Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your Novel

This is often overlooked, but it’s essential for great stories.How do you make time pass?Well, when you’re living your regular life in the real world, you don’t have to do anything.Time is constantly passing, no matter what you do. And when a timer goes off, or you look outside and see the sun’s gone down, or you feel your stomach growl with hunger, you notice time has passed.You hardly have to think about it. It’s just happening, all around you, all the time.In your novel, though—well, there, you are responsible for charting the passage of time. You are the filter who determines how time passes.More than that, you are responsible for telling your readers how much time is going by.It’s an essential part of storytelling, and yet it’s often overlooked. So in this episode, we’re talking about time.You’ll learn:Why writers often forget to mention time passing3 ways you can use time passing to enhance your storyWhat happens when you don’t show how time is passing in your story2 kinds of tension you can create using timeAnd more!I’ve read so many manuscripts where I lose track of time and have to ask the writer, “Wait, when does this happen?” Check out this episode and save yourself from this common oversight.Send me a Text Message!Support the showRate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts "I love Alice and Your Next Draft." If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more writers through the mess—and joy—of the editing process. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap the stars to rate, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »

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