Young Writers Society

How do I signal a flashback coming up?

For example, should I type FLASHBACK followed by the actual flashback, or:

Memories filled her head. She had been ten years old the night her mother came in and warned her...

or

She began to cry as the horrible night replayed in her mind....and then the flashback written in italics.

I hope you can understand my questions. Please help me!

I think the third option is the best, although of course the sentence would be better when you haven't dashed it off as an example. I find it's the easiest way to smoothen the transition into flashback. Unless your book is a wacky comedy, most certainly do not put FLASHBACK! before the flashback. What a mood killer that is.

He he... That would be funny though. I can imagine reading a book and it saying, FLASHBACK ALERT! He he... But, uh, yea, working your way into it smoothly is the best way, and probably doing it in italics.

~Pol~

As for myself, I normally put flashbacks into stream-of-conciuosness (i.e. Latrichia walked the corridors, seeing the hundred familiar things that brought up a hundred familiar memories...) or--cheesy and overdone, yes, but effective--dreams. Dreams are especially fun if you can manage to keep the reader guessing about whether it's a dream/flashback at all, without losing them compleately.

I like the third option best, myself.

Whatever you do, don't put "FLASHBACK" unless you a) have a kick-ass, jerky, short sentence sort of style and you honestly believe you can pull it off or b) don't expect to be taken seriously. *meep*

I also really like Gryfalcon's stream-of-consciousness idea.

You could also have the characters discuss the events in question. That can also be hard to do well without getting the "maid and butler" effect (two characters talking about things they already know).

I think that the third one is the best.
Working into a flashback slowly and making the writing flow better. I quite like the idea of writing FLASHBACK ALERT! but i think it would shock the reader too much!

I'm a slave to the section break/italics thing, though most people don't like it so much.

I would try to avoid the 'memories filling his head', or something of the same vein- it's been done too many times and screams, "Hurrah! Angsty flashback!"

So, yeah...subtlety is a good thing. Your readers aren't stupid; they can figure out quite a bit on their own.

Thanks for the help! I prefer the third one too, but I was just making sure.

Don't even introduce the character's past memories as a flashback. Finish up your scene/chapter and then begin with the flashback. No intro, no swimmy screen. It's just there. And then when you're done with the flashback, begin a new scene as if it had never happened. Do you know what I mean. Don't title it as a flashback. Just do it.

-Kylan

Kylan wrote:Don't even introduce the character's past memories as a flashback. Finish up your scene/chapter and then begin with the flashback. No intro, no swimmy screen. It's just there. And then when you're done with the flashback, begin a new scene as if it had never happened. Do you know what I mean. Don't title it as a flashback. Just do it.

-Kylan

I'm glad you said that, as, coincidentally, In my novel I'm working on I'm going to have to use flashbacks, although none of the characters in the present will be involved in the actual flashbacks, so this is how it's going to have to happen.

I like the third one, but I wouldn't bother putting it in italics. Maybe I would change the stle a little bit so that it would be more run on and present perfect though. And a little bit passive. ^_^

KazSmurf wrote:

Kylan wrote:Don't even introduce the character's past memories as a flashback. Finish up your scene/chapter and then begin with the flashback. No intro, no swimmy screen. It's just there. And then when you're done with the flashback, begin a new scene as if it had never happened. Do you know what I mean. Don't title it as a flashback. Just do it.

-Kylan

I'm glad you said that, as, coincidentally, In my novel I'm working on I'm going to have to use flashbacks, although none of the characters in the present will be involved in the actual flashbacks, so this is how it's going to have to happen.

The problem with that is the reader's confusion of the timeline.

I think the best ways to write a flashback is to treat it as it's own chapter or have it in italics. I've also seen it where the title of the flashback chapter is dated.

Ta,
Cal.

Blah. No "OMGFLASHBACK!!!"

XD

I'd prefer it in italics, if you're going to introduce it directly. When you want the exact information, or when there's going to be a lot of the flashback, then italicize it. If there's just a small quote, or about a paragraph-sized reflection, then sort of gravitate towards something like, "He had stood there, right there, on the side of the road."

Had is a vital word in that sentence.

Try reading some Sarah Dessen, especially The Truth About Forever. The main character recalls the death of her father, but in a subtle manner.

I think the best ways to write a flashback is to treat it as it's own chapter or have it in italics. I've also seen it where the title of the flashback chapter is dated.

That's exactly what I meant!

Kylan wrote:

I think the best ways to write a flashback is to treat it as it's own chapter or have it in italics. I've also seen it where the title of the flashback chapter is dated.

That's exactly what I meant!

Oh. Ooops. My bad.