All stories move through time, from now to later; otherwise they would simply be descriptions or endless interiority. Since time is part of every story how can we use it purposefully––that is, to help us tell the story in the strongest possible way? Using concrete examples and specific strategies, this webinar will explore:

• various ways to structure time in your novel
• the difference between backstory and flashback, as well as different types of flashback
• when and why the past might interrupt the forward-moving story; the test of necessity. (Why now?)
• how to use triggers and portals to enter and exit a time-shift so it feels natural to the reader
• how to make smart decisions about withholding or revealing information about the past

Be prepared to come away with a clear understanding and a host of tools!

Barbara Linn Probst is an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author of contemporary women's fiction living on a historic dirt road in New York's Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton Award for Women's Fiction and the Nautilus Book Award. The Sound Between the Notes was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has published nearly 60 essays on he craft of writing for sites such as Jane Friedman and Writer Unboxed. Her highly anticipated third novel, The Color of Ice, will be released on October 18. Learn more at www.barbaralinnprobst.com