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What's it called.

  • 30-03-2017 04:18PM
    #1
    Firblog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,273 ✭✭✭


    Young fella is starting to write, and has asked me what the name of this is.

    lets say the story takes place over 5 days; he starts his story with what happens on day five then after that goes to day 1.

    What he has written about day five is not the prologue or epilogue, he wants to know what is it called?

    Cheers


Comments

  • #2
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    It starts with the present, and then goes into flashback.

    :)


  • #3
    Firblog
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,273 ✭✭✭Firblog


    Aye, but he reckons there's a specific name for that type of beginning, not prelude, or epilogue.. something else, i've suggested that it's called the start but he's not having it..:rolleyes:


  • #4
    JackTaylorFan
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,452 ✭✭✭JackTaylorFan


    Non-linear narrative?


  • #5
    Livvie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 714 ✭✭✭Livvie


    If it begins with the end, it can't be the start, can it?

    Why not call it 'The Effect' and put the following four days under the title 'The Cause'.

    If you're looking for a word other than Prologue, what about Preface, Foreword or Prelude? Or would Flashback work?

    Edit: I see you already dismissed Prelude


  • #6
    alchemist33
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,969 ✭✭✭✭alchemist33


    If its just the start of the story, call it chapter 1. Epilogues and prologues should serve more of a purpose other than being the beginning and end of a story and should be distinct e.g. big jumps in time, characters you don't see elsewhere. Which is why many don't like them.


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  • #7
    km85264
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 146 ✭✭km85264


    My advice to a young writer would be try to tell a good story instead of focussing too much on clever twists. While a mechanism like this can be wonderful when done well, newer writers have a tendency to focus on the clever bits at the expense of compelling characters, plot, tension, pace etc. If he's good enough to tell a story in reverse and keep all these elements in the story, it really doesn't matter what he calls it. The fact he's asking about it suggests he doesn't have a strong sense of how to build a story like this.


  • #8
    Das Kitty
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 17,231 Mod ✭✭✭✭Das Kitty


    km85264 wrote: »
    The fact he's asking about it suggests he doesn't have a strong sense of how to build a story like this.

    Quite the leap.

    The most important thing for newer writers is to write however they want to write, and do as much of it as they can. Whatever method appeals most is the one they should choose. Practice [and willingness to write drivel :)] is what makes a good writer.

    Curiosity about the names of techniques only shows that the person is actively interested in learning.


  • #9
    redser7
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,730 ✭✭✭redser7


    Reverse chronology.


  • #10
    km85264
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 146 ✭✭km85264


    Das Kitty wrote: »
    Quite the leap.

    The most important thing for newer writers is to write however they want to write, and do as much of it as they can. Whatever method appeals most is the one they should choose. Practice [and willingness to write drivel :)] is what makes a good writer.

    Curiosity about the names of techniques only shows that the person is actively interested in learning.

    Yeah, I see what you're saying and I'm not disagreeing. However, I spent twenty years writing in a vacuum, failing to learn from people with more experience than me and ultimately writing stuff that was frustratingly poor when I went back to read it after.

    Of course, I enjoyed the writing experience as I was doing it, which vindicates the "write what you like as long as you're excited by it" approach. Doesn't mean to say we shouldn't give guidance though. :)


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