Passage of Time

by Victoria Limbert
18th March 2012

When I write Fantasy I worry that the passing of time, the travelling from one region to another, may come across as boring in a story. While trying to make a realistic timeline (i.e if my travellers are on foot it is going to take them several days to reach a destination) I try to incorporate danger/attacks/dialogue/ and sometimes just a quick sentence like 'several days later they made it to Joe Bloggs house'. How would you tackle the passage of time?

Replies

Lin that is a great idea! In fact, thank you to all of you who have answered. I just dont want poeple to flick through the pages because the travelling is boring. Thank you!

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Victoria
Limbert
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Victoria Limbert
18/03/2012

I finish a scene with a hint of where the next scene will be. Then when I start writing, they are there.

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Lin
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Lin Churchill
18/03/2012

I have an entire 3 chapters dedicated to the travel of my main character to a destination he has been summoned to. With each chapter broken up by a stop on the way or something else happening to him.

Then there are the times where I just say 'Six weeks have passed since...'

I think it depends on the story and what is essential to moving the narrative along. If it doesn't need saying it can often be left out, but there are times that you really need to describe what is happening to your characters and that may be over a few hours or even a few weeks.

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Anthony Scott
Glenn
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Anthony Scott Glenn
18/03/2012