3 Tips for Writing Time-Travel Stories

There’s a reason time-travel stories have stood the test of time — we love imagining the different paths our lives could take. What if we could prevent a loved one’s death or change the course of history? What if we could meet our past or future selves?

Recursion by Blake Crouch reminded me how good time-travel stories can be when they include the right ingredients. Not every novel about time travel has to be an action-packed thrill ride; the story simply needs to feel fresh and emotionally believable. Here are three ways writers can create a satisfying narrative in this familiar sci-fi subgenre.

WARNING: Slight spoilers for Recursion ahead!

1. Clarify the Rules

If the audience is confused about what is or isn’t possible with the story’s technology, it’s harder to suspend disbelief. Ambiguous world-building rules might lead to questions like “Why didn’t the characters just [insert obvious action here]?” You need to include enough “hand-wavium” science or narrative mumbo-jumbo to allow the reader to buy into the story’s reality.

In Recursion, the time-travel technology involves a sensory deprivation tank combined with a special “chair.” The user must record a clear memory of the moment to which they want to travel. So, they can’t just go back to any moment in time…