TIME AND SPACE IN NARRATIVE ⚡️ ✨
A LITERARY TIME MACHINE ✨📚
⛵️ Welcome back, intrepid writer and colleague, to the fascinating
world of narrative time and space. If you thought these concepts were
only for quantum physicists and intergalactic travelers, get ready to
discover that they are essential tools for us writers. And they allow
stories to be agile, modern, and captivating.
⌚✨ TIME: YOUR BEST ALLY OR YOUR WORST ENEMY
Time in narrative is not used only as a clock that advances
mercilessly, but as a resource that you can manipulate at will. When you
write, you are a god of time! (At least in your story).
1. Classical timeline vs. modern narrative
- The linear story: This is what we know as the traditional form
: where the story unfolds in three or four acts: beginning, middle,
climax, and end. This classic approach to time has been used by authors
such as Charles Dickens and Jane Austen .
- Fragmented narratives: Works such as " One Hundred Years of Solitude " by Gabriel García Márquez or " Hopscotch " by Julio Cortázar play with leaps in time, breaking linearity and capturing the reader with more dynamic structures.
- Flashbacks and Flashforwards: Used in film and novels such as " The Sound and the Fury ", the 1959 film based on the book by William Faulkner or " Cloud Atlas ", a 2012 film based on the book by David Mitchell . These works allow information to be revealed at a very particular pace by the author and add layers of depth to the works.
⚡ Pro tip: Use time jumps purposefully. Don't confuse the reader; make each movement in time contribute something useful to the story.
🌍 SPACE: CREATE WORLDS, NOT JUST SETTINGS
If time is the rhythm of your story, space is the backdrop. But be
careful, because a well-crafted space isn't just decorative; it's part
of the action.
1. Spaces with personality
- The setting as a character: In George Orwell 's " 1984 , "the oppressive city is as much a protagonist as Winston Smith.
- Complete Worlds: JRR Tolkien, in " The Lord of the Rings ," created not only places but also languages and cultures. See the lesson on World Creation in this same course .
- Symbolic Places: In Scott Fitzgerald 's " The Great Gatsby , "New York City reflects the dreams and corruption of its characters.
2. Sensual Locations
Don't just say " dark woods
"; make the reader feel the dampness on their skin, hear the leaves
rustle, and fear what lurks in the shadows. See the lesson in this
course on how to apply sensory details to your work.
⚡ Pro tip: Use the senses and atmosphere to make the reader "experience" the place. Read writers like Haruki Murakami , who can make even a coffee shop feel hypnotic.
🔄 How to Make Your Story Flow Like a River, Not a Stagnant Puddle
- Don't give unnecessary information: If the color of the vase doesn't add anything, omit it.
- Vary the pace: Use short sentences for action scenes, and long paragraphs for moments of introspection.
- Be aware of your story's tempo: Don't make a character travel days in two paragraphs and a conversation drag on for five pages for no reason.
🖇 DO A TIME AND SPACE TRAVEL EXERCISE
✏️ Write a scene where a character travels back in time, but without
explicitly saying they did. Use details in the setting and in the
characters' language so the reader can discover it for themselves.
✨ Have fun creating! Remember, storytelling is a game where you set the rules. Let's write! 📚🌟
Do you have questions? Do you want to expand on these topics?
If you are interested in expanding on these topics, I recommend that you read my articles for writers. There you will find many interesting topics that will help you become a 21st century writer. Here are my notes for writers (use the google translate button - for no-spanish writers-) 🌌✍️
Do you have any questions? You can ask me -in english too- through a google form. Use the "Tu Consulta" button, please:
Good writing! 🚀✍️
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