The last element in the SETUP of our story is the WHEN. When is the story taking place? Is it now, today, tomorrow, last year, 1965, 2948? The time in which our story is unfolding will influence how people dress, speak and interact.
Many stories take place in multiple times. Authors might jump around in time to tell different aspects of one story, or flash forward and back to simultaneously tell two related stories. The distance in time could be as little as one hour, or years, decades, centuries, or whatever. And, this being comics, its possible characters might travel through time itself! In a narrative told chronologically from beginning to end, but featuring time travel, characters might hop back to the 60’s and then forward to the far-flung future of 2009!
It can all get a bit confusing if you aren’t keeping track of WHEN your story is taking place. Yet another reason to keep narratives simple until you have a few stories under your belt.
Okay, let’s review:
BEGINNING = SETUP = WHO = PROTAGONIST, ANTAGONIST, SUPPORT CAST
WHAT = PREMISE / McGUFFIN
WHEN = TIME PERIOD OR PERIODS
WHERE = LOCATIONS, MAJOR AND MINOR
WHY = MOTIVATIONS
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