tips to improve your book
timely language
often, it can be hard to remember to switch our style of writing and language choices when switching time periods! it's especially important you do so in historical fiction (present - past), more so than futuristic fiction (present - future).
for example, in the early 1900s it would be extremely rare for someone to walk up and say, "hey mate, wassup?" or something of that sorts. rather, choose more timely language - that is appropriate to the era! if you're unsure of whether a word is acceptable, try googling "(word) define". all google definitions contain the origin of the word, and their popularity over time!
something that is also not often recommended is slang, especially regarding people or places. for example, we wouldn't say "oh yeah, you know donald trump, the 45th us president?" 'normal' conversations don't include this much formality or context!
gaps in knowledge
unless your character is known to be a history professor of some sorts, it's going to be extremely suspicious if they end up time travelling - and suddenly know everything about the time period.
let your characters have gaps in their knowledge! they shouldn't need to know everything, give them the option of being lost and confused in a place that isn't their home. this also allows for numerous plot twists options. perhaps your character needs to ask someone for help, and they become friends. or maybe they misunderstand something someone says - and go on a wild goose chase!
with this being said, try not to make your characters completely oblivious. for example, if you were sent to 16th century england, chances are you would know that their are still monarchs that have a lot of power - and your characters would too!
the method
it's important to choose your method of time travel carefully - as it can majorly impact your storyline! there are numerous different options of time travel you can choose, and you can even invent your own - after all, it's fiction!
some common ideas include:
• time machine
• suddenly waking up there
• cursed by someone
• portals
anything can work - that is one of the benefits of fiction! as long as you explain your reasoning behind it at least briefly, your imagination is your limits. get creative!
break rules
writers can also tend to get caught up in the loop of "what if it's not realistic enough?" - trust me, there's nearly nothing realistic about the concept of time travel! you can alter the laws of the universe to suit your own book creation, and better meet your writing needs.
for example, consider:
• someone can see through time, but not actually go there
• character can see all the possible outcomes of their decision
• a characters memories change based on their decisions
• the same outcome is always guaranteed, even if change is made
these are all just a couple of potential ideas you can choose to implement in your writing! remember - as long as you can back it up, there are no limits!
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