Hi! Really love your blog. My question for you is this: What is the best way to handle/present a gap of ten years in my story? Would it be best to use a prologue for the early chapters, and then begin the actual story after the years have passed? I've heard prologues are pretty much no-nos, but nothing relevant to the story happens in those ten years. How would you handle the passage of time? Thanks!
For Scenes that Happened “A Long Time Ago”
Prologue - Prologues are pretty much always “no-nos”, except when they aren’t. If you feel it is absolutely necessary to put this scene at the beginning of your story, then do it. Even if you use a prologue, remember to establish that a long time has passed since the last chapter at the start of the next one. This is best to use if the event is short enough to fit into one chapter.
Flashbacks – If it’s not necessary to put this scene in the beginning, consider using a flashback. You can start a new scene or have a character discuss the event through dialogue. If you choose to write out the scene through a traditional flashback, again establish that the reader is now in a different time and place. Flashbacks are usually written in italics.
Divide into Parts – Is the event that takes place in the past big enough to cover multiple chapters? Then divide your book into distinct parts. Part 1 could take place in the past and part 2 could take place in the present. As always, remember to establish that time had passed in some way.
Thanks so much for your question! If you need help with anything else, just ask!
~AIT
