POLL: What Writing Style Do You Prefer in a TL?

What Writing Style Do You Prefer in a TL?


  • Total voters
    103
I've dabbled with most of these kinds, and all I can say is that it really depends on what kind of impression you want to give your reader.
 
I think timeline style is best, as "trying to tell a story" is best left to fiction authors. With punctuation and grammatical errors being (very much) more obvious in narrative and dramatic styles, you have to be pretty good to get away with it. You are either offering an alternative timeline, or a fiction story, so which is it? You've got to be a very good writer for a fiction story.
 
Truth be told, I kind of prefer a mixed approach. I like to see narrative and historical elements woven into the overall outline, in order to provide context and background and I think that it's much more engaging than a straight up timeline-style approach, with a few dry facts and dates. That being said, telling a story from a character's point of view is something I also like to see incorporated along with the other elements. I mean, yeah, it's a mite challenging to pull off, but it makes for a great read if done right.
 
Really like the "snarky lecture" style that you get in Now Bloos the Tudor Rose. Similar to the more common history book but not quite the same.

Also like the primary source style as the TLs that pull it off pull it off really really well.

The documentary interviews in World of Laughter, World of Tears also work well.

For the history book style I'd really prefer if instead of a random grab bag of excerpts you'd have the updates be all of the chapters of one book in order to avoid scope bloat.

If you're going to have a grab bag of excerpts give them different narrative voices.
 
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I would have to say a mixed approach is preferable for me. I understand that sometimes authors prefer to stick with one style but for some readers there are certain styles that may be a bit "dry."
 
History book style because I find that one is the style that fits me the most. It may be dry and direct to the point, but it's great for explainning everything clearly
 
For reading ? I don't have a preference. Just make it interesting and punny if possible.
For writing ? I prefer a history textbook as if written by a teenager.
 
Writing, I am not so sure about since I have not posted a TL/vignette/etc yet. I will most likely figure that out by trial and error.
 
Well, personally I prefer a narrative style since that's what I'm best at, but I really don't mind any of the other options either. Really it's just a question of what the author is best suited for. If someone can pull off a kickass TL that's written in entirely bullet points or lecture notes or wikiboxes then more power to them.
 
I'll have to agree with AnywhereButOTL about his statement on what the author is best suited for. Something else that I consider and point out to others is that you can't please every reader.
 
I reckon something like what Turtledove does - where there is a story but ultimately the ATL is the plot. Just without the 'Sam Carsten got out the zinc oxide cream' every 20 pages!

- BNC
 

ben0628

Banned
I prefer a timeline that has the starting pod/first chapter in a narrative format. Everything after that should be written in a history textbook format that manages to also include the occasional quote from a historical figure who is not a main character but lived in the alternate history to comment on the events unfolding.
 
Depends on the nature of where the TL is if it's in an area or subject where individual people are important than narrative, possibly with a mix of dramatic. Otherwise, a history book format or even bullet points could work as well.
 
Charles soon found out he was at the bottom of a bottomless pit. As his mind struggled agaist the paradox, he said "The fuck ?!"

Charles - So I'm at the bottom of the bottomless pit. First thing, what the fuck?!
 
Speaking from the PoV of someone who hasn't published anything, but has read quite a few TLs (and literally hundreds of published history and historical fiction books), it depends on the scope of the TL.
  • For something with a broad scope across both time and geography, a history book style works well, as it's difficult to represent centuries, or even decades, of progress/change/etc in a personal/narrative style. Try to imagine 'For Want of a Nail' in first-person perspective! On this site, 'Look to the West' is a good example, I think.
  • For something with a smaller scope in terms of time, but still broad in geographical terms, a narrative style is very good - though sometimes dramatic interludes (i.e. first person sections) can work very well. On AH.com, 'And They Shall Reap the Whirlwind' is a good example, IMO.
  • For something compressed in both time and geography, the dramatic style can be very exciting to read - but it's incredibly hard to pull off - even published authors find it difficult!
 
I find the best to be a mixed style. I think a great AHTL can make use of all the styles to create the best impact possible if one can use these properly.
 
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