My Thoughts on Linear Vs. Non-linear Plot Structure
21 Thursday Aug 2014
Written by susanfinlay
When I first began writing novels, an editor-friend told me my writing was too linear. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I had some ideas. Now, many years later, and after writing four novels, I have a much better grip on the differences.
As I understand it, all plots are linear, but the way they are structured can be linear or non-linear. In linear writing, the plot structure moves from point-A to point-B to point-C to point-D, and without flashbacks. The storyline tends to be more plot-driven than character-driven, meaning the main characters could be replaced by different characters without much, if any, changes to the story.
In non-linear writing, the plot structure can bounce around, maybe with flashbacks, dream sequences, and/or scene switches with point-of-view switches, as when a plot has multiple storyline progressions that jump back and forth. It may include foreshadowing, and will most likely have character memories, emotions, and personalities that affect the direction of the story. If the main characters were replaced with other characters, the story would go off in a different direction. You would have a different story altogether. The story tends to be more character-driven.
Also with non-linear writing, you might start out at the end, for instance at a funeral, and then go back to the beginning and tell the story of what happened, or in other words starting with point-D, then going to point-A, point-B, and point-C. In other stories, such as in the movie Groundhog Day, the same day keeps getting repeated but with different outcomes each time because the character is changing/evolving.
I don’t know if a writer’s genre plays a role in whether they write linear or non-linear structure, but I know that I now write non-linear structure. I also don’t know if that’s necessarily good–for all I know it may be too confusing. But I find myself drawn to that type of story nonetheless.
14 Comments
elizabethbuhmann said:
August 21, 2014 at 1:45 pm
Nice post, Susan! Interesting. Non-linear, always, for me. I can’t write in a straight line.
Susan Finlay said:
August 21, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Thanks, Elizabeth. I don’t think I can write in a straight line anymore, either.
amberskyef said:
August 21, 2014 at 1:50 pm
Reblogged this on Amber Skye Forbes and commented:
Insightful article.
glennmullerwp said:
August 21, 2014 at 7:47 pm
Non-linear keeps things interesting by “mixing it up” but- as with anything – moderation is the key.
Susan Finlay said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:20 pm
I agree, Glenn.
Fran Macilvey said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:08 pm
I think it does depend on genre, just a bit, and on personal preferences. I suspect that if a friend told me my writing was ‘too whatnot’, I might agree with them, if that is what I already suspected. Otherwise, their observation would be interesting, even helpful, but not necessarily something that would change my style….unless five other people maybe then said the same thing….These ideas take a while to percolate, don’t they! xxx
Susan Finlay said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:21 pm
You’re absolutely right, Fran. It’s all a matter of preference.
gwpj said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:12 pm
I’m a non-linear writer myself, preferring character driven stories to ones driven step by step by a plot. Your post clarified it for me. 🙂
Susan Finlay said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:22 pm
Thanks, George.
theowllady said:
August 21, 2014 at 8:35 pm
Reblogged this on theowlladyblog.
gail Korbel said:
August 22, 2014 at 10:49 pm
Are you kidding me? In Freshmen English they learn “non-linear” plot structur.
Susan Finlay said:
August 22, 2014 at 10:58 pm
They sure didn’t teach that when I was in school. Of course that was many years ago. In fact, they didn’t teach creating writing in my school, except for a short segment on poetry. I had to learn it all by myself.
jbwye said:
August 25, 2014 at 8:14 am
What an interesting blog, Susan! Now I know the technical words for what I’ve been writing all this time!
Susan Finlay said:
August 25, 2014 at 11:41 am
Thanks, Jane!