Do you guys come up with a story time line when you're writing, or do you write the story chronologically?

For those who do make a time line, what do you use?

I mostly do everything in sequence. Unless I am stuck at that scene, then I would jump to another scene.
So far, I didn't use a proper time line format for my stories.

BUT! Currently, I have this intense multiple fighting scene that I kinda get lost while writing it. So I plan to have a timeline. Just to see which ones happen concurrently. My intention is to be able to have a 'cue' leading to another fighting scene and to another.

The story I'm working on is a series of small stories that fit together. And I just want to make sure that if they're fixing a thing in one chapter, it's not unfixed in the future ones.

Sounds like a planner type story. XD
There are a few ways of time line planning. It all depends on how it fits your context.
There are programs of time line as well. Or you can use excel too.

I have a few half story lines put together, but I know most of it will be post writing edits to make sure things flow properly.

I kept reading the title wrong and it confused me! XD I read storytime lines. Not story timelines.

I normally don't do it. For my last novel though, I scribbled one down on paper, mostly to help pick their current age and what age they would be at certain events. I wanted to see the three characters on the same line. Everything was super basic and color coded with different colored pencils.

Sometimes I think it works better to edit after rather than over plan at the beginning if you've got a lot of puzzle pieces that need to fit together perfectly.

... What is Storytime Lines?

Confusing. :P

I see. Kat that's a neat idea with colored pencils. I'll have to remember that.

Originally Posted by xuvrette

... What is Storytime Lines?

I have no idea. That's why I was confused. XD

Yeah, I figured it would be less confusing with different colors. I marked out the length of their story arc too just to make sure I didn't plan all the climax moments at the same time. Since yeah, should pace that crazy emotional stuff.

There's another great idea. I keep putting off working on different parts of my story because of all the feels. I wrote the last few sentences of a chapter before I finished fleshing the whole chapter out, because I didn't want to forget them, but now I don't want to write the chapter. :<

Just write it!

But my poor story babies!! D: I've been putting off certain parts because of how depressing they are. I know I should just take a JRRMartin approach and relish in their pain, but it makes me sad.

Then relish in the tears you shed, knowing you can do that to the reader too and they'll love you for it!

I guess. it is entirely my fault for writing them as tragic. Cant have a world of sunshine and daisies when it can be a world of rainstorms and death.

Well yeah. It's hardly a story if it's all sunshine.