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Multiple storylines or timelines can bring added depth, dimension, and texture to a story, broadening its scope and making the whole more effective and resonant than it might have otherwise been. Multiple timelines also offer authors the chance to explore different perspectives on a story, and to creatively structure how it’s told to heighten reader engagement.

If your story has more than one timeline or storyline, knowing how to weave them together smoothly and effectively is a major part of how well the overall story works. Every thread should be intrinsic to telling the story, complementing and reflecting each other without losing readers or diminishing their investment.

But the challenges with multiples are legion: How do you decide whether more than one storyline will enhance or complicate the overall story? Do the stories directly interrelate in some key way that makes each essential to the story? How many storylines is too many?

How do you structure and weave the various storylines together? How do you shift between storylines and immediately orient readers without confusing them? How do you invest readers deeply in each one—until the end? What merits a separate storyline—and what’s just backstory?

This workshop will address all these questions and more, dissecting the structure and techniques of published novels to demonstrate these principles in action.

You will learn:

• How to decide whether multiple storylines are right for your story
• How to ensure each storyline is essential to and cohesive with the story as a whole
• How to balance/weight storylines
• Principles and guidelines for structuring multiple POVs or timelines and weaving them together
• Ways to invest readers in each storyline—and keep them invested
• How to orient readers to each storyline with each scene
• Tools for transitioning smoothly and effectively between storylines
• Techniques for writing a multiple-storyline story

Who this class is for

• Authors writing fiction with more than a single storyline or timeline (often with multiple POVs)
• Novelists who are curious about trying more than one storyline or timeline in their stories and want to learn more
• Authors writing fiction who struggle with structuring multiple storylines
• Authors who may be intimidated by writing multiple timelines or POVs and who want to understand how to effectively use these devices

This class is probably not suited for

• Nonfiction writers, including memoirists. While many of the principles will in fact apply to those writing narrative nonfiction and memoir, this class will not address the unique issues facing nonfiction writers and memoirists in managing different timelines or storylines. In other words, this is not a class that’s been designed specifically for the needs of memoirists. Questions about nonfiction will not be answered during the live class. If you are writing nonfiction/memoir and think you can connect the dots on your own, by all means join in.
• Short story writers (there may be some benefit, but examples and assumptions will be novel driven)
• Children’s picture book writers

How do I attend the live class?

This class uses Zoom webinar technology (see system requirements). You will join through your Internet-connected computer or mobile device. When you register, you will receive information via email on how to join the class. If you don’t receive it within 1 hour of registering, please contact us.

• When: Friday, Sept. 15, 2023
• Time: 1:00–2:30 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 a.m. Pacific
• Fee: $25

The webinar is broadcast via the internet with live audio delivered through your computer or mobile device speakers. The visual presentation is displayed directly from the presenter’s computer to your computer screen. The Q&A is managed through a chat-style submission system with questions read and answered by the presenter for the entire class to hear.

Closed captions are provided during the live class. We use Zoom’s automated closed caption service (powered by Otter), which is about 80%+ accurate. We also use Otter AI to generate an unedited transcript, provided with the recording.

All students receive the following

• Access to the live class. After roughly 75 minutes, the instructor will take questions during class using in-class chat/text. The class will end after roughly 90 minutes.
• A recording of the class—audio and video. This is especially helpful if you have a conflict with the class time or something comes up and you can’t make the session. Each registration comes with access to the archived version of the program and the materials for 30 days. You do not have to attend the live event to access the recordings.
• Presentation slides. All participants receive a copy of the slide presentation in PDF form.
• Rough transcript. We use Otter to create an automated transcript of the entire webinar, which we’ll share with you in addition to the audio and video recording.

Event Attendance & Anti-Harassment Policy

We strive to provide an environment where all present—whether attendee, presenter, or staff—can feel supported. In order to ensure a welcoming event, here is what we expect from all who participate.

• That the presenter and the presenter’s work be treated with respect by attendees and that all attendees treat each other with respect and a generosity of spirit.
• That attendees will refrain from harassment of any sort including (but not limited to) comments or questions of a racist, homophobic, sexist/sexual, or threatening nature. This includes actions that disrupt or interfere with anyone’s ability to participate. Offenders will be disconnected from the live event.