2 “Showing” and "Telling" Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel

Your Next Draft

Show and tell your readers why time matters to your characters.
Time matters.
When you look up and it’s dark outside, time matters to you.
When your characters look around and summer is turning into fall, time matters to them.
When your readers are reading a novel and they can’t figure out how time is passing? Well, time matters to them, too—mostly because they’re confused.
In this episode, I’m sharing two ways to make time matter to your readers the way it matters to your characters.
That is, how to make time matter because it impacts your characters’ lives. (And not because your readers can’t get a grip on what’s happening in your story.)
You’ll learn:

• How to blend showing and telling (it’s a spectrum, not a binary)
• 2 techniques to convey time passing using showing and telling
• How to choose which calendars to use in your story
• And more!

Your readers want to understand why time matters to your characters. Show and tell them, and they’ll feel it passing just as your characters do.
Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 70: Why You Must Show Time Passing in Your Novel
• Ep. 71: 3 “Telling” Ways to Convey Time Passing in Your Novel

Send me a Text Message!

Support the Show.

Want more editing tips and resources? Follow me on Instagram and Facebook.

And if you're enjoying the podcast, would you mind leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts? That helps more writers find these editing resources. And it helps me know what's helpful to you so I can create more episodes you'll love!
Loving the show? Show your support with a monthly contribution »