#TimeTravelAuthors 3: Standalone or a series?
Pretty much everything I write is a series, I can't stop myself. "Time & Tied" itself was over 90 parts of 4k each (split into 4 "books") and "Time Untied" is looking longer.
The one exception is short stories. If I can keep myself to about 10k words, it stands alone. But once we pass 15k, you're likely getting 300k. For better or worse.
#TimeTravelAuthors 5: Languages?
The characters are at the largest French-English bilingual university in the world, so we get a bit of French, though mostly English. (The French is mostly from Marguerite, Peaches' roommate.)
#TimeTravelAuthors 7: love?
*
“Carrie, I’m not hitting on your girlfriend,” Peaches protested. “I know she’s as taken as you are. I just thought a hug would help me better understand why you’re drawn to her.”
“Peaches also said she’s in pretty girl withdrawal,” Jenny said dryly.
“Nnnngh. Come on, who doesn’t love a good hug anyway?” Peaches huffed.
“I see what you mean about Peaches,” Chartreuse remarked to Carrie. “But at the same time, I might understand where she’s coming from. A little.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 9: Story get political?
Someone will probably think so, because way too much is getting politicized that shouldn't. I didn't set out to make anything political though. It's just urban fantasy, so stuff happens in the background.
Also, the protagonist is a lesbian, because that's just how it happened, ditto for the love triangle of all women. Deal with it.
#TimeTravelAuthors 11: hug?
(oops, also featured in 7)
*
“Oh, sure. In this timeline, I'm your early warning system,” Jenny said, exasperation giving way to frustration. “You’re welcome.”
Carrie winced. “I didn’t quite mean it like that.”
“Jenny, you mean so much more,” Sherlock soothed, moving towards her. He extended his arm to begin something of a tentative sideways hug. She eyed him, but didn’t push him away, so he completed the motion.
#TimeTravelAuthors 13: Love?
I mean. Are y'all sick of hearing about the love triangle by this point? Should I say anything there? ^^
There's also an ongoing tentative romance between Sherlock and Jenny, plus Wes has a thing for Sakura that isn't reciprocated in a brief subplot.
#TimeTravelAuthors 15: Comp titles?
Initially pitched "Time & Tied" as a cross between films "Tomorrowland" (2015) and "Interstellar" (2014). In essence, dystopian future uses time travel and/or willpower to fight fate.
"Time Untied" is a harder nut. "Steins;Gate 0" meets "Source Code"? (Both have a "Christina".) With a dash of "The Executioner and Her Way of Life"? idk. Who's even seen all of those. Time will tell.
#TimeTravelAuthors 17: Butterfly effect?
On a macro scale, no. World wars, climate change, corrupt corporations, those are locked in.
On a micro scale, absolutely. A victim could be saved, a tree could be planted, a different country could become a catalyst. Put another way, you CAN save THAT starfish, even if you can't save them all.
Unless you find a lynchpin moment (aka Jonbar Hinge). With that, you can save them all. Or make things ten times worse. Such moments should be avoided.
#TimeTravelAuthors 19: How honest are characters?
Disregarding the fact that anyone who knows Carrie's secret of time travel needs to keep it secret (lying if necessary), pretty honest. At least with each other, some may lie to themselves.
This may be so I don't have to track lies. It's much easier for someone to change the subject than to lie.
#TimeTravelAuthors 21: "listen"?
*
“Could Peaches be the one misdirecting us?”
Carrie pursed her lips. “I think Peaches has been sincere with me,” she murmured.
Sherlock noticed then how the word ‘sincere’ had indeed been written and underlined twice next to Peaches on the chart paper.
“Thing is," Carrie added, "I can’t rule out the possibility that she’s being duped, or blackmailed. Maybe she was even trying to warn me about that today, and I didn’t listen properly.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 23: Time travel media characters enjoy?
"Back to the Future" (specifically the diagram Doc draws in Part II) has come up twice. There's been some tangential references to "Quantum Leap", and Peaches would likely enjoy it. I forget if I ever had her make a Steins;Gate reference. Those are my big 3.
Honestly I think most of the cast would enjoy a time travel movie night, as escapism, as long as it didn't take itself too seriously.
#TimeTravelAuthors 25: 'glow'?
*
“Could there be energy in that pendant already?” Sherlock suggested. “Maybe it interfaces badly with Carrie.”
“Impossible, as I had no access to dimensional energies until I met my conduit here,” Heather said, gesturing at Carrie. “Merely had my theory on how it could be contained and measured. Also, the pendant should give off a faint glow when charged. Granted, I’ve had zero way to test that.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 27: Author's choice
This month I finally got around to having Amazon fix my author page. So all three "Accidental Time Travelers Collective" volumes are now there, which include my time travel short stories.
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Gregory-Taylor/author/B0CNYJ96KT
#TimeTravelAuthors Mar 1: Lucky Intro?
Carrie was lucky to survive her first hours at university, as that's when her nemesis attempted to kill her.
Now there's a problem. She doesn't have a nemesis. Not yet. They jumped back in time for that attack.
So who is out to get her? Can she evade the coming attacks, or will she end up creating the very nemesis she's trying to expose?
"Time Untied". Also features quantum locked roommates and a lesbian love triangle, somehow.
#TimeTravelAuthors 3: Characters protecting?
Jenny's somewhat protective of Carrie (for quantum reasons), leading to Sherlock being protective of Jenny. Peaches is protective of the pocketwatch that allows for time travel. Heather is protective of her own motivations.
#TimeTravelAuthors 5: Apologies?
Carrie often apologizes to Jenny over how she can't be saved in the past yet. Sherlock also apologizes to Jenny over his tendency to talk instead of listen (happens less over time). Jenny apologizes to Peaches for assuming she was the target of flirting.
The biggest such scene occurs after Carrie accuses Peaches of being in on the conspiracy against her, realizes she was wrong, and has to apologize. And explain stuff. Which helps set up the love triangle.
#TimeTravelAuthors 7: Quiet?
*
Heather's eyes lit up. “Have you noticed her performing any otherworldly rituals? Be honest, or I’ll assume you have something to hide.”
Jenny froze. “Um. No, no rituals.”
“What about weird habits? Odd jewelry? Posters of magical girls on her wall? If she’s threatened you to keep quiet, know that I can protect you. Okay?”
Jenny wasn’t even sure what connected all those phrases. It was becoming easy to see why Sherlock had warned them about Heather.
#TimeTravelAuthors 9: Explain story's time travel method with emojis.
Well, there's three time travel methods, and I don't know emoji's that well, but I guess we'll try?
1) 👱♀️ ⚡🙏
2) ⏱️ ⚡ 💭 🧠
3) 🚘 💰 👍 😵💫
#TimeTravelAuthors 11: Leave?
*
“Euh, let’s just say time travel is possible, and leave it at that.”
“Time...” Peaches backpedaled, to collapse onto the edge of her bed. “I’m in a Terminator movie, with my new lesbian friend who is destined to save us all at graduation. Like the Buffy TV show. Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”
Carrie shook her head. Damn, damn. She’d said way too much. “Please, Peaches. It’s nothing that dramatic. Okay?”
Peaches smiled. “Still, please, pinch me, anywhere you like.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 13: Cultures?
No, unless Canadian culture counts, with Thanksgiving in October and such. I don't feel I know enough about other cultures to handle them properly without causing issues.
Granted, Sherlock is brown and Heather is latina, but that's coming from their parents and I didn't make it a plot point.
#TimeTravelAuthors 15: Fun with time travel?
Legit had to look back over my timeline to see if this ever happened. The travel consumes energy, so it's rarely used frivolously.
There was one time that Carrie helped make it seem like someone else had ESP, by mentally time jumping back and feeding them answers. It was part of a larger plot investigating the effect of multiple mental jumps, but they did have some fun with it.
#TimeTravelAuthors 17: Patience?
Jenny has vast reserves of patience, since Carrie being delayed in going back in time to save her results in her quantum state tied to Carrie's life.
Peaches has demonstrated patience with Carrie on a few occasions, though hormones may have helped. Ditto Chartreuse, come to think.
Most of the cast needs patience interacting with Heather, and vice versa.
Sherlock has been patient about romance with Jenny. Finally, Carrie has been a patient.
#TimeTravelAuthors 19: Servants?
Jeeves! Julie's family is rich enough that she has two servants taking care of her house, Jeeves and Mimi. We never actually see the latter, but Jeeves often acts as Julie's father figure, and even briefly gets a point of view narration.
He doesn't appear in the sequel where characters are at university, but is referenced. No other servants in the story that I can think of.
#TimeTravelAuthors 21: march?
*
Heather marched over to bar the way to the door. “Carrie Waterson. You are not leaving this room until you tell me who you’re working for.”
Carrie looked back down at the pocket watch. And this was when she’d wanted a do-over of their conversation… she slid her fingers over the surface of the pocket watch.
Heather stepped backwards and pushed aside the curtains on the nearest window.
“My God, this watch is some sort of time machine,” Carrie gasped.
#TimeTravelAuthors 23: Surprised by?
Aside from how epically long the darn thing has become? Probably the lesbian love triangle.
Peaches was meant to be a counterpoint to Chartreuse, and more a satellite character. But Carrie was receptive to her advances, meaning somehow those three took the romance focus away from Jenny/Sherlock.
#TimeTravelAuthors 25: brief?
*
“Wouldn’t him offing me rule out the descendant thing too? If I die, he’s not born.”
“I considered that. But someone could use genetic material from your body to create him, still technically making him a descendant.”
“Urrrgh, science, of course,” Carrie groaned. She pressed her forehead down onto the edge of the desk, closing her eyes. “So, in brief, you have no answers for me.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 27: Alternate timelines?
There is only one timeline. However, it can get overwritten, and at times events from prior timelines may "bleed through" into the remaining one. "Untied" takes that concept further, allowing for the one timeline to "jump tracks" and become something different.
Any more than that is a spoiler.
#TimeTravelAuthors 29: Eye colours? (spelled with the 'u', thank you)
Carrie's are blue, as I was playing with the "blue eyed blonde protagonist" angle.
Jenny's are green, since many redheads have green eyes... I legit don't think I worked this out for any other characters. (Checks notes) Oh, Chartreuse's are green from T&T. That's all I've got.
#TimeTravelAuthors 31: Choice
With Time & Tied: Escalation having finished on AO3, we are halfway through the entire T&T saga.
"Destruction" has already begun (re)posting, if anyone wanted to check that out.
https://archiveofourown.org/works/82063151/chapters/215945006
Here's hoping I can complete "Untied" before I finish the reposts.
#TimeTravelAuthors Apr 1: Joke intro
*
ASSASSIN: Screwing up your timeline. Knock, knock.
CARRIE: Who's there?
ASSASSIN: Screw.
CARRIE: Screw who?
PEACHES & CHARTREUSE: Me?
#TimeTravelAuthors 3: What kind of caffeinated beverage?
Honestly, they're late teens, and the MC is health conscious, so they shouldn't be drinking that stuff. Plus I don't like drinking that stuff (even tea and soda is done sparingly), so I wouldn't know how to answer even if they did. Sorry Candace.
#TimeTravelAuthors 5: Games?
Some of the friends of the SCs have an evening playing poker off screen, which becomes somewhat relevant later. I legitimately can't think of anything else.
Much like caffeine, I'm not into games in RL, so I guess it doesn't show up in my stories.
#TimeTravelAuthors 7: Time travel taken seriously?
Absolutely. Carrie can experience physical pain if it's done flippantly. Plus Jenny's existence hinges on it, it's part of Heather's ultimate goals, and even the antagonist, who gets creative with it, takes care not to mess with overall temporal causality.
#TimeTravelAuthors 9: Characters admit when wrong?
Carrie not so much, but she'll waffle a lot before making a decision. Can't be wrong if you didn't commit in the first place. Most of the other characters would, except perhaps the antagonist.
#TimeTravelAuthors 11: Point? Can be overused.
*
“You don’t seem to get that you’re not, you know, invincible. You don’t even take precautions, like a proper secret identity.”
“You don’t take precautions when you make mystic predictions,” Carrie pointed out. “Also, people from the future would have already worked out who I am regardless, so what’s the point in hiding?”
“The point is you’re, like, obviously a target here. A focal point,” Chartreuse said. “You need to take care of yourself."
#TimeTravelAuthors 13: Silliest character?
That's difficult. The ones most likely to add levity to a scene are Chartreuse or Peaches, but not in a really "silly" way. Plus underneath the surface they can be damn serious.
I think the best I can offer is April, the somewhat flaky girl on the floor who likes cute things. We don't see her much.
#TimeTravelAuthors 15: sink/sank
*
Sherlock followed that up by dropping in to see Al. Al’s new rumour was that university libraries were slowly sinking, owing to underestimations in terms of the weight of the books they would contain. But just as the duct work rumour hadn’t gone anywhere, he was struggling to piece together enough for this one too.
The two bonded over their absent roommates.
#TimeTravelAuthors 17: Story structure?
When I write time travel, I need it to wrap back on itself. Either to prompt re-reading a concept/scene knowing the twist that's coming, or to revisit a passage with character context gained later on.
This makes it quite difficult to serialize as I go, and yet since I tend to ignore an overarching plan in favour of story "beats", a serial feels like the only way to finally publish a 350,000 word tale.
It's a problem.
#TimeTravelAuthors 19: Authorities?
Heather is the main person the cast go to regarding help/information regarding time travel.
Alternatively, Melanie is the floor supervisor who has had to intercede a few times when students had disagreements.
The only time police or campus security got involved related to a subplot of someone trying to obtain "knockout gas". (They were not amused.)
#TimeTravelAuthors 21: Repost/reply?
April's been busy. Just did some catching up with the tag and tried to reply to a few posts. Huzzah.
#TimeTravelAuthors 23: Characters test time travel?
Mental time travel, absolutely. Much like in the original "Time & Tied" where they had to figure out how the time machine worked (thus not much testing on the physical side now), "Time Untied" means figuring out the pocket watch. Once they determine it only works if a person remains in proximity to it, there's the question of can they change things, and any long term effects/dangers.
#TimeTravelAuthors 25: alert?
*
“Earth to Sherlock? You with us here?”
“Oh, hey,” he greeted, quickly pocketing his device. “You’re early too, huh?”
“Yup.” Jenny smiled. “It’s fine, I just thought it was weird that you walked in and stood there staring at your phone.”
“Yeah, hey, Jenny needs you alert, Sherlock,” Peaches said, a hint of a smile playing across her face. “You need to stop me, in case I jump her or something.”
Jenny’s cheeks got redder. “I did not say that.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 27: Message/Moral?
I don't aim for those. I suppose "You CAN fight fate" is one of the main ones I use in all my time travel stories. Related, "Don't give up" and perhaps "Trust in your friends".
In effect, I lean into the Stockdale Paradox (and have done so since before I knew it had a name).
#TimeTravelAuthors May 1
Carrie has problems. She may die, as she's been targeted by an assassin, and has limited use of her time powers. She may lose her girlfriend, as she's become infatuated with another girl on her floor, and has become muddled about lesbian relationships. And she may not prioritize passing her university classes... which, if we're being honest, was never part of the main plot anyway. Time Untied.
#TimeTravelAuthors 3: Old buildings?
The setting is a university founded in 1848. I haven't looked up which buildings were part of the original campus. Kind of depends on your definition of "old" as well.
#TimeTravelAuthors 5: Favourite snack?
I have Sherlock hide a bag of chips in his dorm room a couple times, so presumably he enjoys those. I don't think it's ever plot relevant. I also think Carrie likes granola bars?
Yeah, I rarely think about what characters are eating.
#TimeTravelAuthors 7: First lines by an unimportant character?
April is rarely seen, and the few times she's mentioned it's as "Sakura's roommate" (where Sakura herself is a minor character). However, April DOES turn up, over 100k words in:
April sat up straight in her chair. “Oh, wait, I missed something. Is Sakura reading peoples' minds, or the cards' minds?” she wondered.
#TimeTravelAuthors 7b: First lines by an unimportant character?
I've discovered I misinterpreted (or rather, differently understood) yesterday's prompt. I picked a minor character and found their first words. All others picked the first dialogue they came across that weren't MC/SC.
It takes over 30k words to reach someone for me, but that'd be Melanie, their campus floor supervisor:
“Hello, Carrie. Jenny. There’s snacks on the table.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 9: hide?
*
“We need to hide out at least ten minutes before my past self shows up in the dorm,” Carrie stated. “Owing to the fact that we cannot be seen by her, or by Cloaky, wherever he vectored in from. I’m thinking we use the women’s washroom on our floor.”
“Oh. That would make it difficult for me to join you,” Sherlock observed. “And I’d still like to help.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 11: Characters undo anything?
Yes... there's been a few major events they were able to adjust to have never happened. Same difference.
Then when mental time travel enters the mix, there's been a few minor events too (mentally jumping back 5 minutes to, for example, avoid an encounter).
That said, it happens less often than you might think.
#TimeTravelAuthors 13: Peace?
*
If only her new friend weren’t so... kissable. It was only with effort that Carrie pulled her gaze away from Peaches’ lips and back to the rest of her expression.
“Peace offering then,” Peaches said, holding out the pastry. “Unless you want me to toss it out. Or would prefer that we each nibble in from opposing ends until our lips meet.”
Even though Peaches hadn’t meant it seriously, it’s like she had been reading Carrie's mind about kisses, damn it.
#TimeTravelAuthors 15: Changes if story started in a different year?
Already happened, kinda. T&T was set in 1999 when I first started writing (that same year). I realized in the 2010s I'd better release it before it was outdated, not to mention update some things so that characters had access to cell phones.
If we're thinking further in the past, I fear the LGBT aspects would be more closeted. Too far back, maybe even the girls getting into post secondary. :/
#TimeTravelAuthors 17: Sleep habits/schedule?
Mine or my characters? Trick question, they're similar.
I'm not in any way a morning person, and tend to stay up late (it's the only time I have to post and do things). My days prior to that follow a school routine, then a parenting one. Carrie is the same, though she has more breaks in her day and evenings are for girlfriends or time puzzling instead.
#TimeTravelAuthors 19: Organized characters?
Honestly, yeah, they're very organized for their age. A combination of their author being that way, and them being stuck in an educational system that requires you to know when your classes are, when meals are served, etc.
Heather's probably the least organized, but she's good with technical things. (Shout out to Rocky, maybe.)
#TimeTravelAuthors 21: Characters ever meet relatives?
Characters meet themselves. I feel that qualifies. (Heck, does it count if Luci travels back in time a year and interacts with her parents?)
In the greater spirit of the question, Carrie does run into her mother once, early on in T&T. It doesn't go great. Plus the assassin in "Untied" who is after Carrie seems to have time powers too... which would imply they're related? In some way? Maybe? Weird.
#TimeTravelAuthors 23: rescue/save
*
Carrie took a deep breath. “Listen. Let’s say you want someone to suffer a fatal accident. But before they can, someone else steps in to save them. To fix things in your favour, what do you do?”
“Kill both parties,” Heather suggested immediately.
Carrie frowned, and looked at Heather. “Drastic.”
“Hypothetically,” Heather said, defensively. “I mean, if you’re already killing one person, what’s another life? These are evil people, right?”
#TimeTravelAuthors 25: Something pretty/beautiful?
Sherlock has described Jenny as such. And Carrie and Peaches have mutually described each other that way.
I think that's it, I don't even describe scenery a lot, let alone pretty scenery. (A quick search reveals people being "pretty sure" or "pretty much" something, that's all.)
#TimeTravelAuthors 17: clever?
*
“We can always say Steve told you to lie too,” Sherlock said, adjusting his glasses again. “Thus it wasn’t your fault.”
Jenny laughed weakly. “Oh, Sherlock. I think she knew it was you. Though, the new voice was clever, and in the darkness of that room, maybe she only knew it was someone who had dressed up, not you in particular?”
“Hm. All right.”
#TimeTravelAuthors 29: Weird comparison for the time travel story
The video game "Life is Strange". Max Caulfield can rewind time, is possibly gay for her friend Chloe, and her life is in danger. Checkmark to all the above.
Granted, it's my various characters who rewind time (if they have the pocketwatch) while the MC actually jumps through time (if she has enough power). And Peaches doesn't have blue hair. Close enough. #LifeIsStrange
Give the girl a Twixt or Pockey
True, a turnover makes for a sloppy kiss.
@juliebihn Yeah... since there's a limited number of people who know about the time travel, I don't tend to include scenes that take place in public places, where others would prevent them from speaking about it.
Granted, I probably could have used dialogue by Carrie's father or Frank within those earlier 30k words. They are pretty minor in this sequel. (And fair enough!)
@QuasiTemporal Rocky and his mom are basically like "Free food makes people comfortable." Attached is a mostly-accurate list of food featured in Immigrants' Journey.
Kate is like "Food tastes good."
Actually, my goodness; I think even the short stories I've done for Kate's book mostly feature food (besides the calzone). Maybe I'm the one with the problem. 🤔
Mine is tagged food porn. There is a lot of eating in it. It adds color to the set. Enriches character development. Provides a good breather moment.
It has to fit the characters though. None of your characters seem like foodies.
@QuasiTemporal Shark Tank isn't a food show! It's an American show where entrepreneurs pitch their product ideas to a bunch of rich people (usually including Kevin O'Leary) and the rich people decide whether to give them money in exchange for a share of their company. Certainly leans toward "American dream" propaganda, but a few widely known products did start their rise to fame there.
All that to say, sometimes the product is food, and darn if I don't like watching rich people eat free food.
@juliebihn Ah! Basically "Dragons' Den" then. (You don't have a TV show where rich people comment on the latest Seafood Bisque?)
I never got into that sort of show myself. Even if I had the time, not really my thing.
@QuasiTemporal Yes, it's the same show! Dragons Den was first, but Wikipedia says, "The program originated in 2001 in Japan, where it is known as The Tigers of Money (Japanese: マネーの虎, romanized: manē no tora), a pun on "The Tiger of Malaya" (マレーの虎, marē no tora), which was the nickname of WWII general Tomoyuki Yamashita.[1] The format was created and is owned by Nippon TV and is distributed by Sony Pictures Television."
Wild!
Just finished beta reading a total info dump on time travel theory.
(Fits the scene.)
Otherwise, they don't seem the most serious students. But that might be hard with Cloaky popping in and out of their dorm with guns and bombs.
Interesting that we now exchange work since a recurrent thesis in my work is you can't fight fate. That doing so results in that fate being enacted in a perverted form.
As they say karma is a bitch.
@NaraMoore It is, isn't it. I wonder if we'll end up at odds at some point. :)
Granted, I agree with karma, I've just found my own loopholes to allow for free will within a closed system.
Why would we end up at odds? Minor philosophical difference, no big deal.
Quasi
Julie Bihn
NaraMoore ⛩️👻八尺様👻⛩️ at Fedi