Confusing Time Jumps

[Cli-Fi]

How do you guys work in time jumps? In my WIP I just let them happen and then later describe events that just happened in the past. Since there are no real definitive years that my story takes place, especially in the future-world this seems to be the best course of action in my case.

 

[J Riff]

Since reall time travel is impossible, get around it any way you can! It worked for many SF writers. There are a lot of time travel concepts in EC comics of the 50s, its hard to think of one they didn't explore.

 

[R.T James]

You mean time jumps as in Physical time travel or as in the story goes from one event which happened NOW to one which happened a little bit ago and then goes to the future? Or suddenly we are in the future, but now the past, and then we're in the present to explain what happened in the future..



Because one can be explained with mechanics of the story. The other one relies on you story mechanics.

Unless you're writing a story about Mechanics. Then we're just being silly here.

Not sure what you mean... It kind of changes everything depending on what you mean. Do you mean weird jump cuts or Doctor Who bs? Or do you mean both!

 

[Cli-Fi]

You mean time jumps as in Physical time travel or as in the story goes from one event which happened NOW to one which happened a little bit ago and then goes to the future? Or suddenly we are in the future, but now the past, and then we're in the present to explain what happened in the future..

Actually now that you mention it. My story has both. Physical time travel, and time jumps. Although most time jumps are the result of one character time travelling to that particular point in time, only to be revealed later in the chapter that they had time traveled there.

 

[J Riff]

Danger, paradoxes ahead; no problem, just use multiple universes/dimensions if anyone asks questions... * )

 

[Cli-Fi]

Danger, paradoxes ahead; no problem, just use multiple universes/dimensions if anyone asks questions... * )

Yeah, that type of thing you just mentioned? It's the entire central conflict of my novel. How do they figure out if a paradox is happening already despite the fact that the society tries their best not to create them.

 

[J Riff]

Then come the 'time cops' and you are Terminated! And you can't take clothing thru a time jump, usually, so there's a chance for some fun. )

 

[Cathbad]

It's arguments over the science of sci-fi - by fans and writers - that keeps the genre out of my top-two favorites.

 

[Cli-Fi]

It's arguments over the science of sci-fi - by fans and writers - that keeps the genre out of my top-two favorites.

Maybe I can persuade you @Cathbad. My first draft should be done shortly. Maybe by end of October. As I finish it, I'll be posting another critique here in a couple of weeks probably.

Basically no one is doing what I am doing with the genre so I hope that's a selling point.

 

[Cli-Fi]

Then come the 'time cops' and you are Terminated! And you can't take clothing thru a time jump, usually, so there's a chance for some fun. )

Oh yeah, my main characters pretty much invents the time cop department in my story.

 

[Cathbad]

Maybe I can persuade you @Cathbad. My first draft should be done shortly. Maybe by end of October. As I finish it, I'll be posting another critique here in a couple of weeks probably.

Basically no one is doing what I am doing with the genre so I hope that's a selling point.

I like discussing the books I read. But I don't read fiction to learn science. When I've wanted that, I've went to the library and checked out appropriate sciences books.

Fiction should be enjoyed - not debated over because of it's lack or plethora of real-world science.

 

[Cli-Fi]

I like discussing the books I read. But I don't read fiction to learn science. When I've wanted that, I've went to the library and checked out appropriate sciences books.

Fiction should be enjoyed - not debated over because of it's lack or plethora of real-world science.

The philosophy in my world is that time travel just works. There is no science. It's all been figured out. Time machines are like iPhones. Everyone has one and the larger plot has to do with everyone searching for ancient paradoxes started by the first time travelers in a cosmic war to fulfill an ancient prophecy. So it's kinda like Star Trek mixed with Romeo and Juliet with the scope of LOTR. I have written timelines and histories about the world I created. This has taken me nearly ten years to develop

 

[Cathbad]

The philosophy in my world is that time travel just works. There is no science. It's all been figured out. Time machines are like iPhones. Everyone has one

I think of it like magic in fantasy: The author needs to know how things work: As a reader, I could care less, as long as there is consistency.

 

[Cli-Fi]

I think of it like magic in fantasy: The author needs to know how things work: As a reader, I could care less, as long as there is consistency.

Yeah that's why I have trouble calling it sci-fi. I may not once all the is are dotted and ts are crossed. Is there such a thing as cyberpunk fantasy? hmm.

 

[Cathbad]

Yeah that's why I have trouble calling it sci-fi. I may not once all the is are dotted and ts are crossed. Is there such a thing as cyberpunk fantasy? hmm.

Fantasy is wide-ranging. I couldn't imagine there not being "cyberpunk fantasy".

 

[DelActivisto]

I like discussing the books I read. But I don't read fiction to learn science. When I've wanted that, I've went to the library and checked out appropriate sciences books.

Fiction should be enjoyed - not debated over because of it's lack or plethora of real-world science.

Probably so, but one of the tenets of science fiction is that is explores possible new technologies, and in order to do that, we have to know how existing tech works. Or we explore how science effects society. Look at what a radical influence the smartphone has made on society. Now everyone wanders around tapping a magic screen all day long. That's so cool!

 

[Cathbad]

explores possible new technologies, and in order to do that, we have to know how existing tech works.

This I'll have to respectfully disagree with. The knowledge of "how" wouldn't often affect the story - though the explanation can affect it - negatively.

Or we explore how science effects society.

Now this I can agree with!

Look at what a radical influence the smartphone has made on society.

And yet, I don't recall a single story (including Dick Tracy) that discussed the science behind this technology!

 

[DelActivisto]

This I'll have to respectfully disagree with. The knowledge of "how" wouldn't often affect the story - though the explanation can affect it - negatively.




Now this I can agree with!




And yet, I don't recall a single story (including Dick Tracy) that discussed the science behind this technology!

It probably depends on where one falls on the reality-fantasy spectrum. Some stories have very "soft" magic systems. Anything can happen, rules are either absent or simply not explained at all. Harry Potter uses a pretty soft magic system. There's no real explanation for why the phoenix bursts into fire, or how a bird could survive exploding. No real explanation for why a tree is cantankerous and likes smashing things. The magic is LotR is also quite soft, there's no real explanation for why the wizard's staff does or does not do stuff.

Contrast that with Robert Jordan, who establishes a very firm legion of rules that the magic system obeys through most if not all of the story. So probably people who prefer more of a soft magic system might like science fiction less, since often it goes in depth into technical and scientific aspects of things.

 

[Cathbad]

Contrast that with Robert Jordan, who establishes a very firm legion of rules that the magic system obeys through most if not all of the story. So probably people who prefer more of a soft magic system might like science fiction less, since often it goes in depth into technical and scientific aspects of things.

Okay, I realize that I just said I don't want explanations, but...

Jordan gets away with it because he makes the explanations come naturally. Of course she has to explain that to her! Jordan was windy, but he could write.

 

[DelActivisto]

Okay, I realize that I just said I don't want explanations, but...

Jordan gets away with it because he makes the explanations come naturally. Of course she has to explain that to her! Jordan was windy, but he could write.

Yeah. The descriptions always seem to push the plot forward somehow, even when you can't see it. Heck... I lose track of words I just invented on the last page. "What did I just call those people? Crap, I offend my own story."

Another interesting thing that seems to be causing more magic systems with rules... this is just my conjecture, but maybe it has to do with a society that is gradually becoming more scientifically aware, and less superstitious. (An interesting corollary is that flat-earthers are also gaining traction. Maybe people just have to deny reality in some way; it doesn't matter how.)