A timeline is a goldmine

The essential first step to writing a book

You want to write a book. You’ve got a lot of stories, scattered chapters. You’ve got great ideas, concepts. You’ve done research. But how do you put them all together? How do you structure them? How do you figure out the beginning, middle, and end?

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I get this question a lot. In my work as a writing coach, I provide accountability and encouragement. I help writers get unstuck and guide them on the writing and publishing adventure. As I listen to their stories, I find that most writers need help with structure and organization. To figure out what comes first, then what comes after that. How can they structure their book in a way that will keep the reader engaged? What should they leave in, and what should they leave out? They may not even realize they need this. (That’s part of why coaching is valuable—to help you even figure out what questions you need to ask and then answer.)

Eventually, they have to figure out their target reader, and how to keep that reader, well, reading. But before that, they need a plan, a structure. A story map. Before THAT, they need a timeline. A timeline is what bestselling author Susy Flory calls a writers’ “secret weapon.” A timeline will provide the building materials needed to build a strong, solid book.

Imagine you are building a house. You have a pile of lumber, sheets of drywall, bricks. You have to assemble these pieces to make a house. You would not throw the bricks in a pile, lay sheets of drywall over them, then nail together some lumber and pile that on top of your bricks and drywall. But I find that writers sometimes use an analogous approach to writing their book. They create a big pile of ideas, stories, concepts. They struggle sometimes to figure out how to put it together in logical order, in a way that builds something cohesive and solid.

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When I was about six years old, my parents purchased a vacant lot in a neighborhood they hoped to live in. Two years later, after saving and planning, construction on our new house began. I remember visiting our new house as it was constructed. First, a big hole in the ground. Then, a cement foundation. Soon, following the architect’s plans, rooms began to take shape: first, with wooden framing. Two by fours a foot apart—the structure that would support walls. Joists spanned each room, essential for the ceiling and ultimately the roof. Eventually, drywall went up. When the house was completed, you couldn’t see the lumber frame. But without it, the house would have collapsed.

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Whether you write non-fiction, fiction, or memoir, your book requires structure. A narrative arc that includes an inciting incident, rising action, a climax and resolution provides that essential framework. Without it, your story is flimsy. We’re going to talk more about that next week. But before you can implement that plan, you need some raw materials. That lumber that will become the frame. Where do you find those building materials?

Here’s what I tell the writers I’m coaching: start with a timeline. A timeline is essential if you are writing memoir. But most non-fiction writers use anecdotes and stories from their own life to illustrate their points. And creating a timeline will help you unearth those stories and anecdotes.

You are writing your non-fiction book because you have wisdom to share about a topic, be it parenting, weight loss, leadership principles, spirituality. And where did that wisdom come from? Your lived experience. Your own stories will reinforce the teaching points of your book. And a timeline will help you to remember and tell those stories accurately. Each incident is a nugget of truth, a small but powerful story. A timeline is a goldmine of material that will help you build a strong frame for your book.

Like the frame of a house, the timeline may not be visible to the reader. You won’t use everything in the timeline, only those incidents or anecdotes that help you keep the reader engaged and turning pages.

To keep the reader engaged and for your book to flow logically, we need a narrative arc that provides an outline for the book. But before we even build that outline, we need a timeline. Bestselling author and writing coach Susy Flory calls a timeline a “secret weapon” for memoirists. She writes the following about building a timeline:

Why a timeline?

1. A timeline anchors your story in time and place.

2. A timeline will help you to keep events straight and consistent.

3. A timeline will begin to show you what you’ve missed or forgotten.

4. A timeline will give you perspective.

5. A timeline will open the door to crafting a satisfying book or story.

(Illustration courtesy of Susy Flory. Used with permission)

Susy specializes in writing and coaching memoir. If you are writing a personal story or memoir, you should follow her. (click the link below to find her Substack)

How do you create a timeline? This post from Susy has simple, clear instructions. While she addresses memoir writers, the principles apply to all non-fiction. Click over and subscribe for free!

Memoir? Here's your secret weapon

Even if you are not writing memoir, a timeline will offer you clarity about your own experiences. You’ll unearth anecdotes and illustrations you may have forgotten but which will give your story depth, clarity and credibility. You’ll unearth nuggets of wisdom you didn’t know you had.

Next week, we’ll talk about how to take the stories from your timeline and fit them into a clear narrative arc to structure your story.

Tell us: have you used a timeline before? What did you like about? What, if anything, did you find difficult about it?

P.S. If you’d like customized, one-on-one help with writing your book (starting with creating a timeline), I’d love to help you. If you’re not sure about your next step, I’d love to meet with you (via Zoom) for a free 30-minute consultation. Click the button below to contact me.