#non-linear narrative

[wangxianficrecs]

💙 foliage by antebunny

💙 foliage

by antebunny (@antebunny)

G, 7k, Wangxian

Summary: Wei Wuxian surrenders in Nightless City. Jin Guangshan, knowing that he's coreless and weaponless, organizes a night hunt with 1,000 Jin disciples where Wei Wuxian is the prey. He shouldn't have underestimated Wei Wuxian. Kay's comments: This is the most BAMF Wei Wuxian story out there and I absolutely adore it. He surrenders and has to fight 1000 Jin disciples an then he comes out on top and vanishes. In the meantime, the world changes. The non-linear narrative worked really well in this story and I loved the shifts in perspective as you learn more about what happened after Wei Wuxian surrendered and why he surrendered. There's a second part too, about his return. Excerpt: “A-Xian, please…stop. Just stop,” Jiang Yanli begs, spending the last of her breath gasping out a barely coherent sentence to her little brother. “Okay,” Wei Wuxian says, desperate as always to make her happy. “Okay. If that’s what you want.” He raises his flute to his lips, calming the fierce corpses currently rampaging around Nightless City. Jiang Yanli feels the world going blurry, but forces herself to focus for her brother. Wei Wuxian gently picks her up and passes her to Jiang Cheng, who came running over as soon as he heard her. “A-Yuan,” he says to Jiang Cheng urgently. “Please, Jiang Cheng, A-Yuan–he’s just a child.” Then he backs away, hands at his side, and turns to face the assembled cultivators. “Wei Wuxian!” The sharp voice of Sect Leader Nie. “What is this? Are you surrendering?” Wei Wuxian looks back, once, at Jiang Yanli. No, she wants to say, don’t do it. A-Xian, I came to tell you that I don’t blame you. I know it’s not your fault. I know you would never. Don’t surrender to them, A-Xian, there’s something rotten in the heart of Jinlintai and they’re not interested in justice. But she can’t. She’s losing consciousness in her brother’s arms, and she can do nothing but watch as Wei Wuxian looks away with resolve on his face. She’s never hated herself more for being weak.

pov alternating, non-linear narrative, canon divergence, somebody lives/not everybody dies, angst, hurt/comfort, angst with a happy ending, jiang yanli lives, bamf wei wuxian

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[greenhousethree]

twenty-two

That year, the seventh month dies on a Wednesday and they leave town.

for dearest @turanga4, if a little belated. thank you for being so wonderfully you.

preview below the cut, full piece on AO3:

It has them both feeling like kids again, like sneaking out— stuffing his rucksack with shorts and sun cream after work in the dead of night, rolling the top to force it closed around a broken drawstring. By the time he’s shouldering the bag she checks her watch and it’s gone midnight. Twelve minutes into the thirty-first.

She doesn’t acknowledge it, but now he’s looking at her with his brow furrowed and a question forming on his mouth. She kisses it away, sweet and nutty from leftover Thai. Takes his hand from her hip, locks the flat behind them. She’s thinking they just might Apparate somewhere way out west this time— Charlie says California’s beautiful— they could nudge right up to where yesterday’s only half gone, buy him another day before he’s older than his parents ever got to be.

But they won’t. 

He leads the way down the steps and around the corner. There’s hardly a breeze, but the night is cool on the back of her neck as the street slumbers under orange lamplight. A block away, back doors of pubs are clanging open for closing staff, bin bags thrown in the skips, keys and change jangling en route to bus stops. The light over the mouth of their usual alleyway is burnt out, so they slip into the dark.

He’s looking at her now, tugging her close till she can smell the soap and linen from his shower, something a little richer in the crook of his neck like the cologne on his top shelf. He’s motionless, concentrating— it’s always like this for a second before Apparating so far. Last week for a laugh she offered to book a Portkey this time instead, something about him getting on in years. Earned herself a spatter of marinara flicked from a spoon.

“I can do it,” she offers now. She’s already picturing cobblestones and stucco and a blue door.

“S’fine,” he murmurs into her hair.

He twists, and for a long moment they’re somewhere between here and there.

[gallavichfanficlibrary]

any recs for fics with unique formats/elements (non-linear narrative, second pov, epistolary, etc) and fics with flowery language / good prose ? hope this makes sense lol

thanks for the work you do on the blog, i hope you have a great day!

Hi, this is a very interesting ask! We love unusual elements in stories and tried to put together some very different examples. Hope you have a great day too and happy reading 💕📖

what the night does to the day - Ian and Mickey have been best friends since childhood. Sometimes things just fit together perfectly.

Thicker Than Forget - Ian is a poet. Mickey is his recently-corporal muse. They eat an absurd amount of stupidly named ice cream, try to find beauty in things, and fall hopelessly in love.

Suncatcher - He grins. “Maybe, but you still wanna find out if it’s true.”

Unsent - Five emails that sit in drafts for over a year. One reply.

and all the moments in between - When people look back at the past, they're only seeing the standout moments, never the whole fucking picture.

a lot like love - Ian wants more than what Mickey is offering. Mickey doesn’t believe he deserves to be loved.

Minutes - A moment of life post S5, canon divergent.

There is no me (without you) - An exploration of Ian and Mickey's respective insecurities and past trauma as we follow them through a tough couple of weeks as newlyweds.

the sun, chasing the moon - Ian waits for Mickey.

The Art of Maintaining Moral Ambiguity - AU in which Mickey was raised in a shitty New Jersey beach town and Ian just wanted to see the ocean.

Postcards From Mexico - Everyone likes getting postcards.

Chapter 8: Hey Mick - A letter from Ian to Mickey in juvie (set between seasons 1 and 2).

The Buzz Under His Skin - Ian's manic thoughts, set in early S4 after he runs away.

[havin-fun-imagining-twd]

hi i just found your account and i want to read the slowpoke series but it feels a little daunting. would you be willing to make a masterlist thats chronological order? if you have already could you direct me to it?

Hi new friend, welcome to the (still a work-in-progress) Slowpoke Series!

Some of the stories are meant to be read out of order due to references, in which case starting from the top of the Masterlist and working your way on down would be the way to go because those are listed in order of publishing. The includes the first story 'Slowpoke' and second story 'Deal' that take place some time apart.

Non linear isn't everyone's cup of tea, though :)

Here's the list in order of when stuff happens chronologically so far in what's been published:

Quarter! S01, GN

How’s your head? Part 1 S01, F

How’s your head? Part 2 S01, F

The Chicken Swim S01, FI

“Deserved” Part 1 S01, GN

“Deserved” Part 2 S01, GN

It’s not the end of the wor - oh. S01, FI/GN

That mangy hick!   S01, GN

Southern Comfort, a Wii, and a big bowl of spaghetti.  S01, GN

Dead-end?   S01, GN

There’s also a bar.  S01, GN

Like a traditional Sunday dinner  S01, GN

Too much thinking before bed, Part 1  S01, GN

Too much thinking before bed, Part 2  S01, GN

Ain’t nothing...   S01, GN

Hell of a day  S01, GN

douche car.  Pre-S02, F

...but 'dirtbag car’ if the kids are listening  Pre-S02, F

Two idiots   Pre-S02, GN

What’s worth going postal  Pre-S02, GN

Bad things happen*  S02, GN

*in threes   S02, GN

Just one scrap, Part 1  S02, GN

Just one scrap, Part 2  S02, GN

Yesterday was rough S02, GN

White lies. S02, GN

It was a pragmatic cigarette   S02, GN

What were your nightmares about?  S02, FI

Better with a friend  S02, F/GN

Picking a flower = saving the day S02, F/GN

A cause for concern  S02, GN  

Oh my.  S02,  GN/FI

A mighty good team  S02, GN/FI 

A measure of reverence, Part 1   S02, F

A measure of reverence, Part 2  S02, F

souls stripped bare  S02, F

Invisible, tugging strings, Part 1 S02, GN

Invisible, tugging strings, Part 2 S02, GN

Spell your last name, please. S02, GN

He hasn't been himself S02, GN

Scary as a sleepy kitten S02, GN

"fondness" LOL S02, GN

Thank you, angel... S02, GN

Redemption Arcs S02, GN

That was it. S02, F

Stuck in a damn bed. S02, F

Shame on a plate S02, GN <- new one!

Slowpoke  Pre-S03, GN

A fu---n’ great Christmas  Pre-S03, GN

The first Christmas “without,” Part 1  Pre S03, GN

The first Christmas “without,” Part 2  Pre S03, GN

I don't hate you Pre S03, GN

Deal  S03, GN

Happy 8th of July!  Pre-S04, GN

Every step.  S05, F

The Interview (story line no longer in limbo)   S05, F

After the interview   S05, F

Still beating Pre S09, F

The best kind of damn weird   Pre-S09, F

[h4t08]

I just posted a new Margo-centric fic because she is so amazing and I’m not over FAM.

[lori0018]

What I would do for you

Three things Kim would do for Chay and the one thing Chay did for Kim

This was written as part of the Kindergarten Mafia Secret Santa exchange for the lovely penguininpink.

[lawrencegordons]

and i danced myself to death by flwergardens

Steve and Jonathan were friends, once.

Drunk and emotional, Steve shows up on Jonathan's doorstep, trying to make amends for their childhood.

[sociallyawkwardfoxwriter]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Relationships: Orym/Dorian Storm, Orym/Will | Orym's Spouse (Critical Role) Characters: Orym (Critical Role), Dorian Storm, Will | Orym's Spouse (Critical Role), Derrig (Critical Role), Maeve (Critical Role), Orym's Mom (Critical Role) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Canon, linear narrative, Non-Linear Narrative, Flashbacks, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Getting Together, Childhood Memories, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, First Meetings, Blood, Loss, Anxiety, Panic, Injury, Self-Doubt, Relationship Discussions, Cuddling & Snuggling, Established Relationship, Implied/Referenced Sex

Summary: Although he heard the words before, there were differences. Differences in how they said them and why and when. He cherished the memories of both. He loved them both. Different, yet the same. Fully, completely, unendingly. His greatest loves.

Chapter Preview

Even though he knew Fresh Cut Grass and Fearne had a few more heals in them, he powered through the pain of his partially broken and incredibly bruised ribs. The deep cut across his calf only pulled a bit with each step and the headache from getting thrown into a thick tree barely lingered at the back of his skull. For the most part, he was doing fine, and bothering them for a little more healing when they were probably exhausted and others needed it more seemed selfish. They had only agreed to go a little further to put some distance between themselves and the chaos that likely drew a lot of attention. He could go a little further.

As the pain started to dance along the edge of unbearable, the others found a suitable spot to hide away for a night of much needed rest. While everyone else chatted in the background, Orym used the last of his energy to pull a blanket free of his pack and drop onto the ground. He forced down the first rations he managed to get free of his belongings, then carefully tipped to rest on his less injuried side. Most of his body hurt in some capacity, but he knew it would be better in the morning. He could handle a rough night.

[elitheaceofalltrades]

Of Women and Salt - Book Review

⭐:4

Gabriela Garcia's debut novel, Of Women and Salt is a beautifully written story told from multiple point of views over the course of five generations. Of Women and Salt takes us through the hardships of war, revolution, domestic violence, addiction and immigration from a fully female and mainly maternal perspective. The novel highlights the quiet strengths of women, of mothers, of enduring hardships and wishing better for y our children and the complexity of mother-daughter relationships burdened by intergenerational trauma. It is a very realistic book in that, while a work of fiction, it could be the lifestory of anyone you pass on the street. While it does not exactly have a happy ending, it does have a hopeful one that I think fitted the themes of strength and resillience excellently. My only issue with this book was a formatting one. I don't mind it being non-linear mainly due to the fact that the different years tended to be told from different perspectives. The chapters themselves were non-linear but each character's story was linear (e.g. if chapters 1, 5 and 7 were all told by the same character they were in chronological order) which made it easier to follow. However about halfway through at least one character's chapters became non-linear (i.e. chapters x, y and z were no longer chronological) and it was difficult to maintain the timeline in my head. I had to go back more than once and check dates so I could fit events correctly into the timeline in my head.

~Eli

Ace of All Trades, Pro at None😆

Buy me a coffee

[allnovellas]

Mastering Time: Handling Time and Chronology in Your Story

Time, as it’s often said, waits for no one. In the realm of storytelling, however, writers have the power to manipulate time and chronology, bending it to serve the needs of their narratives. From linear timelines to the use of flashbacks, flash-forwards, and non-linear plots, the way you handle time can significantly shape your story’s pacing, suspense, and emotional depth. This guide dives into…

[wangxianficrecs]

After the Drought by Aki_no_hikari

After the Drought

by Aki_no_hikari (@akinohikari)

Gen, 4k, Wangxian

Summary: Point of divergence: chapter75, lwj stays to eat that night… and seeing that they need him, he stays the next day and the next... Driven by feelings and morals, Lan Wangji leaves the Cloud Recesses and his family behind. Fourteen years of hardship later, he comes back as a father and leader. Kay's comments: A sweet canon-divergence story, in which Lan Wangji stays in Yiling with Wei Wuxian and the Wens. A very soft story with a non-linear narrative focussing on what happened then and what is happening now, 14 years later, during Lan Wangji's first visit back to the Cloud Recesses. Excerpt: As soon as they step in, his uncle stands up and looks at him with a closed off expression. Lan Zhan clasps his hands and bows. “Good afternoon, uncle. I am glad to see you in good health.” “Straighten up.” His voice is rougher than he remembers and as he straightens once again he studies his uncle’s face. He still looks much the same, but there are subtle differences that mark the passage of time, small wrinkles around his eyes and a handful of white hairs upon his head and beard. His uncle is doing the same, staring at Lan Zhan’s face as if he were a particularly difficult question.

pov lan wangji, canon divergence, non-linear narrative, wei wuxian creates a sect, yiling wei sect, wei yuan, family feels, happy ending, married lan wangji/wei wuxian, everybody lives, fix-it

~*~

(Please REBLOG as a signal boost for this hard-working author if you like – or think others might like – this story.)

[kunthug]

ayye bet, love to see connections and claim a lineage of tradition even tho i didn't know derek walcott's omeros before writing perfekt trans~

Unlike a conventional epic poem, Walcott divides the narrative between his characters and his own voice so that his epic has no main protagonist or "hero”. Moreover, his narrative does not follow a clear, linear path. Instead, Walcott jumps around in time and from character to character without much concern for narrative plotting. These tendencies, combined with Walcott's insertion of himself into the poem, as well as his commentary on his characters as fictional creations, make the poem a postmodernist epic.

omeros, Derek Walcott.

:: my box of lyric poems and essays here. ::

[havin-fun-imagining-twd]

@r0reep I’d read them top to bottom. The oldest are on top, newest on the bottom. There is some non-linear storytelling to the chapters but that was done on purpose :)

Welcome to the party, slowpoke, we hope you enjoy your time here!

[naturecalls111]

[valartsstuff]

⚠️Blood!⚠️

Left -> right

[sociallyawkwardfoxwriter]

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply Category: M/M Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series) Relationships: Orym/Dorian Storm, Orym/Will | Orym's Spouse (Critical Role) Characters: Orym (Critical Role), Dorian Storm, Will | Orym's Spouse (Critical Role), Derrig (Critical Role), Maeve (Critical Role), Orym's Mom (Critical Role) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Pre-Canon, linear narrative, Non-Linear Narrative, Flashbacks, Fluff, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Getting Together, Childhood Memories, Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, First Meetings, Blood, Loss, Anxiety, Panic

Summary: Although he heard the words before, there were differences. Differences in how they said them and why and when. He cherished the memories of both. He loved them both. Different, yet the same. Fully, completely, unendingly. His greatest loves.

Chapter Preview

Even though he'd never been the biggest fan of parties, there was something about the festivities going on around him that reminded him too much of home for him not to check it out. The streets were crowded with people moving between stalls stocked with all manner of goods-warm foods, alcohol drinks, handcrafted garments, jewelry, magic firecrackers. Music played from the plethora of bards posted up at street corners looking to make some coin from passersby. Children ran through the legs of those much bigger than them as they raced to either get somewhere or as part of a game they played. It was the type of chaos that might have been difficult to navigate if he weren't so familiar with it.