If any of you have experience running two plot lines and have words of advice, I'd appreciate to hear them.  No Phil, (I can hear you saying: my advice is to stick with one plot line) the premise of this from the get-go is the relationship between realities and they intersect from various points in time; so I'm going to dig deep and keep working on this even though it's a really big challenge.

The problem I'm having right now is converting this script over to novel.  In the script form, it's easy to connect images even if they're from different "time space" localities,  but in the novel, I've taken a different route and it feels so much less omniscient-- especially since I'm relying heavily on point of view so much more to tell the story whereas on screen, I wrote it from more of a visual perspective-- "The all seeing God's Eye".

Probably a good example is where I have two characters who, in one scene, are being filmed from both their points of view as they enter each other's space.  In film, it's easy.  Just change cameras as the characters view each other, but in a book, bopping back and forth in point of view doesn't work well.  It's aggravating to the reader.  To top that off, omniscient can be good if you're a master, but I feel that there's this tightrope when taking that route and it screws with people's head space if you're not skilled enough to pull it off.

For instance:  The Butterfly Effect-- this is a movie which bounces around easily on screen, but to do the same thing in a novel, would be a challenge because if we're switching places and points of view and we're still trying to relay the main character's inner feelings while "viewing" as one of the outsiders, we often write ourselves into corners.  We wind up with too much narrative or too much of ONE point of view, or too much coldness and impersonal form of omniscient.

If you have favorite movies that carry more than one plot line and you'd recommend them, this would be very helpful.

Thanks,

Sandra

You lost me in your post.  You’re having problems with the novel format but you’re still looking for movies?

If someone were to ask me to name novels with different POVs I would offer up Dracula and As I Lay Dying.  One is all structure and the other all stream of consciousness.  

The same kind of holds true for film in that you have things like The Butterfly Effect, Sliding Doors, Conversation(s) With Other Women and The Fountain which are all about structure.  Then there are movies by Robert Altman and John Sayles and Atom Egoyan which are more natural multi-character stories.

You just have to pick your direction.

Thank you for the selections... Yes, I'm still looking at movies because they often jog my thinking and then I play with the direction to take it.  Just switching forms can be very helpful.

The difficulty for me and I think a lot of writers:  Is that you start seeing your story as being "one way".  As if it's cast in stone.  I try to flex the possibilities early on, but even still, there's those difficulties that come along when you start tinkering and the little things that you've changed make big differences.

Sandra

I know this is an older post, but to offer multiple plot lines up for review, I would offer any Star Wars movie, as they regularly have 3 to 4 different, yet intersecting, plots. Lord of the Rings was so darn long because it had several different plots running by the end of the film. A good film will have one main plot and one or more subplots that support or parallel it. A complex film will do as the suggested ones do and branch the main plot in multiple directions, never sticking to one main character, but filling out several of them at once.

The real question is "are you looking at two different distinct plots?" or "are you starting in one place and branching from there?" Is this two stories at once, or are we looking at a movie like "The Dead Girl" that tells a larger story in pieces, each piece its own story?

Just curious...

Thank you George,

I might be mistaken in my terms.  I'm still not sure.  It may be that I'm working with a sub plot.

This story has a funny couple in modern America whose relationship seems like a story unto itself; however, their daughter's past life affects their current affairs and it is the daughter's history that is another world entirely.

So:

1. The Modern American - Funny Couple Romance

2. The Story of Their Daughter's Life and Her Connection To Fallen Angels

Originally, I had developed a script, but since my daughter was interested and said she wanted to find out more about some of the characters, she asked if I'd write it into a novel.

This is when I started having problems.  For the book, I changed the beginning.  Went back in time and to a different universe to show the world that the daughter came from.

Part of the dilemma is that I'm walking a tightrope at times between comedy and darkness.

In the movie version, I'm able to integrate the comedy easily; however, in the book it is a different story.  I have to be careful because I don't want to lead the reader to believe that it's just going to be a happy romp; on the other hand, I need to clearly lay the ground that there is funny stuff ahead.

I don't watch it, but my husband often puts on the Stargate series.  I remember once I said to him, "You see the dynamics that are happening here.  Kind of just tippy toeing on the side of humor... that's what I'm doing."  Actually, I'm taking it a bit further.  I'm going from quite funny to quite dark at times.


I always appreciate any input; so thank you very much!

Sandra

It sounds like you have two separate plot lines. Sub plots come out of the main plot, and they usually compliment the main plot. Or, they contradict the main plot.

Have you read any Steinbeck? He's a master at multiple plot lines. Check out East of Eden. It's some heavy stuff, but it sounds like that's what you're aiming for.

It also sounds like you don't know when to switch from one to the other.

What I would do is outline each plot on separate pieces of paper. Plot A on one, and plot B on the other.

Then, look at both outlines. Study it. See if you can mesh them into one coherent plot.

Have you thought about two separate novels? Or two novellas? That sounds like another possible idea, unless you just really want one novel.

Thank you so much Mr. Steel.  Your advice about writing them out separately sounds perfect to me.  Sometimes, when I'm in planning mode, I leave my computer and go for the old pen and paper method.  That also seems to help, but I don't know why.

To answer your question:  Yes, I've already thought about this being more than one novel because when I started investing a lot of major time, it made sense to go deeper still.

As far as Steinbeck-- no I haven't read anything of his.  I really like Dickens.  I've enjoyed David Baldacci and Anne Rice.  I especially enjoy real life stories.  If you want to read something tragic but also funny, try "Red China Blues" by Janet Wong.  She was a Canadian journalist in the 70s who had rose colored glasses on making her think that visiting her homeland would make her a true Chinese.  It's an excellent book.

I really should check your suggestion out.  It's really hard right now because I'm involved with a lot of research too and I fight for time.

Thank you again,

Sandra

I'm only working at the computer once I have 20 or so pages written out. I focus better with the pen and paper. There are less distractions. I don't have the internet, chat, etc. Just me and the pen and paper.

Good luck!