all happened in three minutes, and his emotional plunge looks unintentionally hysterical.

See Tip #31: www.wherethemapends.com/writerstools/writers_tools_pages/tip_of_the_week--31-40.htm.

Jeff

[Divides the Waters]

It's nearly impossible to be objective about one's own work, which is why writers groups have been so invaluable. I'm never quite sure how effective the story is on the emotional level (or any other level, for that matter), so it's good to hear the feedback letting me know where I'm steering it right or wrong.