Index Cards

I've decided that I need index cards. Preferably in different colors, because I'd like each color to represent a single plotline, or perhaps a time period - not sure yet. (Both? It'd be nice to have different related colors for each timeline... light and dark blue, light and dark green, etc.)

The idea is to map out the chronology. Step one is to put everything in chronological order by plotline. Next, shuffle the plotlines among each other so that their relative chronology is set. Some of these scenes will actually be the same scenes, and in those cases, I'll have to decide on which POV to use. For some, the chronology isn't really set, so I'll intersperse them where it feels good to do so.

But I can't forget that my timeline doubles back on itself. So once I'm done with that, it's time to set the two timelines side by side and integrate them again. It's an important note to remember that no matter what my timeline does, chronologically speaking, the reader is learning all these things linearly, one scene, one page, one word after the other.

When this is done, I want to tape my cards together so that they fold up in a big stack. As I write, I can check them off, note which chapter is which. If I need to rearrange or add or splice, I'll do with scissors and tape.

I'm looking forward tpo having this writing aid next to me. I think it will work very well, once it's finished.

My goal is to accomplish this tomorrow (Saturday) and begin to write on Sunday. I think that's totally doable. I just have to do it.