Flashbacks, dual timelines, a mystery revealed out of order: many good stories do not tell events in the order they happen. That creates a planning problem. You need to know where each scene sits in the structure of the book, and also when it happens in the story's world, and those are two different questions. This guide explains the difference, shows how to plan both, covers keeping track of what the reader knows when, and ends with a worked example. The last section shows how Quillen keeps the two orders separate.
The short answer
Plan two orders: the order the reader meets the scenes (the structure) and the order the events happen (the chronology). Keep them as separate lists so reordering one does not scramble the other, and tag scenes so you can check each timeline and point of view on its own. In Quillen, the Board holds your structure and the Timeline holds a separate order of the same cards.
Two orders, not one
A linear story has one order: scene 1 happens first and is read first. A non-linear story has two. The reading order is how the book presents the scenes, and it controls what the reader knows and when. The story order is when things actually happen, and it controls cause and effect inside the world. Authors who only keep one list end up making continuity errors, such as a character mentioning an event that has not happened yet.
Plan the structure first
Decide the reading order for the effect you want. If you open with the aftermath of a crime, the reader will read the rest asking how it happened; if you open with the crime, they will ask who did it. Structure is about suspense and information: what to reveal, when, and what to hold back. Outline the structure as you would any story, using the beats you need.
Then plan the chronology
Next, put the same scenes in the order they happen. This is your reference for continuity: who knows what, who has met whom, how old everyone is, what the weather is. Walk through it as if nothing were out of order, and check that cause and effect hold.
Track what the reader knows, and when
For each scene in reading order, note what the reader knows by the end of it. Mysteries live on this. A reveal in scene 12 should not accidentally be given away in scene 4 because a flashback mentioned it. A simple technique is to add one line to each scene: "Reader now knows..." and read the lines in sequence.
Use tags for timelines and viewpoints
If you have two timelines, a present and a past, or several viewpoint characters, tag each scene with its thread. Then you can look at one thread alone and check it makes sense: the past timeline should be a complete story by itself, and each viewpoint character should have a coherent arc.
Check continuity
- Read the scenes in chronological order and look for things that happen out of cause and effect.
- Check ages, dates and travel times across both orders.
- Check that no character refers to something they could not yet know.
- Check each thread (timeline or viewpoint) on its own.
- Check that every flashback earns its place by changing how the reader sees the present.
A worked example
Imagine The Salt Road told with a flashback to explain why Mara and her sister are estranged. Six scenes:
| Scene | Reading order | Story order | Thread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival | 1 | 3 | Present |
| Flashback to the quarrel | 2 | 1 | Past |
| The trial at the gate | 3 | 5 | Present |
| The betrayal | 4 | 2 | Past |
| The escape | 5 | 6 | Present |
| The reunion | 6 | 4 | Present |
The reader meets the flashback second, so the estrangement colors everything after it. But the story order shows that the quarrel happens first, before Mara left Orrin, and the table makes it easy to check that the sister knows nothing she could not have learned by the time of the reunion.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Problem | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping only one order | Continuity errors | Keep the reading order and the story order as separate lists |
| Giving away a reveal early | Suspense is lost | Note what the reader knows at the end of each scene |
| Flashbacks that do not change the present | They stall the story | Make each flashback alter how the reader sees the scene around it |
| Not tagging threads | Cannot check one timeline on its own | Tag each scene with its timeline or viewpoint |
| Reordering without rechecking | Cause and effect breaks | After any move, reread both orders |
Do it in Quillen
Quillen's outline has two views of the same cards, and each has its own order. Moving a card in one never moves it in the other. This is built for exactly this kind of story.
- Open your book and click Outline.
- Build your structure on the Board. Create columns for your parts or acts and drag the cards into them. This is the order you plan for the reader.
- Switch to Timeline. Click Timeline at the top right. The same cards appear as one straight sequence, in an order that is separate from the Board. In our test, a board in structural order showed its cards on the Timeline in the order they were created, which makes the independence easy to see.
- Arrange the Timeline in the order events actually happen, by dragging cards. The Board does not change.
- Tag the cards. Open a card and use Arc tags to label its thread, such as Past, Present or a character's name.
- Filter by tag on either view to show only one thread, and check it in isolation.
- Use Notes on a card to write the "Reader now knows..." line, or list the characters and chapters involved.
Checklist
- Reading order planned for the effect you want.
- Story order planned separately, and checked for cause and effect.
- A note of what the reader knows at the end of each scene.
- Each scene tagged with its timeline or viewpoint.
- Each thread checked on its own.
- Ages, dates and travel times consistent in both orders.
Common questions
What is the difference between structure and chronology?
Structure is the order the reader meets the scenes. Chronology is the order the events actually happen in the story's world. A non-linear story has both, and they differ.
How do I keep track of what the reader knows?
For each scene in reading order, write a one-line note of what the reader now knows. Reading those notes in sequence shows you where a reveal is given away too early.
How does Quillen handle non-linear stories?
The Board and Timeline show the same cards in separate orders. Moving a card in one view does not move it in the other, so you can plan structure and chronology independently.
Can I plan two timelines in Quillen?
Yes. Tag each card with its thread, such as Past or Present, and use the tag filter on the Board or Timeline to show one thread at a time.
How do I check continuity in a non-linear story?
Read the scenes in chronological order and check cause and effect, ages and dates, then check each timeline or viewpoint thread on its own.