How do you write a story that flashes between the past and present of the story?

W

Windy

New member
I've read a book(called madapple I think) that does something like that.
Example: chapter 1:Past
chapter 2:present
chapter 3:past
chapter 4:present

How do you write it so it wouldn't confuse the reader too much?How to show when the story is in the past or in the present?
 
I'm doing something similar in my millstone. I got around it by having different characters lead the plot. In setting the scene/landscape wherein my lead characters play, I referenced the time. Then (not necessarily) everytime I can refer to the time line obliquely, so that it is clearly understood, this character is in the past, whereas this one is in the present.

Hope that makes sense?
 
If you're thinking of switching back and forth between time periods the best way to accomplish this is to do it when it fits the story. Whether or not that is chapter by chapter. You might go through 3 chapters of the present before you need to switch back to the past. Just go with what your story needs, don't lock yourself into a specific formula.

To show that you have switched to the past, you could write the year at the beginning of the chapters. Font changes are not necessary in this case.

Good Luck and Happy Writing =)
 
As my mind races back to the time.
While I think of the past.
As I am in the present.
From then to now.
My past was......
As I remember of the time
As of today
My life was
My life is
 
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