Repeating prose

[Glitch]

I have a character who needs to repeat a period of time. Yes I've seen Groundhog Day! Once the character figures out how it works he can use it to his advantage for the rest of the story.

The reason for repeating time will most likely be used for a blurb or other such material.

I am planning to write to first days events up to an including to incident. Then I want to write the first days events again, but with him feeling something is wrong, déjà vu moments and such. He'll need to repeat the first day about four or give times. I don't plan to write the whole days events more than twice.

Since the reader will know what's going to happen. Are they likely to skip over the parts which repeat themselves?

 

[Abernovo]

They might if they're exactly the same. Could you have him trying different variations to see what the outcomes are? It could be a bit like one of those Level games, where you have to pass or repeat the level.

I suppose it depends, as well, on how much he's aware of the rules of the repeat, and if he realises there is a repeat. If he's going around confused, figuring out how to get through, it might keep the reader going. The days wouldn't be identical to the reader, then, even if they were to him (deja vu).

 

[HareBrain]

I think the first repeat should be OK, as long as the sequence isn't massively long -- the reader will be on the lookout for differences, and interested in the character's reactions. You'd still need to focus on when there are reactions and differences, and you'd need to keep the reactions themselves interesting: they can't all be "ooh, I've seen this before". After the first day, I think you'd need to keep it as brief as possible. So it sounds like you've got the right idea. As with so many of these things, though, you can only prove the pudding by eating it. How many times have we ordered a wonderful-sounding dessert from an Indian resturant menu only to find it much smaller than the photo made it seem, and nowhere near as interesting?

From memory, Groundhog Day managed this aspect pretty well. It would be worth analysing how the director went about it.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

I think with Groundhog day he put in a couple of memorable visuals in it - the yellow coat etc - that acted as prompts. And there was humour, which was important. But the visual prompts let the viewer make the connection to what was happening. For writing, aome nice snappy dialogue might do that.

 

[mosaix]

I am planning to write to first days events up to an including to incident. Then I want to write the first days events again, but with him feeling something is wrong, déjà vu moments and such. He'll need to repeat the first day about four or give times. I don't plan to write the whole days events more than twice.

Since the reader will know what's going to happen. Are they likely to skip over the parts which repeat themselves?

I think that at first the reader will be intrigued with the repetition. But that won't last long and that's when you'll need those 'déjà vu moments' that your character is experiencing to keep the reader interested.

But HareBrain is right - don't make the repeats massively long, just long enough for the story to work.

 

[Boneman]

I'd consider putting the deja-vu feelings in the first episode (which should intrigue) and then we'd see why in the second episode, because in the first one they'd already happened when the space-time continuum thingy expands...

 

[Glitch]

I'd consider putting the deja-vu feelings in the first episode (which should intrigue) and then we'd see why in the second episode, because in the first one they'd already happened when the space-time continuum thingy expands...

Starting from day 2 is intriguing. Hadn't considered it before.

I wasn't planning to make it too long. It's more of an opening.

Some humour is a good idea, but I'm not wanting a comedy.

 

[Boneman]

What I meant was: Day one with Deja vu, and then Day two showing why - that he's gone back in time already, but didn't know it at the time... conundrums are tricksy, especially time ones....

 

[Ursa major]

I'd consider putting the deja-vu feelings in the first episode (which should intrigue)

This.

With a film, in a cinema, a member of the audience can either walk out or stay and watch every second. In a book, the reader can skip about. And if the second episode is identical to the first (save for the absence of feelings of déjà vu), what purpose does it serve? (Apart from potentially increasing the separation of the reader from the PoV character, that is.)

But I suppose it depends whether you only want the reader to see the character trying to come to terms with something the reader knows is happening, or want them to share an experience with the PoV character, at least the first time it happens.

 

[Glitch]

What I meant was: Day one with Deja vu, and then Day two showing why - that he's gone back in time already, but didn't know it at the time... conundrums are tricksy, especially time ones....

He wouldn't have déjà vu in the first day if he hadn't gone back yet

The second day isn't going to be identical to the first, that would be boring to read.

 

[SciFrac]

Glitch, I'm planning a similar plot for book 2 of my series. I decided you have to present every repeating day with something new. The try-fail cycles are important, as well as the stages of grief. Make him react like anybody would and keep the repeating parts small but memorable.

What's your time rule for the repeat? At midnight? If/when he falls asleep?

 

[Boneman]

He wouldn't have déjà vu in the first day if he hadn't gone back yet

The second day isn't going to be identical to the first, that would be boring to read.

But as soon as he has gone back, day one would change, so in going back, day one would already have the deja vu... complicated, time-travel, innit? I think you're right, though, and as long as it's clear he has gone back then day one repeated should work with it's very strangeness. Will the reader be in on the secret, or is that a reveal later?

 

[Glitch]

What's your time rule for the repeat? At midnight? If/when he falls asleep?

When he dies.

 

[Montero]

If you haven't already, I'd recommend reading "Replay"

Replay by Ken Grimwood

Which was the inspiration for Groundhog Day (or so I understand).

See how it is done in print. (Though the time periods are longer than a day.)

Recommend reading it anyway as it were - good book.

 

[WIEganson]

I would not repeat passages verbatim. Even if the period of time repeats exactly each time, the way they are experienced will not necessarily be identical.

Consider this real-world situation - have you ever watched a movie more than once, and did you notice something new each time? I do, which is why I like watching some movies over and over again.

If, in each repeat, you describe differing aspects or details, the reader probably will stick around.