Handling Flashbacks

[Michael]

I'm working on the second novel of my Galaxy Series. There are three distinct plot threads that occur anywhere from six years to eighteen years after the first book in the series. In one plot thread, two of the characters are reminiscing back through the years. I have them talking together and then one of them will flashback mentally to a scene. Throughout these vignettes of remembrance, I bring them closer and closer to the present day (year 18 from the beginning of the series).

My concern is how I make sure that I handle the back-and-forth of flashbacks to modern day without losing or confusing the reader. I want to be effective without using pedestrian techniques (e.g. "Meanwhile, back at the ranch...") I had considered putting the flashback in italics, but these flashbacks can last for many pages, and I think it would look improper to italicize that much at one time.

I'd appreciate any advice from readers/writers as to how they have seen/used effective techniques for handling flashbacks that are done from the perspective of someone reminiscing about the past.

Thanks!

[Zee]

I have used flashbacks in one of my books, and these happened mainly through dreams and I used italics.

You could have something like "6 years earlier..." in italics at the start of the scene, have the flashback in regular font, then new scene when it returns to the present and you start with "Present day..." and then continue.

That's what I would suggest you as an editor. Still, I haven't seen your work so this might not be best, but based on what you've mentioned, I'd go for this technique.

[Dwayne]

Italics would be fine, I think, even if it lasts a few pages.

You could head each section with a date.

You could start the flashbacks with something like, "Billy Bob remembered what it was like all those years ago when..." and end with something like, "...as the memory faded, Billy Bob realized someone had a knife to his neck."

Depending on the piece, a lot of times I go with something subtle for a flashback. "The last time this happened, I/he/she..." and end with something like, "...Things had changed since then." Or, "Back in 1987..." / "Presently..."

[Shomeret]

If you're writing your novel in chapters, you could start a new chapter with each flashback and specify the time period after the chapter heading. I have seen this work in many books when flashbacks are lengthy.

[Michael]

Shomeret wrote: "If you're writing your novel in chapters, you could start a new chapter with each flashback and specify the time period after the chapter heading. I have seen this work in many books when flashback..."

Thanks, Shomeret. This was one of my first ideas for separating plot thread timing, but eventually the construction required timing changes even within the chapter. I do separate sections by ellipses (...) so it might work on a section-by-section basis, as Zee suggested above too:

Zee wrote: "You could have something like "6 years earlier..." in italics at the start of the scene, have the flashback in regular font, then new scene when it returns to the present and you start with "Present day..." and then continue..."

I also like Dwayne's comments about using contextual breadcrumbs within the text:

Dwayne wrote: "Billy Bob remembered what it was like all those years ago when..." and end with something like, "...as the memory faded, Billy Bob realized someone had a knife to his neck."...

You guys have given me good food for thought. Now to execute and see what the betas/editor think. I'm still up for other ideas too if anyone has more suggestions.

Thanks!

[N.B.]

I've seen authors change tenses, so that if the novel is written in the present tense, the flashbacks will be in the past and visaversa. You can use phrases such as, "He was transported back to a time (insert number) years ago when etc". That's a ploy I've used in my own work. Another thing is to do a scene break before the flashback, and maybe mention the date and location it took place. Hope that helps.

[Justin]

I use flashbacks but usually I give them their own chapter. While the book is set in a certain time I use flashbacks to answer any plot holes or go back to give the reader a sense of how things have built up to the present situation.