Last week, Patsy Collins, was a guest on my blog introducing her new writing guide, 'From Story Idea to Reader' (you can read the post here). In her book, under the chapter heading of 'useful reference materials', she provides a link to my Story Timeline Calculator.
So what is it?
That's easy to answer: it's what it says on the tin. It's a pretty fabulous tool for working out your story/novel's timeline, created for me by my husband when I got bogged down with paper and dates while writing an historical story. I don't know how I managed without it.
Just click on the timeline picture in the sidebar (or here) to find out more about it and download.
Why am I mentioning it again? Because Wendy's Story Timeline Calculator has just been updated... cue fanfare!
After feedback from some of the people who have used it, we have now included the following:
- More character columns
- A box to put in the start and end year of your writing project
What people have said about Wendy's Story Timeline Calculator:
"This is great for me as I always get a pickled brain writing my novels. They're family history inspired and call for past events connecting to the present so your time-line will be a brilliant help to me!"
"I'm working on a novel about the lives of several generations of people in a French village, so this will be invaluable."
"I can't even begin to find the words to express my appreciation. My first novel was a historical fiction that spanned generations and this would have saved me tears."
My timeline calculator is free to download and use but if you want to make a small contribution to the hard work that's gone into it, there are a couple of my short story collections on the sidebar to choose from, each for the price of a cup of coffee!
If you find my timeline useful, please let me know in a comment and, if you share it, please credit this blog and provide a link to it.
Enjoy!
It would be an interesting exercise to input the historical events which the character lived through and/or was interested in. Maybe instead of who was Prime Minister they'd take more notice of which singer was No 1, or who ran the pub in Eastenders.
ReplyDeleteYes you're right, Patsy. The great thing is you can adapt it to your own writing project,
DeleteI was devastated when I lost this Timeline calculator when my Windows 7 computer died earlier this year, and was very relieved when someone happened to mention where it was...
ReplyDeleteI'm now updated and also the happy owner of Room in Your Heart too. :)
Oh, I'm do pleased you've got the updated version, Carol and thanks for buying Room in Your Heart. I hope you enjoy it 😊
DeleteThis looks like a cool tool Wendy, thank you for sharing. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Maria. Try it and see for yourself.
DeleteThanks for sharing this resource.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Julia.
DeleteSome great feedback there, Wendy. It's really great when you create something that can be used and appreciated by others, isn't it? That's the teacher in you :) Thanks for sharing. Have a lovely Christmas time!!
ReplyDeleteYou too, Nicola 😊
DeleteThanks Wendy, that's really useful.
ReplyDeleteA pleasure, Francesca.
DeleteMany thanks, Wendy - I'm sure I downloaded it the first time but never got around to actually using it. Will have another go!
ReplyDelete