Dates are crucial in any story. They help establish the time frame for the events that happen and give a reason for why things were done a certain way. One of the most basic rules in creative writing is to use language that is simple and easy to understand by your reader.
You may be familiar with the common mistake of using fancy language or complex phrases when writing a historical novel or a science fiction story. Those are difficult subjects, and if you want your readers to understand what is being said, you will need to take the time to research and learn a bit before you start writing. You would not believe how many writers have to have their work edited because they didn’t understand how a comma or a semicolon worked. Or how many students have to have their essays rewritten because they couldn’t understand the simplest sentence structure. It’s sad when your work is not good enough, but it’s even sadder when you don’t even understand how to properly write a sentence.
Now, don’t get me wrong. It is not necessary to know the difference between a gerund and a present participle to write a good story. You just have to know how to use them correctly. But beyond that, simple and direct language will make your writing much easier to understand and more effective.
When it comes to dates, you will usually see them written in a different way than you are used to. Instead of writing out the date in full, you will see numbers or symbols instead. Here is a short guide to how to write dates in creative writing so that you can produce readable and effective pieces of text:
1-3 months
If you don’t want to share too much information with your readers at once, you can start with the month and year before they become too much of a common element. If you want to make it a little more intricate, you can go with:
“It was the beginning of the summer three months ago.”
“Three months ago, I began work on my novel.”
“Three months ago, I started working on a musical about King Arthur.”
“Three months ago, I entered the tech startup world.”
You may think that these are not correct ways to write dates in English. But take a closer look—they’re not that different from standard writing. The key is in the way that you say them. The more you practice, the easier it will become to incorporate this method into your writing.
4-7 years
For those who are interested in an exact date, you can always use this format:
“On the fourth of July, 1976, I threw my first party.”
“On July 5th, 1976, I got my first dog, a chocolate Labrador Retriever named Snickers.”
“In 2012, I published my first book, titled The Rise of the Rocket Race.”
“In 2013, I began a YouTube series with my wife, Liz, called My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”
There are a few things you need to note about this format. First, always use the present tense. Second, try to avoid the term “I” as much as possible. Third, watch your spelling. Fourth, make sure that you are consistent with the way you format dates throughout your work. These are just some of the many mistakes that creative writers make when it comes to dates. As a general rule, simpler is better, and for the most part, correct spelling and verb agreement will bring your story much closer to the mark.
8-10 years
The decade rule is often used to establish the time frame of a story. Instead of just using “this year,” you can write:
“In 2021, I turned 30.”
“For the past ten years, I have worked in customer fulfilment.”
“For the last decade, I devoted myself to my family and my education.”
“I started teaching English in 2010, and in the last three years, I have noticed a shift towards more students wanting to write.”
“Over the past ten years, I have seen a huge shift in the way people interact on social media.”
“The decade rule is a great way to start a story. For those who are interested in the details of how it is done, take a look at our guide on how to write the perfect story starter.
11-14 years
For those who are looking for an exact date, you can use this format:
“On June 11th, 2022, I celebrated my 37th birthday.”
“On June 11th, 2022, I turned 37.”
“On June 11th, 2022, I started a business with my wife, Liz. We call it Umbrella Wines & Spirits and sell wine and spirits online and at retail locations throughout the UK.”
“On October 5th, 2023, my wife, Liz, and I bought a house in the countryside.”
“In 2024, after years of saving, we bought a sailboat. We named it Bonjoro and set off on a voyage around the world, stopping off in Italy, France, and the US. We are currently in the process of writing a book about our travels. This is our continuing story.”
You will often see this format followed by a period of time in parentheses. This is known as the parenthetical time period.
“After his death, his will was proved in court, and I received a sizable sum of money.” (18 months)
“After spending a summer in Ibiza, she returned to school with a brand new perspective on life.” (2 weeks)
“After moving to the UK in 2022, I took inspiration from English towns and villages, learning to bake British classics and experimenting with unique recipes inspired by British culture and food.” (6 months)
“After a lifetime of travelling around the world and being on the move, Liz and I bought a house in England and settled down to live our lives together as a couple.” (3 months)
“A few weeks before he was due to leave for Italy, my husband, John, and I held a dinner party at which we asked friends to say their goodbyes.” (4 weeks)
“Liz and I wanted to do something different for our 40th birthday celebration, and after looking at some of the wonderful things that Noma restaurant in London had to offer, we decided to have a dinner there.” (1 week)
“Over the past year, I have watched my waistline gradually disappear thanks to my renewed passion for running.” (9 months)
“Over the past year, I have dusted off my guitar and started playing again. I have been slowly adding more and more songs to my reel, which now includes over 100 compositions.” (2 weeks)
“After 15 years of living in the UK, I finally made the decision to settle down. With my wife, Liz, I purchased a smallholding in rural England. As we work our way through the process of renovating the property and building our dream home, we are looking forward to creating more memories and growing our family.” (1 week)
As you can see, these are just some of the many different ways you can write dates in novels, biographies, and autobiographies. There are several different approaches that you can take, and you have to find the one that works best for your specific story. The key is in being able to keep your dates as close to the reality as possible. Just remember that the more you can do this, the more effective your story will be. Thanks for reading! We hope this article has helped you in your quest to become a more effective and innovative writer. If you liked this article and want to see more, check out:
How to Write the Perfect Story Starter
Having a good story starter is essential if you want to produce a creative and engaging piece of fiction. A story starter is a short piece of prose that serves as a springboard for your writing. It should be engaging and enticing, but not so much that it distracts your readers from the story itself. If you want to write a convincing story starter and build a solid foundation for your creative writing work, follow these simple steps: