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| Creating a Timeline |
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| Let�s begin creating your character�s history. After you read the notes on motivation and conflict, you can return to your timeline to fill in whatever details you need. The format of the timeline is not important. Use whatever is easiest for you. You might want to draw a horizontal line and radiate from that or list your dates vertically on lined paper. It doesn�t matter.
Begin with the birth date and end with the present (or the present in your story) listing significant dates and events for your character. If you want to divide your timeline in five or ten year increments at the start, do so. Make it as detailed as you want. Here�s an example of a timeline for my character, Isabel: 1963- April, Isabel born in Kiehlton County to Sophie and Paul 1968- first traumatic experience�witnesses mother attacking father with scissors, threatens suicide. 1973- Sister (Hope) born. 1975- Isabel is aware of her mother�s affairs. Her first friendship (Opal) is severed. -Mother abandons Isabel and her sisters. Father frequently absent. Children often go hungry. 1976- New best friend (Rochelle) introduces her to wine, bagels, cigarettes, and witchcraft 1978- Older sister (Dawn) elopes 1980- Isabel�s first job (amusement park). Meets future love interest (Armando) 1981- Leaves home with her savings and leaves behind her little sister. Gets a job working in a diner. 1993- Buys the diner. Surrounded by friends and food daily. -Last time she sees her father alive. Present- Father dies�Hope calls to tell her�Problem as the story opens. When you finish your timeline, do further research about these dates. For instance, list music/songs that were popular, what styles of dress were in fashion, or any other relevant details. The Historical Novelists Center (http://historicalnovelists.tripod.com/arealist.htm) has some good resources. You can also enter keywords like �1980s music� or �1960s fashion� into a search engine like Google. Back issues of magazines are also a valuable resource. They reveal the popular trends of those years. I also like to use The Timetables of History as a general reference. It�s a good starting point for research. Copyright 2002-2007 Rita Marie Keller |
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