Used to hate writing prompts about time travel, but one changed my mind

I always rolled my eyes at time travel prompts because they felt too easy and predictable. Then I saw a prompt on r/WritingPrompts about a time traveler who can only go forward at 1 second per second, meaning they just experience life normally. That twist made me realize the genre can be fresh if you force limitations on the character. Anyone else find a specific prompt that flipped your opinion on a trope you normally avoid?

3 comments

3 Comments

grace_wright2d ago

Huh, I actually see it the other way. Without limitations, time travel just turns into a get out of jail free card for any plot problem. The prompt you mentioned sounds clever, but I still think most time travel stories fall back on the same tired "fix the past" or "butterfly effect" stuff.

james_campbell122d ago

Yeah the "fix the past" angle at least gives you something to work with emotionally. But honestly the best time travel stories I've seen just use it as a one way trip. Once you're back you're stuck there. Keeps the stakes real and the writers can't bail themselves out.

davis.adam2d ago

Get out of jail free card" basically describes half the time travel movies I've seen. Like c'mon, writers, you can't just Deus Ex Machina your way out of the third act every time. At least the "fix the past" stuff has some emotional weight to it, even if it's been done to death. But yeah, you're right. Most of it is just lazy writing with a time machine prop.