Alex Davis explores one of sci-fi’s most problematic concepts
OO ne of science-fiction’s most fascinating and enduring tropes has always been that of time travel. The concept that we could leap forwards or backwards in the chronology opens up an almost unlimited number of story possibilities. I remember my younger self reading Ray Bradbury’s A Sound of Thunder and being fascinated with the idea even then, that tiny changes in the dim and distant past could bring deep and unpleasant consequences to the present.
With all that in mind, to say that writing about time travel is easy would be a pretty wild claim – scientists have long speculated about whether the idea could ever emerge into reality, and many theoretical discussions have occurred over the years. And if you’re plotting to have your characters navigating timelines to be or gone by, here are a few tips to help you plot your path.
Plotting is pivotal
And on that topic, the old ‘plotter vs pantster’ debate arises once again. Of course neither is intrinsically better than the other, and a writer would ideally aim to go with whatever works best for them. But there are certain genres and types of stories where plotting takes on more importance, and something with the complexity of time travel would fit that bill. With the possibility of numerous timelines and constant changes to manage, developing a strong idea of what’s going to happen in the story first takes on paramount importance. ‘Pantsing’ is liable to lead to troubles in terms of story structure and consistency later into the piece – taking the chance to lay it all out first will be time well spent.
Research vs worldbuilding
Depending which direction your story is headed – are we going forwards in time, or backwards, or both? – these things will take on great importance. Any historical writer will tell you just how important it is to do your research to capture the time period really accurately, and if you are spending any considerable time in the past in your tale it needs to be well realised. Equally if you are considering going forward in time, that old SF theme of worldbuilding comes to the fore – that world needs to feel as real and consistent and believable as anything set within the present day. The more you leap around in the chronology, the more work you are liable to create on both fronts. Don’t let that put you off, but certainly do be aware of it from the early stages of your story.
Get the mechanism right
If you’re a fan of sci-fi, you’ll be aware that there are many ways that writers and directors have transported their char
