Writing Multigenerational Stories: Braiding the Past, Present, and Future

Why Are Multigenerational Stories So Powerful?

Multigenerational stories resonate because they explore universal themes like family, legacy, and connection. They invite readers to journey through time, understanding how decisions made in one era ripple through the lives of future generations. Whether it’s the epic sagas of One Hundred Years of Solitude or the heartfelt connections in The Joy Luck Club, these stories capture the complexities of human relationships over time.

By weaving the past, present, and future together, writers can create rich narratives that offer depth and relatability, reflecting the diverse experiences of individuals and families. But how do you craft such layered stories without losing focus or overwhelming your readers?

What Makes a Multigenerational Story Stand Out?

The hallmark of compelling multigenerational stories lies in their ability to balance timelines while maintaining thematic unity. These stories often rely on:

Distinct voices: Characters from different generations should feel authentic to their time and experiences.

Interconnected themes: Themes like love, loss, resilience, and identity link the generations.

Narrative echoes: Events in one timeline may mirror or contrast with those in another, adding richness to the story.

A strong multigenerational narrative doesn’t simply chronicle events across time; it examines how these events shape, bind, or divide the characters.

How Can You Organize Multigenerational Narratives?

Writing multigenerational stories can feel daunting due to the need to juggle multiple timelines, characters, and themes. Here are some strategies to keep your story coherent and engaging:

1. Use a Family Tree or Timeline

Creating a family tree or timeline can help you visualize the relationships and events across generations. Tools like Scrivener or Aeon Timeline can assist in mapping out your narrative.

2. Anchor the Story in a Central Theme or Event

Themes like migration, trauma, or traditions provide a unifying thread. For example, in Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko, the story revolves around the struggles and triumphs of a Korean family across four generations.

3. Decide on a Narrative Structure

Do you want the story to unfold chronologically, or would alternating timelines serve it better? Alternating timelines, as seen in Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, can build tension and highlight parallels between generations.

4. Limit Key Characters

While your story might span generations, focus on a few pivotal characters to avoid overwhelming readers. Secondary characters can enrich the narrative without becoming distractions.

What Role Does Setting Play in Multigenerational Stories?

Settings in multigenerational stories often act as silent characters. A family estate, a hometown, or even a cultural backdrop can tie generations together and evoke strong emotions.

For example, in The Thorn Birds, the family’s connection to their Australian ranch deepens the story’s themes of inheritance and sacrifice. To make settings impactful:

Explore how they change over time (e.g., a bustling city turning into a ghost town).

Show how they shape the characters’ identities and decisions.

Use sensory writing techniques to bring them vividly to life.

How Do You Balance Past, Present, and Future?

Maintaining balance between timelines requires thoughtful pacing and transitions. Here are some tips:

1. Use Signposts for Clarity

Clearly mark shifts in time with the formatting of chapter titles, dates, or visual cues.

2. Blend Timelines Creatively

Consider how the past influences the present. Flashbacks, letters, or artifacts can serve as bridges between timelines, as seen in The Night Watch by Sarah Waters.

3. Focus on Character Reactions

Highlight how current generations react to the legacy of the past, which creates emotional resonance and anchors readers in the present.

Tips for Writing Authentic Multigenerational Stories

Do Your Research

Accurate historical and cultural details can make or break a multigenerational story. Dive into research about the eras you’re writing about, including fashion, technology, and societal norms.

Explore Universal Themes

Multigenerational stories often tackle themes like:

Family legacy: How do we carry the burdens and blessings of those before us?

Cultural identity: What traditions are passed down, and which are left behind?

Generational conflict: How do values clash between the old and the new?

Write Relatable Characters

While each character should feel rooted in their time, their emotions and struggles should resonate universally. Readers need to see reflections of their own families and experiences within the story.

Let the Story Evolve

Be open to discovering connections or themes as you write. Sometimes the strongest narratives emerge organically.

Examples of Multigenerational Story Success

Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude: This masterpiece spans seven generations, exploring themes of memory, repetition, and the weight of history in the Buendía family.

Celeste Ng’s Everything I Never Told You: Although not explicitly multigenerational, this novel delves into how familial expectations and cultural identity affect different members of a family.

Lisa See’s Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy: These novels explore the relationship between mothers and daughters across tumultuous decades of Chinese history.

Why Should You Write Multigenerational Stories?

Multigenerational stories challenge you to think beyond the immediate and delve into how the threads of history, memory, and relationships intertwine. They invite readers to explore profound questions about legacy, identity, and connection.

Whether you’re drawing from personal history or crafting entirely fictional families, writing multigenerational stories can be deeply rewarding—for both you and your readers.

Crafting a Narrative Across Time

Writing multigenerational stories is an art of balance and depth. By weaving together distinct voices, rich settings, and universal themes, you can create narratives that resonate across generations. Embrace the challenge, and let your characters’ pasts, presents, and futures shine!

Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.