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Steven Lyle Jordan · 11-13-2011, 11:07 AM

I don't have a problem with non-linear narrative, though I've only been able to handle it in certain instances. Pulp Fiction, for example, completely turned me off. But the example you use is similar to one I've seen in numerous television shows*, and I have no problem with that arrangement. And Lost was the most non-linear TV show I've ever seen, and I thought it worked very well.

I gave a shot at mixing both. My novel Despite Our Shadows has linear main chapters, yet it is non-linear in its Ellen chapters. It was interesting staggering the Ellen chapters so the reader would appropriately discover more and more about Ellen's backstory, while not revealing the significant moment of the story until the end.

*
1. Middle of a fight/conflict
2. A few hours ago: Events leading up to conflict
3. Events reach conflict
4. (Supplemental- mini-flashback to something that will solve conflict
5. Conflict is solved/fight is won
6. Aftermath (usually with a reference to how the knowledge of the previous experiences helped solve the conflict)

11-13-2011, 11:07 AM	#3
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I don't have a problem with non-linear narrative, though I've only been able to handle it in certain instances. Pulp Fiction, for example, completely turned me off. But the example you use is similar to one I've seen in numerous television shows, and I have no problem with that arrangement. And Lost* was the most non-linear TV show I've ever seen, and I thought it worked very well. I gave a shot at mixing both. My novel Despite Our Shadows has linear main chapters, yet it is non-linear in its Ellen chapters. It was interesting staggering the Ellen chapters so the reader would appropriately discover more and more about Ellen's backstory, while not revealing the significant moment of the story until the end. * 1. Middle of a fight/conflict 2. A few hours ago: Events leading up to conflict 3. Events reach conflict 4. (Supplemental- mini-flashback to something that will solve conflict 5. Conflict is solved/fight is won 6. Aftermath (usually with a reference to how the knowledge of the previous experiences helped solve the conflict) Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 11-13-2011 at 11:11 AM.