The Review Club Forum Timeline question

I don't know if any of you have encountered this, but...

I have a novel starting in 1850 and spanning 20 years. A lot of those years don't drive the plot other than introduce the birth of new characters. How can I keep that from sounding like the hideous Christmas news letter from my Aunt Martha?

Or is it inevitable?

Help!!!

Hmmm...Tough one. Maybe use a physical timeline or family tree rather than actually writing it. Good luck because that does not sound like a fun job.

Julie

Well this is a tricky situation, because you have the risk to bore your readers. Before I started writing the WFO I created a timeline mapping out the events that took place in the world to turn it into what it was. My primary problem was that some events that would later be VERY important seemed miniscule at the time. So my solution was to pair some of these events with other events that aren't important to the main plot, but important in regards to the world they lived in. For example the day the World Family Organization was created.... (which seems un-important based on the current affairs of the world) I paired it with the day China adopted a declaration of independence. Mking an uneventful event less uneventful.

I'm not sure if this helps, but sometimes markers are needed to outline seemingly boring events so that you have them there to e noticed.

I guess thats my way, Hope it helps,

Gabe

Thanks for the help, guys. I think the markers idea is a good one!

I don't think it'll be too difficult, so long as you play down the timeline and mark time by events, indicating changes in the characters or setting. So long as you're careful to run the the story chronologically the reader will understand the passage of time without too many cues.

Gabe - that idea is great, I just thought that I would mention that.

As far as how I've seen it done. Most major time jumps I've seen have been paired with some kind of event. Kind of like what Gabe is saying. And a brief description of how things have changed (if they have). Honestly I like this better in dialogue then I do in narrative. But either way I think you're okay there. The only thing I would avoid is the "As you know" type dialogue. But honestly we tend to go through a whole meet and greet ritual everytime we haven't seen someone for a while.

But honestly if your readers are really into the story at that point they'll want to know what's been up with their favorite characters. Anyways it's just a thought.

Cameron