My WIP involves a long interstellar journey by colonists onboard a budget transport.
I need a way to indicate the passage of long periods of time. The journey takes almost three years. What's the best way to note the date at the head of a chapter?
And, yes, I could just write, "Ten months later, the..." but it's a little more intrusive than I wanted.
I need a way to indicate the passage of long periods of time. The journey takes almost three years. What's the best way to note the date at the head of a chapter?
- "Departure + 18 months" and "Arrival - 6 months"
(I like basing it off departure because it fits the way the story presents) - "June 2160" and "March 2230" -- awkward; time relative to what? An atomic clock?
- "Stardate 121.34" and "Stardate 201.2" a la Star Trek? Seems rather cryptic
- Something else?
And, yes, I could just write, "Ten months later, the..." but it's a little more intrusive than I wanted.