Out-of-order tense or causation

"Good, linear prose takes the reader directly from event to event in sequence through time. Yes, sometimes we break that line on purpose, as with a flashback. But in general, we want events to proceed in a direct line through the chronology of events."  Theresa (guest blogging from Edit Torrent)

Romance University blog had an article last week regarding out-of-order actions or causation in description.  I thought I'd share, as this is something I've found when critiquing the writing of other writers.  I don't know why, but I don't think I've ever had a problem with this, barring the occasional oversight.  But newish writers in particular seem blind to this problem and do it over and over. 

I won't reinvent the wheel when the article is so clear and concise, but the basic idea is this:  You need to place the elements of description or action in either chronological or logical order.  Consider the timing, consider what causes what, what must happen first (e.g. cause precedes reaction, slipping precedes falling down, etc.), and check to see that things that can't be done before something else is perceived or done follow instead of lead.  You must do this, or the reader will have to either go back and reread or puzzle over what you meant.  It is a bit jarring, pulls them from the story, and this is not a good thing. 

Check out the Ask An Editor articles on the Romance University's site.  No matter what genre you write, there's something to learn.  Also, you might read Edit Torrent blog for daily reminders and information on grammar and writing skills.

Comments

[laughingwolf]

right on, d...

[charles gramlich]

A book that I really enjoy, "Drive" by James Sallis, breaks these rules, and even though I like the book I do find it something of a struggle at times. Sallis is a genius though and can pull it off whereas most other writers couldn't.

[writtenwyrdd]

The book seems to be the exception that breaks the rule, Charles.

[Robin Altman]

Do you find that the same advice applies to movies? It seems as though many movies try to play with sequence, sometimes in an interesting and thought provoking way, and sometimes in a "what the f-?" sort of way. If I tried it, it would be the latter.

[writtenwyrdd]

I hadn't given it much thought, Robin, but Ithink the mechanics of continuity are different with a visual medium. I mainly say that because you can provide visual cues (background, costume, sets, etc) that are changed to indicate place in time. Or some characters are aged via make up, or the clothes are ragged. These physical continuity vs. changed-through-time issues on one hand make providing the reader with clear cues more easy, but also make it more difficult...because you can't make mistakes like having different furniture positions from one half of a scene to the next without the viewers calling foul.

Or that's my thinking off the top of my head.