3 Must-Know Tips For Writing A Novel With Dual Timelines
Are you struggling to weave together multiple storylines across different time periods? Dual timeline novels have captivated readers in bestsellers like The Nightengale, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, and All the Light We Cannot See, but crafting these intricate narratives requires specific techniques most writing guides overlook.
Whether you're plotting your first manuscript or revising your latest draft, understanding how to balance parallel storylines, create meaningful connections between time periods, and maintain distinct character voices can transform your dual timeline story from confusing to compelling.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the essential elements that make dual timeline novels work, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical strategies you can use to write a dual timeline story that truly resonates with readers. Let's dive right in, starting with a definition.
What Is A Dual Timeline Story?
A dual timeline story has two separate but parallel storylines set in different time periods. Usually, one timeline is set in the present, and the other is set at some point in the past (but this is not always the case, nor is it a hard and fast rule).
Dual timeline stories feature two different yet connected plots that each have their own set of characters, their own conflicts, and their own specific settings.
In other words, they are, on all accounts, two stories that are distinct yet somehow connected—and this connection between the two timelines is the defining characteristic of what it means to write a dual timeline story.
Technically, you could have more than two timelines—some set in the past, present, and future—but the more timelines you add, the trickier things get to manage.
A great example of a story with more than two timelines is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. In this book, there are six interconnected timelines, each told from the perspective of a different character. Each character has a comet-shaped birthmark, and names, dates, and references reoccur, hinting at a greater connection between the six characters and their timelines.
How Dual-Timeline Stories Differ from Flashbacks
Now, something really important to note is that a dual timeline story is NOT the same as a story with a lot of flashback (or backstory) scenes.
You can definitely include flashbacks within your scenes—in either of your timelines—(for example, if a character is remembering something about their past)...
But that is NOT the same as a story with dual timelines where the events in each timeline unfold within their own scenes or chapters.
In other words, flashbacks or backstory should act as context woven into a scene. Dual timelines need to show events unfolding in real time (in each timeline).
That being said, you can use the dual timeline structure to avoid too many flashbacks in your present-day timeline if you're writing a story that's heavily reliant on backstory.
For example, Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens reveals the protagonist’s backstory in the past through a secondary timeline. This timeline has a beginning, middle, and end—and it unfolds through real-time scenes that just so happen to be set in the past.
With this understanding of what makes a dual timeline story different from a regular narrative with flashbacks, let's explore the three essential tips that will help you craft a compelling dual timeline novel.
Tip #1: Structure Your Dual-Timeline Story With Purpose
The way you structure your dual timeline story is one of the most crucial decisions you'll make during the writing process. This goes beyond simply deciding to include two timelines—it's about how you structure and then arrange your timelines to create the best reading experience possible.
The most important thing you need to know is that each timeline must have its own complete narrative arc while also serving the overall story. This means each timeline should have:
- A clear beginning, middle, and end
- Its own central conflict and resolution
- Character development specific to that timeline
- Stakes that matter within that timeline's context
Although each timeline needs to be distinct and work independently, they should never be able to stand entirely on their own. When they have a reason to be told side by side, they will become stronger, more meaningful, and more impactful.
Converging Timelines: How To Connect Your Timelines
One effective structural approach is to create each timeline so it operates independently, with its own plot and cast of characters, until they converge at some point near the end.
At the beginning of the story, these plots and characters don't seem to have anything in common. In fact, most of the time, the characters in each timeline don't even know the other characters (in the other timeline) exist. The story might even take place in two totally different locations or time periods.
For most of the story, the two plots and each cast of characters moves forward on their own as if the other doesn't exist—but at some point, they converge. And when they do converge, the reader understands the reason behind their connection.
For example, in The Hours by Michael Cunningham (which uniquely features three timelines rather than two), the story opens with Virginia Woolf's last days before her death in 1923. In the second timeline, Clarissa Vaughan is a book editor living in New York City in the late twentieth century. When we meet Clarissa, she’s on her way to a party for her poet-friend, Richard. In the third timeline, Laura Brown is a housewife living in 1949 who is bringing up her only son (Richard). The narratives converge in an unexpected way during the party held for Richard, revealing the connections between these seemingly separate stories.
In this structure, it's only when the timelines converge that readers fully understand the meaning behind each timeline.
Parallel Timelines: Crafting Mirrored Storylines Across Time
Another structural approach is to craft your timelines with similar pacing and parallel developments to create a sense of a bigger overarching connection. In this scenario, the protagonist's arc will be similar in both plots—and the similarities and differences between each timeline will create the overarching meaning.
For example, in Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover, we see the story unfold from the point of view of both main characters, Tate and Miles. In the present timeline, we are in Tate's point of view, watching the romantic relationship develop between her and Miles. In the past timeline, we're in Miles's point of view, watching his last romantic relationship unfold. Both timelines show a developing romantic relationship, and the key plot points mirror each other in terms of when they unfold.
Because of how the past timeline unfolds right alongside the present, we get insight into each relationship (and point of view character) at the same time. What the author reveals in one timeline shows us a truth in the other.
Once you’ve determined how to connect your timelines (either by structuring them in similar ways or by having your plots converge), it’s time to think about how to arrange the scenes and chapters in your dual timeline story. There are several approaches to structuring dual-timeline stories:
How to Arrange Your Chapters In A Dual Timeline Story
The first (and most common) approach to structuring a dual timeline story is to alternate chapters between your timelines. In this scenario, one chapter is dedicated to Timeline A, the next chapter is dedicated to Timeline B, and so on. This creates a consistent rhythm that readers can easily follow.
A great example of this approach can be seen in The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. In this book, the author alternates fairly consistently between the primary World War II storyline and the more contemporary 1995 timeline. Neither timeline dominates the narrative structure, and the author maintains a really nice back-and-forth rhythm that keeps both storylines moving forward in parallel.
The second way you can structure your dual timeline story is to group several chapters from one timeline together as a section, then switch to the other timeline for the next section of chapters.
An example of this can be seen in The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. Rather than alternating chapters, Kostova groups multiple chapters within the same timeline together, creating distinct sections. The novel moves between three main time periods: the 1930s, the 1950s, and the 1970s. Each section allows readers to become deeply immersed in one timeline for an extended period before switching to another.
The choice often depends on the relationship between timelines.
A story in which both timelines contain equally important narrative arcs that gradually illuminate each other might best be told through alternating chapters. A story that spans generations or has significantly different narrative styles in each timeline might be best told through a section-based approach.
Whatever pattern you choose, consistency is key—once you establish a rhythm, maintain it throughout your story so readers can anticipate the structure without becoming disoriented.
Tip #2: Create Meaningful Connections Between Timelines
The power of a dual timeline story lies in how the two narratives inform and enhance each other. Without meaningful connections between your timelines, you're essentially writing two separate stories rather than one cohesive narrative.
One of the most powerful ways to connect timelines is through shared themes.
When both timelines explore similar thematic questions from different angles, each storyline deepens the reader's understanding of the other.
For example, in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, each timeline explores themes of identity, fame, sacrifice, and the price of success. The contemporary timeline featuring journalist Monique Grant provides context and perspective for Evelyn Hugo's glamorous but complicated past. So, all of the timelines explore similar themes from different angles.
Physical objects can create powerful connections across timelines, especially when they hold different meanings or serve different purposes in each period.
A family heirloom, a mysterious letter, or an artifact might appear in both timelines, evolving in significance as the story progresses.
For example, in The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor, a manuscript detailing how two girls (Frances and Elise Wright) somehow convinced the entire town that they had befriended fairies. The first timeline takes place in 2017, and the main character, Olivia, finds the manuscript in her grandmother’s bookshop. In this timeline, Olivia tries to figure out why everyone believed these two young girls when their story seems so outlandish. In the second timeline, we see Frances and Elise's story unfold (in 1917) in real time as it happens. The manuscript connects both timelines.
Characters in different timelines can reflect or parallel each other in meaningful ways, too. They might face similar challenges, possess complementary traits, or represent different approaches to the same fundamental human experience.
Consider how you might use your characters to explore:
- Similar life decisions from different historical perspectives
- Generational patterns in families
- Historical impacts on individual psychology
- How societal changes affect human relationships
A great example of this can be seen in The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. In this book, the protagonist, Margaret, has been asked to write a biography about a woman named Vida Winter. As the story progresses, we see fascinating parallels between the two women—they both have childhood trauma, both struggle with questions of identity, both are haunted by missing family members, and both face similar decisions about whether to confront or escape their painful pasts. This creates resonance by showing how these women, despite living in different eras, respond to similar challenges.
Another option you have for creating resonance between timelines is to use information asymmetry. In other words, you can use something like a revelation in one timeline to completely recontextualize events in the other.
For instance, a present-day character might discover information about the past that changes their understanding of their family history. Or a past timeline might reveal the origins of a mystery being solved in the present.
This technique creates dramatic irony—where the reader knows something the characters don't—and builds tension as the reader anticipates how this knowledge will impact characters in the other timeline.
Lastly, you can find connections between your timelines via setting. On one hand, your story can take place in the same setting but in different time periods.
A great example of this can be seen in The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. This story centers around Blackhurst Manor and its fairy tale garden on the Cornish coast. The garden appears in multiple timelines: 1900s, when it was created; 1975, when one of the characters, Nell, discovers her connection to it; and 200,5 when Nell's granddaughter, Cassandra, inherits the cottage. The garden serves as a physical link between generations, maintaining certain features while evolving over time.
On the other hand, your story can take place in the same time period but in different settings.
For example, in All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, the first timeline featuring Marie-Larue takes place on the coast of France. The second timeline featuring Werner takes place in a small mining town in Germany. Technically, there are about 10 years separating each timeline, but you get the idea.
No matter how you look at it, the key is to look for parallels between each of your timelines and then harmonize those parallels to create an overarching sense of meaning and connection in your story.
This connection is always part of the meaning of the story, and so the way you connect your timelines says something in itself. It's only when the timelines affect each other that the overall story becomes complete.
Tip #3: Balance Reader Investment Across Timelines
One of the greatest challenges in dual timeline storytelling is maintaining equal reader interest in both narratives. Often, one timeline naturally generates more tension or emotional investment than the other.
Crafting Compelling Stakes in Each Timeline
To address potential imbalances between timelines, ensure each timeline has its own compelling stakes and conflicts rather than relegating one to mere background information. This goes back to what I said earlier about making sure each storyline is fully fleshed out and developed as if it were its own story.
If your present-day timeline feels less engaging than your historical one, consider raising the emotional stakes or adding complications that echo themes from the more compelling timeline. Conversely, if your historical timeline lags, find ways to make it more immediately relevant to the contemporary story.
A great example of this is in The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. In this story, there are two timelines—one in eighteenth-century London that follows a character named Nella who runs an apothecary and essentially helps women poison the men who have wronged them, and the other in present-day London following Caroline who finds a small blue apothecary bottle that triggers her investigation into the past. In each timeline, there are pretty serious stakes. If Nella’s found out for providing poison to her customers to essentially murder other people, she’s in big trouble. In Caroline’s timeline, there are similar yet different stakes.
Creating Seamless Shifts Between Past and Present
Another thing you can play with is how and when you shift between each timeline.
So, for example, when one timeline reaches a dramatic high point, consider switching to the other at a moment that will leave readers eager to return. This creates a natural rhythm that pulls readers through your story, preventing either timeline from feeling like an unwelcome interruption.
How you transition between timelines can make or break your reader's experience. Clear chapter breaks offer the most straightforward approach—dedicating entire chapters to one timeline before switching to another.
If you prefer more frequent shifts, consider using visual markers like section breaks, graphic symbols, or any other kind of clear formatting to signal transitions.
Characterizing Your Timelines
Beyond structural distinctions, you need to give each timeline its own unique feel so that readers know immediately which timeline they're in and can become emotionally invested in both worlds.
One of the best ways you can do this is by giving each narrator their own distinct voice.
This is particularly important for stories told in the first person POV because each timeline will use the "I" narrator. So, in this scenario, each first-person narrator needs to sound unique and different enough that readers always know whose head they’re in at any given time.
But this also goes for stories where the narrator might remain the same in both timelines. This isn’t as common, but a great example of this kind of story is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. Although this story is written in the third person—and although it follows Addie in both timelines—each timeline feels different because Addie is different. In the past timeline, Addie is a bit more naive, optimistic, and future-thinking. In the present timeline (three hundred years later), she’s older (emotionally and mentally), more jaded, and often speaks with hindsight.
No matter which point of view you write in, the main character of each timeline needs to have their own language patterns, way of speaking, worldview, and values.
The second way you can do this is by giving the settings in each timeline a strong, more personal mood, vibe, or atmosphere.
This is more easily achieved in timelines that happen in different historical periods (provided you do your research on each period).
A great example of this can be found in Next Year in Havana by Chanel Cleeton. This book alternates between one timeline in the 1950s Cuban Revolution and another timeline in modern-day Miami, so I’m sure you can imagine the differences in mood and atmosphere between the two timelines.
When writing a historical dual timeline story, the entire setting must reflect the times and transport the reader accordingly. This will not be accomplished simply through the casual use of vintage language or the occasional "historical" description. You will need to do thorough research!
Lastly, consider how you can use details to characterize your timelines.
Some details (like the use of cell phones or other present-day technology) can help create a feeling of "distance" between the past and present, while other details (like warm beef stew on a cold winter’s night) can help create a connection because some things never change.
Final Thoughts
Writing a dual timeline story presents its own set of challenges, but if this structure suits your story, the possibilities and outcome are worth the effort.
By purposefully structuring your narrative, creating meaningful connections between timelines, and balancing reader investment across both stories, you'll create a multidimensional reading experience that keeps your audience engaged from beginning to end.
Remember that each timeline should feel essential to the overall story—neither should feel like a tangential subplot that could be removed. The magic happens in how these separate narratives illuminate each other.
Practically speaking, consider creating separate outlines for each timeline before weaving them together. Many authors find this separate, yet to-be-combined approach helpful in seeing their timelines as independent stories before combining them.
As you embark on your dual timeline writing journey, be patient with yourself and your process. This narrative structure requires additional planning, organization, and attention to detail.
Again, if your story suits this type of structure, trust that your readers will appreciate the depth and complexity you're bringing to your story and that the emotional payoff when your timelines ultimately connect will make the extra work worthwhile.
Want to dig deeper into what it means to write a dual timeline novel? Check out this deep dive workshop where Abigail K. Perry and I walk through how the structure of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schawb works—including exactly how each timeline unfolds on an act-by-act basis. Get instant access for only $47!
