Fiction Writing Made Easy

#184. 3 Must-Know Tips For Writing A Novel With Dual Timelines

Mar 11, 2025

Struggling to weave together dual timelines in your novel? Discover essential elements that make these narratives work. Learn the crucial distinction between true dual timelines and flashbacks. Explore proven methods to arrange chapters and create meaningful connections between timelines. Keep readers hooked, regardless of which timeline they’re following, and tackle the common pitfalls of dual storytelling. Get ready to craft a captivating story that resonates with your audience!

32:10

Creator website

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

A successful dual timeline novel requires clear narrative arcs in each timeline that are intricately connected to the overarching story.

Creating meaningful connections through shared themes and objects is crucial for enhancing reader engagement across different timelines.

Deep dives

Understanding Dual Timeline Stories

A dual timeline story features two distinct yet interconnected plots set in different time periods. Each timeline typically includes unique characters, conflicts, and settings that unfold in real-time, contributing to a coherent overarching narrative. Although most dual timeline stories have one plot set in the present and another in the past, variations may exist with more than two timelines, as seen in works like 'Cloud Atlas.' Importantly, dual timelines differ from narratives that rely heavily on flashbacks, as each timeline must maintain its own narrative progression.

Intro

2min

Crafting Compelling Dual Timelines in Novels

14min

Mastering Dual Timelines in Novel Writing

15min

“I want to write a dual timeline novel, but I’m struggling to weave the storylines together. Help!” 👈 This is something I hear from writers all the time. And while it’s true that writing a story with dual timelines presents its own set of challenges, the possibilities are often worth the effort.

Tune in to this episode to learn the essential elements that make dual timeline novels work, common mistakes to avoid, and practical writing strategies you can use to write a dual timeline story that truly resonates with readers.

In this episode, I cover things like:

[03:00] The difference between true dual timeline stories and stories that use flashbacks to convey backstory—and why this distinction is so important
[08:45] Two proven methods for arranging the chapters in your dual timeline novel, including the most common approach that works for all genres
[11:25] Why creating a connection between timelines is so critical—and 5 specific ways to create meaningful connections between your timelines
[18:00] How to keep readers engaged in your story no matter which timeline they’re in (and what to do if one of your timelines falls flat)
[25:55] Final thoughts and episode recap

If you want to write a novel that has more than one timeline—or if you’re editing a novel with dual timelines—this is an episode you won’t want to miss!

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

Click here to get instant access to our deep dive into The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab to see how a dual timeline novel works!

⭐ Rate + Review + Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love the Fiction Writing Made Easy podcast!" ← If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing this show! Your rating and review will help other writers find this podcast, and they're also super fun for me to read. Just click here, scroll all the way to the bottom, tap five stars to rate the show, and then select "Write a Review." Be sure to let me know your favorite episodes, too!

Also, if you haven't done so already, make sure you're following the podcast! I'll be adding a bunch of bonus episodes to the feed, and if you're not following the show, there's a good chance you'll miss them. Click here to follow now!

FREE QUIZ: Take this 30-second quiz to get a custom action plan that'll help you move from stuck writer to published author!

Click here to register for my FREE training: 3 Things You Need to Write Your Novel in 2025.

Support the show

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.