Hey all. I have a question. In a dual-timeline novel, do you think it's important to have a fully-resolved plot in both timelines, or would it be OK for the earlier plot to function as more of a set-up for the later one? In my novel the dual plotlines are 10 years apart. Originally I had some flashbacks to explain what had happened to the characters at high school to explain why they are the way they are.
But then I realised the high school stuff was pretty interesting, so I decided to expand that aspect of the novel. I'm trying to follow the 5 major plot points in the 'adult' timelime, but I wonder should I be doing the same in the high school one, with a goal for the characters and a midpoint and climax everything like that? Or is it OK just to leave those scenes as a kind of 'set-up' to the adult plot?
I hope that was clear enough, I was struggling slightly to explain what I mean!
But then I realised the high school stuff was pretty interesting, so I decided to expand that aspect of the novel. I'm trying to follow the 5 major plot points in the 'adult' timelime, but I wonder should I be doing the same in the high school one, with a goal for the characters and a midpoint and climax everything like that? Or is it OK just to leave those scenes as a kind of 'set-up' to the adult plot?
I hope that was clear enough, I was struggling slightly to explain what I mean!