Non-linear narrative: pretentious crock of shit or valid style choice?
I kind of think I want to rewrite something I've been working on as a non-linear narrative. Except it's not really a stylistic story, so I'm waffling. I've been stumped on this story for awhile and I kind of think doing this might help, at least a little. Buuut I just recently read a non-linear narrative that does the same thing I'm thinking of doing and thought it was a crock of pretentious bullshit, because all it did was disorient and distract me from the plot, trying to keep track of three separate timelines with shoddy distinguishing markers. But this story is for Halloween so if it's disorienting it'll work! Right?
I'm thinking of having the main story be from the main character's POV with I guess flashbacks (I hate the idea of flashbacks, so cliche) to the other characters' stories that piece together what's going on for this guy. Possibly having his portion be in present tense and the others' in past, which makes it even more of a flashback.
Is something like that too cliche? Too hard to follow?
I always get myself in trouble when I split POVs to begin a fic. I can never manage to keep it up enough once the characters come together to validate doing it in the first place, but I also get attached to the other stories and have a hell of a time forcing myself to get rid of them. I hate the delete button. :/ I should suck it up and figure it out. Halloween is so soon. When did it get to be the end of October? Who authorized this?!
I'm thinking of having the main story be from the main character's POV with I guess flashbacks (I hate the idea of flashbacks, so cliche) to the other characters' stories that piece together what's going on for this guy. Possibly having his portion be in present tense and the others' in past, which makes it even more of a flashback.
Is something like that too cliche? Too hard to follow?
I always get myself in trouble when I split POVs to begin a fic. I can never manage to keep it up enough once the characters come together to validate doing it in the first place, but I also get attached to the other stories and have a hell of a time forcing myself to get rid of them. I hate the delete button. :/ I should suck it up and figure it out. Halloween is so soon. When did it get to be the end of October? Who authorized this?!