Letters and Imagination: Mastering the Art of Writing

Time Skips

A time skip refers to a narrative technique where the author intentionally fast-forwards the story's timeline, skipping over a period of time. This technique is employed to move the story forward, often bypassing less crucial or less interesting events that occur between two significant points in the plot. Time skips can vary in duration; they can be as short as a few hours or span years or even decades. By using time skips, authors can maintain the pacing of the story, focus on key events, and avoid excessive detail about mundane or unimportant moments in the characters' lives.

Timeskips should not indicated with the literal text "Time Skip". These transitions are typically achieved through clear, concise narrative language, description, or dialogue to inform the reader about the time that has passed and any significant changes that may have occurred during the skip. The art of the author's ability to guide the reader smoothly and seamlessly through these temporal leaps is immediately ruined when "Time skip" appears between two paragraphs.

A time skip can be indicated through various narrative techniques. One common approach is to provide descriptive cues that subtly reveal the passage of time. For instance, you can describe how the seasons changed, signalling the shift from spring to winter. This can evoke a sense of the time that has elapsed without directly stating it. Alternatively, a change in characters' appearances and circumstances can serve as indicators. A character who was once a struggling student may now be seen in a successful career, or a once-thriving relationship could be portrayed as strained or distant.

Dialogue is another powerful tool for demonstrating time skips. Characters can discuss past events or reminisce about experiences that occurred during the skipped time, offering insights into what has transpired. Conversations between characters can provide valuable context without the need for heavy exposition.

Here follows an incorrect example and a correct example of indicting a time skip from morning to night.

Incorrect example:

"I hope it won't be busy tonight," he said before taking another bite of his breakfast.

Time skip

That night so many people showed up at the club that it became akin to an overpopulated bee nest.

Correct example:

"I hope it won't be busy tonight," he said before taking another bite of his breakfast.

That night so many people showed up at the club that it became akin to an overpopulated bee nest.

"Breakfast" indicates it is morning and "That night" indicates a passing of time. You can skip from morning to night without placing a "time skip" in between. Also, the mention of breakfast is an example of how to subtly indicate the time of day without being too direct like:

<In the morning>

"I hope it won't be busy tonight," he said.

Another unprofessional thing that is not actually needed in a book is a time skip marker or a time marker. Example:

"I hope it won't be busy tonight," he said before taking another bite of his breakfast.

********

That night so many people showed up at the club that it became akin to an overpopulated bee nest.

A time skip marker is not needed in storytelling because the art of narrative lies in the author's ability to immerse readers into the fictional world without jarring interruptions. Instead of using these markers try to use subtler and more organic methods to convey the passage of time. This subtlety not only respects the intelligence of the reader but also enhances the overall reading experience, making it more immersive and enjoyable.

An example from one of my books is where I describe the character's hair as being blond with pink dye still hanging onto the ends. A passage of time was indicated by the description of hair dye that has faded.

Ultimately, a well-executed narrative should transport the reader into the story's universe, and the absence of the words "Time Skip" and a time skip marker are a testament to the author's ability to achieve this seamless storytelling.