creative writing on time travel

127+ Time Travel Story Ideas & Prompts For Creative Writers

What if you could go back in time and read this introduction before I wrote it? That’s the kind of mind-bending question time travel stories love to explore. It’s no wonder they’ve been popular since H.G. Wells penned “The Time Machine” in 1895.

Time travel isn’t just a sci-fi gimmick. It’s a powerful tool for storytellers. It lets us rewrite history, peek into the future, or create complex character arcs that span centuries. But with so many time travel tales out there, how do you come up with something new?

Don’t worry – I’ve got your back! This article is packed with fresh, inspiring time travel story ideas. Whether you’re writing a novel , screenplay , or short story, you’ll find concepts here to kickstart your creativity. From historical “what-ifs” to futuristic paradoxes, we’ll explore the full potential of temporal tales.

Ready to warp your imagination? Let’s go!

Tons of Time Travel Story Ideas

Historical adventures.

These stories allow characters to journey to significant historical events, interact with famous figures, and explore “what if” scenarios that alter or preserve key moments in history.

The Unwritten Symphony : A time traveler visits Vienna in 1827 to meet Ludwig van Beethoven, who is struggling with his hearing loss while trying to complete a symphony that could redefine classical music. As they help Beethoven find inspiration , they change the course of music history and influence future composers.

The Day Lincoln Lived : Traveling back to April 14, 1865, a historian prevents the assassination of Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. As they explore how Lincoln’s survival impacts his plans for Reconstruction and the healing of a divided nation, they witness significant changes in American history.

The Fall of the Aztec Empire : Journeying to 1519, an anthropologist attempts to warn the Aztecs about Hernán Cortés’ arrival. As they face the challenges of convincing the Aztec leaders, they see how the survival of the empire impacts global history.

The Unburned Library : A scholar goes back to ancient Alexandria to save the Great Library from destruction. As they witness how the preservation of knowledge accelerates scientific progress, they see its influence on future generations of thinkers.

The Unseen Armistice : A diplomat prevents the outbreak of World War I by mediating peace between European powers in 1914. As they explore a world where the Great War never happens, they observe how political alliances, technological advancements, and cultural shifts develop differently.

The Unfinished Painting : Traveling to 1503, an art enthusiast assists Leonardo da Vinci in completing the Mona Lisa. As they discover the secrets behind the painting’s enigmatic smile, they see how its completion influences the art world and da Vinci’s legacy.

The Unfought Battle : Altering the outcome of the Battle of Hastings in 1066, a military strategist leads to a different ruler on the English throne. As they examine the cultural shifts and political changes that follow, they witness a transformed history.

The Unbroken Treaty : Preventing the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, a navigator changes the geopolitical landscape. As they explore the effects on colonization, trade routes, and relations between European powers, they see a new world order emerge.

The Unwritten Declaration : Visiting Philadelphia in 1776, a political philosopher influences the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, ensuring more inclusive rights from the start. As they consider how these changes impact the founding of the United States, they witness its future development.

The Uncrowned King : Traveling to 1483, a royal advisor prevents the disappearance of the Princes in the Tower. As they witness how their survival changes the course of English history, they alter the Wars of the Roses and the rise of the Tudor dynasty.

The Unstoppable March : Joining Gandhi in 1930 during the Salt March, a peace activist uses foresight to prevent British retaliation. As they explore the impact of a more peaceful transition to independence, they see how India’s future and its role in the world are affected.

The Unseen Revolution : Going back to 1789, a political advisor influences the French Revolution’s leaders to adopt more moderate reforms, preventing the Reign of Terror. As they consider how these changes impact France’s development, they observe its influence on global revolutions.

The Unsunk Armada : Traveling to 1588, a naval strategist aids the Spanish Armada, leading to its victory over England. As they explore how this victory changes the balance of power in Europe, they see the future of the Spanish and British empires transformed.

The Unwritten Gospel : Meeting Jesus of Nazareth, a historian documents his teachings firsthand. As they consider how this firsthand account might alter the course of religious history, they witness the development of Christianity.

The Unfought Duel : Preventing the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr in 1804, a political ally preserves Hamilton’s life. As they explore how Hamilton’s continued influence shapes early American politics, they observe changes in the nation’s financial system.

Futuristic Explorations

These stories allow characters to go into the future and see new technological advancements and societal changes. They may explore the implications of dystopian or utopian futures and how they came to be.

The AI Overlords : In a future where AI governs society, a human rights activist navigates the ethical dilemmas of coexisting with machine rulers. As they uncover a hidden resistance movement, they must decide whether to join the fight for human autonomy or seek a peaceful coexistence.

The Last Green Oasis : An environmental scientist travels to a future Earth devastated by climate change, discovering a thriving green oasis amidst the desolation. As they investigate the oasis’s secrets, they face moral choices about whether to share its technology with the world or protect it from exploitation.

The Utopian Experiment : A sociologist visits a future society that claims to have achieved utopia. As they delve deeper, they uncover the hidden costs and sacrifices made to maintain this perfect world, challenging their beliefs about happiness and freedom.

The Time Capsule : A historian stumbles upon a time capsule from the future containing advanced technology. As they grapple with the decision to introduce these innovations to their present, they face unforeseen consequences that threaten to unravel the fabric of time.

The Genetic Divide : In a future where genetic engineering has created a divide between enhanced and unenhanced humans, a journalist investigates societal tensions and conflicts. As they uncover a conspiracy that could bridge the genetic gap, they must choose between exposing the truth and protecting their loved ones.

The Virtual Reality Escape : A gamer and programmer enters a future where virtual reality is indistinguishable from real life. As they become entangled in a virtual world, they struggle to maintain their identity and relationships in the face of digital addiction.

The Last Human Colony : An astronaut and engineer travels to a distant future where Earth’s last human colony struggles for survival on a new planet. As they work to ensure the colony’s future, they uncover secrets about the planet’s past inhabitants that could change everything.

The Solar Flare Crisis : In a future where a massive solar flare threatens to wipe out all digital technology, a scientist races against time to preserve knowledge and society. As they lead a team to build a digital ark, they face sabotage and betrayal from those who would see them fail.

The Time Traveler’s Guide to the Galaxy : A time travel enthusiast and guide operates in a future where time travel tourism is booming. As they navigate the risks of altering timelines, they encounter a mysterious traveler with a hidden agenda that could disrupt the entire industry.

The Rewilding Project : An ecologist returns to Earth in the future after humans have left to allow nature to reclaim it. As they lead the first expedition to explore the rewilded planet, they discover unexpected dangers and wonders that challenge their understanding of nature.

The Memory Market : In a future where memories can be bought and sold, a detective uncovers a conspiracy involving stolen identities. As they delve deeper, they must confront their own past and decide whether to risk everything to expose the truth.

The Quantum Leap : A physicist witnesses a future breakthrough in quantum computing that allows for instantaneous travel across the universe. As they explore new worlds, they face ethical dilemmas about the impact of colonization and the responsibility of discovery.

The Dystopian Rebellion : In a future where a totalitarian regime controls every aspect of life, a rebel leader fights for freedom. As they lead the underground movement, they must navigate betrayal and sacrifice to ignite a revolution.

The Utopian Downfall : A historian and writer visits a future utopia on the brink of collapse. As they uncover the events leading to its downfall, they must decide whether to intervene or let history take its course.

The Time Loop Society : In a future where society lives in a perpetual time loop, a scientist works to break the cycle. As they uncover the mysterious event that triggered the loop, they face the ultimate choice between personal happiness and the greater good.

Alternate Realities

These stories allow characters to explore parallel universes and experience the butterfly effect, where minor changes in the past lead to vastly different present realities.

The Unseen War : A soldier discovers a parallel universe where their country lost a major war. Faced with this alternate reality, they must decide whether to return to their own world or fight for a cause they once opposed.

The Divergent Path : A scientist invents a device that allows them to visit parallel universes. As they explore worlds where they made different life choices, they must confront the impact of these decisions on their identity and happiness.

The Altered Timeline : A historian accidentally changes a minor event in the past, creating a new timeline where a different civilization dominates the world. Exploring this altered reality, they must choose whether to restore the original timeline or embrace the new world.

The Parallel Family : A parent stumbles upon a universe where their family dynamics are completely different. Experiencing life with alternate versions of their loved ones, they must decide which reality they truly belong to.

The Forgotten Friendship : A time traveler inadvertently prevents a chance meeting that led to a lifelong friendship. In a world without their closest ally, they must find a way to restore the bond or accept a life without it.

The Alternate Revolution : A political activist discovers a universe where their movement succeeded in creating a new government. Exploring this reality, they must decide whether to bring these revolutionary ideas back to their own world.

The Unwritten Novel : An author finds themselves in a universe where their most famous work was never published. As they explore the consequences of this absence, they must decide whether to recreate the novel or pursue a new path.

The Lost Invention : An inventor discovers a parallel world where their groundbreaking invention was never created. In this reality, they must choose whether to introduce the invention and risk altering the course of history.

The Unmet Love : A romantic soul finds themselves in a universe where they never met their soulmate. Experiencing life without their partner, they must decide whether to seek them out or embrace a new love.

The Alternate Legacy : A descendant discovers a universe where their ancestor made a different choice, leading to a vastly different family legacy. As they explore this reality, they must decide whether to restore the original legacy or accept the new one.

The Unseen Disaster : A scientist prevents a minor environmental change, leading to a world where a major disaster never occurred. Exploring the consequences, they must choose whether to restore the original timeline or embrace the new reality.

The Parallel Career : A professional discovers a universe where they pursue a completely different career path. Experiencing life in this new role, they must decide whether to return to their original career or embrace the change.

The Unchallenged Leader : A political figure finds themselves in a universe where their rival never existed. In this new reality, they must decide whether to maintain their power or seek out new challenges.

The Alternate Childhood : An adult revisits a universe where their childhood was vastly different. As they explore the impact of these changes on their personality, they must decide whether to return to their original life or embrace the new one.

The Unseen Art : An artist discovers a parallel world where their artistic style is completely different. As they explore the impact of this change on their career, they must decide whether to adopt the new style or return to their original work.

Personal Journeys

These stories allow characters to use time travel for self-reflection and personal growth, as well as to explore family ties by meeting ancestors and uncovering family secrets.

The Regretful Reunion : A character travels back to a pivotal moment in their past to mend a broken friendship. As they navigate the emotional complexities of their younger self, they must decide whether to change their actions or accept the past as it is.

The Ancestral Quest : A character journeys back in time to meet their great-grandparents, uncovering hidden family secrets. As they learn about their ancestors’ struggles and triumphs, they gain a deeper understanding of their own identity and values.

The Second Chance : After a failed career, a character travels back to their first job interview, determined to make different choices. As they relive their early career days, they must confront the fears and insecurities that held them back.

The Lost Love : A character revisits a past relationship, hoping to understand why it ended. As they relive moments with their former partner, they must decide whether to change the outcome or find closure in the present.

The Family Heirloom : A character travels back to the origin of a cherished family heirloom, discovering its true significance. As they uncover the story behind the object, they learn valuable lessons about their family’s legacy.

The Unspoken Apology : A character returns to a moment when they hurt a loved one with harsh words. As they navigate the emotional landscape of their past, they must decide whether to apologize or let the experience shape their growth.

The Forgotten Dream : A character revisits their childhood dreams and aspirations, reigniting their passion for an abandoned hobby. As they explore their younger self’s ambitions, they must decide whether to pursue these dreams in the present.

The Family Reunion : A character travels back to a family gathering they never attended, meeting relatives they never knew. As they uncover the dynamics and secrets of their extended family, they gain insights into their own place within it.

The Unfinished Letter : A character finds an unsent letter they wrote in their youth and travels back to deliver it. As they confront their younger self’s emotions, they must decide whether to send the letter or leave it in the past.

The Sibling Bond : A character revisits a childhood rivalry with a sibling, seeking to understand its roots. As they relive their shared experiences, they must decide whether to mend the relationship or accept it as it is.

The Mentor’s Wisdom : A character travels back to meet a mentor who profoundly influenced their life. As they seek guidance from their younger self’s perspective, they must decide whether to follow the mentor’s advice or forge their own path.

The Parental Legacy : A character journeys back to their parents’ youth, witnessing pivotal moments in their lives. As they learn about their parents’ struggles and sacrifices, they gain a new appreciation for their upbringing.

The Unlived Life : A character explores a path they never took, experiencing an alternate version of their life. As they navigate this new reality, they must decide whether to embrace the changes or return to their original timeline.

The Healing Journey : A character revisits a traumatic event from their past, seeking closure and healing. As they confront their pain, they must decide whether to alter the event or accept it as part of their growth.

The Ancestor’s Choice : A character travels back to witness a critical decision made by an ancestor. As they observe the impact of this choice on their family’s history, they gain insights into their own decision-making process.

Time Travel Romance

These stories explore the complexities of love across time. Characters may fall in love with someone from another era or attempt to rekindle lost love by traveling back to important moments.

The Timeless Connection : A modern-day historian falls in love with a portrait from the 18th century. When they are mysteriously transported back in time, they meet the subject of the painting and face the challenges of a love that defies centuries.

The Lost Letter : A character discovers an unsent love letter from the past and travels back to deliver it. As they meet the letter’s intended recipient, they must decide whether to alter the course of history for the sake of love.

The Dance of Eras : A ballroom dancer from the present day finds themselves in a 1920s speakeasy, where they meet a charismatic partner. As they fall in love through dance, they must find a way to bridge the gap between their worlds.

The Revolutionary’s Heart : A character travels back to the American Revolution and falls for a passionate revolutionary. Amid the dangers of war, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

The Victorian Affair : A character from the future finds themselves in Victorian England, where they fall for a charming aristocrat. As they explore the constraints of societal norms, they must decide whether love is worth sacrificing their modern freedoms.

The Medieval Romance : A character is transported to a medieval kingdom, where they fall for a knight with a mysterious past. As they uncover secrets and face battles, they must decide whether to fight for their love or return to their own time.

The Jazz Age Serenade : A musician from the present day travels back to the 1920s and falls for a jazz singer. Immersed in the vibrant world of speakeasies and prohibition, they must find a way to bring their love into the future.

The Time-Traveling Artist : An artist falls in love with a muse from the Renaissance. As they travel back to capture their muse’s likeness, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time with their art.

The Ancient Love Story : A character travels back to ancient Greece and falls for a philosopher. As they explore the world of classical thought, they must decide whether to stay in the past or bring their newfound wisdom to the present.

The Pirate’s Heart : A character finds themselves on a pirate ship in the 17th century, where they fall for the enigmatic captain. Amid the dangers of the high seas, they must decide whether to stay with their love or return to their own time.

The Regency Romance : A character from the future is transported to Regency England, where they fall for a dashing duke. As they experience the complexities of courtship and society, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time.

The Lost Love Song : A character discovers a forgotten love song from the past and travels back to meet the composer. As they fall in love through music, they must decide whether to alter the course of history for the sake of their relationship.

The Time-Traveling Detective : A detective from the present day travels back to solve a mystery and falls for a witness from the past. As they work together to uncover the truth, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

The Renaissance Rendezvous : A character is transported to the Italian Renaissance, where they fall for a brilliant inventor. As they explore the world of art and science, they must decide whether to remain in the past or return to their own time.

The Colonial Courtship : A character travels back to colonial America and falls for a charming settler. While adjusting to the challenges of frontier life, they must decide whether to stay in the past or return to their own time.

Time Loop Dilemmas

These stories explore the intriguing concept of time loops, where characters are stuck repeating the same day or experiencing different outcomes based on their choices.

The Endless Monday : A character finds themselves reliving the same Monday over and over. As they navigate the monotony, they must uncover the lesson they need to learn to break free from the loop.

The Wedding Day Repeat : A bride or groom is stuck in a time loop on their wedding day. As they experience the day repeatedly, they must confront their doubts and fears about marriage to move forward.

The Exam Day Dilemma : A student relives the day of an important exam, each time making different choices about how to prepare. As they explore various outcomes, they must discover the true purpose of the loop.

The Reunion Loop : A character attends a high school reunion and finds themselves repeating the night. As they reconnect with old friends and enemies, they must resolve past conflicts to escape the loop.

The First Date Cycle : A character is trapped in a loop on their first date with someone special. As they relive the date, they must learn to be authentic and vulnerable to break the cycle.

The Office Groundhog Day : An employee experiences the same workday repeatedly, facing different challenges and interactions with colleagues. They must discover the key to improving their work-life balance to escape.

The Birthday Paradox : A character relives their birthday, each time making different choices about how to celebrate. As they explore the significance of the day, they must confront their fears of aging and change.

The Concert Loop : A musician is stuck in a loop during a pivotal concert performance. As they relive the show, they must overcome stage fright and embrace their passion for music.

The Family Dinner Repeat : A character finds themselves repeating a tense family dinner. As they navigate the dynamics, they must learn to communicate openly and honestly to break free.

The Election Day Cycle : A politician relives election day, each time experiencing different outcomes based on their campaign choices. To escape the loop, they must confront their motivations and values.

The Vacation Paradox : A character is stuck in a loop during a vacation, each day offering new adventures and challenges. They must learn to appreciate the present moment to break the cycle.

The Job Interview Repeat : A job seeker experiences the same interview repeatedly, each time making different choices about how to present themselves. To escape, they must discover the key to self-confidence.

The Hospital Loop : A doctor relives a day in the hospital, facing different medical emergencies and ethical dilemmas. To break free, they must learn to balance empathy and professionalism.

The Festival Cycle : A character is trapped in a loop during a cultural festival, with each day offering new insights into their heritage. To escape the cycle, they must embrace their identity.

The Market Day Repeat : A vendor relives the same day at a bustling market, each time making different choices about their business. They must discover the importance of community and connection to break the loop.

Time Police and Enforcers

These stories explore the concept of time law enforcement and temporal outlaws, where characters navigate the challenges of maintaining or disrupting the timeline.

The Time Patrol : A dedicated officer in a time-traveling police force is tasked with preventing illegal alterations to history. As they chase a notorious time thief, they must confront their own past decisions and the moral complexities of their role.

The Temporal Fugitive : A former time cop becomes a fugitive after discovering corruption within the force. As they evade capture, they must gather evidence to expose the truth and clear their name.

The Paradox Enforcers : A team of enforcers specializes in fixing paradoxes caused by rogue time travelers. As they tackle a particularly complex case, they must work together to unravel the mystery and restore the timeline.

The Time Heist : A group of skilled thieves plans a heist across different time periods, aiming to steal valuable artifacts. As a time cop tracks their movements, they must outsmart the criminals and protect the timeline.

The Temporal Peacekeepers : In a future where time travel is common, a peacekeeping force mediates conflicts across eras. As they navigate a delicate negotiation, they must prevent a war that could alter history.

The Rogue Agent : A seasoned time cop goes rogue, using their knowledge to alter key events for personal gain. As their former partner pursues them, they must confront their motivations and the consequences of their actions.

The Time War : A rebel group fights against an oppressive regime that controls the timeline. As they launch attacks on key historical events, they must balance their desire for freedom with the potential for chaos.

The Temporal Conspiracy : A young recruit in the time police uncovers a conspiracy to manipulate history for profit. As they investigate, they must decide whom to trust and how far they will go to protect the timeline.

The Time Traveler’s Dilemma : A time cop faces a personal dilemma when they encounter a loved one from the past. As they struggle with their emotions, they must choose between duty and desire.

The Historical Guardians : A secret organization protects the timeline from those who would exploit it. As a new threat emerges, they must rally their forces to defend history from destruction.

The Temporal Double Agent : An undercover agent infiltrates a group of temporal outlaws, gathering intelligence to bring them down. As they gain the rebels’ trust, they must decide where their true loyalties lie.

The Time Enforcers’ Legacy : A retired time cop mentors a new generation of enforcers, passing on their knowledge and wisdom. As they face a new threat, they must confront their past mistakes and guide their protégés.

The Time Traveler’s Code : A group of ethical time travelers adheres to a strict code to protect history. As they encounter a rogue traveler, they must decide whether to uphold their principles or bend the rules.

The Temporal Refugees : A group of refugees from a war-torn future seeks asylum in the past. As time cops pursue them, they must navigate the challenges of survival and assimilation in a new era.

The Timekeeper’s Trial : A time cop stands trial for altering history, facing judgment from their peers. As they defend their actions, they must confront the moral and ethical implications of their choices.

Historical Mysteries

These stories have characters that use time travel to solve enigmas from the past or recover artifacts with hidden secrets.

The Pharaoh’s Secret: A time-traveling detective is sent to ancient Egypt to uncover the truth behind a pharaoh’s mysterious death. Navigating court intrigue, they must solve a mystery that has been lost to history.

The Vanished Manuscript: A scholar travels to the Middle Ages to find a lost manuscript with groundbreaking scientific knowledge. Facing rival factions, they must decipher its secrets before it disappears forever.

The Enigma of the Templars: A character journeys to the time of the Knights Templar to solve the mystery of their sudden disappearance. As they infiltrate the order, they uncover a conspiracy that could alter history.

The Lost City: An archaeologist travels back to the height of the Mayan civilization to discover the fate of a lost city. They must navigate jungle dangers and ancient politics to unravel the city’s secrets.

The Disappearing Duchess: A future detective travels to Victorian England to solve the mystery of a duchess who vanished without a trace. Delving into social circles, they uncover secrets buried for centuries.

The Cursed Crown: A character is tasked with retrieving a cursed crown from a notorious medieval king’s court. They must decide whether the curse is real or a clever ruse amidst treacherous politics.

The Alchemist’s Riddle: A time traveler ventures to the Renaissance to solve the mystery of an alchemist’s disappearance. They must unlock the secrets of the alchemist’s work before it falls into the wrong hands.

The Pirate’s Treasure: A character travels to the Golden Age of Piracy to locate a legendary treasure. Battling rival treasure hunters and treacherous seas, they must decipher clues left by a notorious pirate captain.

The Vanishing Violin: A musician journeys to the Baroque era to find a famous composer’s missing violin. Navigating the world of classical music, they must solve the puzzle before the instrument is lost forever.

The Witch’s Trial: A time-traveling investigator is sent to the Salem witch trials to uncover the truth behind the accusations. They must separate fact from fiction to bring justice to the innocent.

The Emperor’s Puzzle: A character travels to ancient China to solve the mystery of an emperor’s missing artifact. As they navigate the imperial court’s intricacies, they must piece together the puzzle before it leads to war.

The Disappearing Diplomat: A detective ventures to the early 20th century to solve the mystery of a diplomat who vanished during a peace conference. They must unravel political tensions and uncover the truth before history is altered.

The Viking’s Secret: A character travels back to the Viking Age to uncover the mystery of a legendary warrior’s burial site. Exploring Norse mythology, they must decipher the clues left by the warrior’s clan.

The Painter’s Muse: An art historian journeys to the 19th century to solve the mystery of a famous painter’s missing muse. They delve into the artist’s world to uncover the truth behind the muse’s disappearance.

The Timekeeper’s Artifact: A character is tasked with retrieving a mysterious artifact from the ancient world. Navigating the dangers of time travel, they must uncover the artifact’s secrets and its connection to a modern-day mystery.

Time Machine as a Commodity

These stories explore the concept of time travel as a commercial enterprise. Characters can purchase journeys to the past or future, leading to ethical dilemmas and unforeseen consequences.

The Time Travel Agency : A character invests in a time travel agency that offers trips to historical events. While running the business, they must confront ethical questions about altering the past for profit.

The Tourist’s Dilemma : A time tourist visits ancient Rome and accidentally disrupts a key event. Faced with the consequences, they must find a way to restore the timeline without revealing their true identity.

The Time Share : A character purchases a timeshare in the Renaissance, allowing them to experience life as a noble. While enjoying the luxuries of the past, they struggle to maintain their modern values.

The Temporal Cruise : A luxury cruise line offers voyages through time, with each stop at a different historical period. A passenger must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history, but resisting temptation proves difficult.

The Ethical Traveler : A character works for a company that offers time travel experiences, ensuring clients follow ethical guidelines. When they encounter a client intent on changing history, they must decide whether to intervene.

The Historical Auction : A wealthy collector purchases time travel experiences at an auction, bidding on moments from history. As they explore their acquisitions, they must face the moral implications of their actions.

The Time Tourist’s Guide : A character writes a guidebook for time tourists, offering advice on how to handle different eras. As they gather material for their book, they must balance historical accuracy with the potential for unintended consequences.

The Temporal Resort : A resort offers guests the chance to experience different time periods, with themed accommodations and activities. As a guest, a character must deal with the challenges of living in a different era while adhering to the resort’s rules.

The Time Broker : A character brokers deals for clients seeking time travel experiences, matching them with specific historical events. While dealing with client demands, they must confront the ethical dilemmas of their work.

The Time Travel Lottery : A lottery offers winners the chance to travel to any time period of their choice. As a winner, a character must decide whether to pursue personal desires or use their journey for the greater good.

The Temporal Detective : A detective investigates crimes committed by time travelers, tracking down those who have altered history for personal gain. As they pursue their cases, they must tackle the complexities of time travel law.

The Time Traveler’s Club : A character joins an exclusive club for time travelers, where members share stories of their adventures. After hearing tales of ethical dilemmas and unintended consequences, they must decide whether to embark on their own journey.

The Historical Vacation : A character takes a vacation to a different time period, exploring the culture and customs of the era. While trying to fit in, they must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history.

The Time Travel Entrepreneur : An entrepreneur develops a new time travel technology, offering affordable experiences to the masses. While running the business, they must confront the potential for exploitation and unintended consequences.

The Temporal Exchange : A character participates in a time exchange program, living in a different era while someone from that time visits the present. As they adjust to their new life, they must adhere to strict rules to prevent altering history.

Future Self Interactions

These stories explore the intriguing concept of characters interacting with their future selves, offering insights into life choices, potential outcomes, and the lasting impact of their actions on future generations.

The Unexpected Encounter : A character unexpectedly meets their future self, who is living a life they never imagined. As they learn about the choices that led to this future, they must decide whether to embrace or change their current path.

The Legacy Conversation : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the impact of their actions on their descendants. As they grapple with the consequences, they must decide whether to alter their present behavior to create a better legacy.

The Career Crossroads : At a pivotal career decision, a character meets their future self, who has taken a different path. As they explore the outcomes of each choice, they must decide which path aligns with their true aspirations.

The Family Reunion : A character encounters their future self at a family gathering, witnessing the dynamics and relationships that have evolved over time. As they reflect on their role within the family, they must decide how to nurture these connections.

The Health Revelation : A character meets their future self, who reveals the long-term consequences of their current lifestyle choices. As they confront the reality of their future health, they must decide whether to make changes in the present.

The Artistic Journey : An aspiring artist meets their future self, who has achieved great success. As they learn about the struggles and sacrifices required, they must decide whether to pursue their passion or seek a different path.

The Environmental Impact : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the environmental consequences of their actions. As they witness the state of the future world, they must decide how to contribute to a more sustainable present.

The Romantic Revelation : A character encounters their future self, who reveals the outcome of their current romantic relationship. As they explore the possibilities, they must decide whether to nurture or reconsider their partnership.

The Financial Forecast : A character meets their future self, who shares insights into the financial decisions that shaped their future. As they weigh the risks and rewards, they must decide how to manage their resources wisely.

The Community Leader : A character is visited by their future self, who has become a respected community leader. As they learn about the impact of their civic engagement, they must decide how to contribute to their community’s growth.

The Educational Path : A student meets their future self, who reveals the outcomes of their educational choices. As they explore the possibilities, they must decide which path aligns with their goals and values.

The Technological Innovator : A character encounters their future self, who has developed groundbreaking technology. As they learn about the challenges and successes, they must decide whether to pursue innovation or focus on other interests.

The Personal Growth Journey : A character meets their future self, who has achieved personal growth and fulfillment. As they learn about the steps taken to reach this state, they must decide how to prioritize their own development.

The Social Impact : A character is visited by their future self, who reveals the societal impact of their actions. As they witness the changes they have inspired, they must decide how to continue making a positive difference.

The Spiritual Awakening : A character encounters their future self, who has embarked on a spiritual journey. As they explore the path to enlightenment, they must decide how to integrate spirituality into their present life.

Cosmic Time Travel

These stories explore the vast possibilities of cosmic time travel. Characters journey through time and space, encountering alien civilizations and navigating time as a dimension with its own unique rules and inhabitants.

The Galactic Explorer : A character embarks on an intergalactic journey through time, visiting alien civilizations at different stages of development. As they learn about the diverse cultures and histories, they must decide how to use this knowledge to benefit their own world.

The Cosmic Cartographer : Tasked with mapping time as a dimension, a character discovers hidden pathways and cosmic phenomena. As they navigate this uncharted territory, they must confront the challenges of documenting a constantly shifting landscape.

The Alien Alliance : A character travels through time and space to broker peace between warring alien species. As they navigate the complexities of intergalactic diplomacy, they must find common ground to prevent a cosmic catastrophe.

The Temporal Navigator : A skilled navigator guides a spaceship through time as a dimension, encountering celestial beings that exist outside of time. As they learn the rules of this dimension, they must ensure the safe passage of their crew.

The Time Rift : A character discovers a rift in the fabric of time, leading to a parallel universe where time flows differently. As they explore this new reality, they must decide whether to close the rift or embrace the possibilities it offers.

The Cosmic Library : A character stumbles upon a library that contains the history of the universe, recorded by an ancient alien race. As they delve into the knowledge within, they must decide how to use this information to shape the future.

The Temporal Refuge : A character seeks refuge in a time dimension to escape a dying universe. As they encounter other refugees from across time and space, they must navigate the challenges of building a new society.

The Celestial Guide : An alien being guides a character through the complexities of time as a dimension, revealing its secrets and dangers. As they journey together, they must confront the moral implications of their discoveries.

The Time Wave : A character rides a cosmic wave that transports them through different eras and galaxies. As they experience the wonders and perils of the universe, they must learn to control the wave to return home.

The Intergalactic Historian : A historian travels through time and space to document the rise and fall of alien civilizations. As they uncover the patterns of history, they must decide how to share their findings with the galaxy.

The Cosmic Symphony : A musician travels through time as a dimension, encountering alien species that communicate through music. As they learn the universal language of sound, they must compose a symphony that unites the cosmos.

The Temporal Sanctuary : A character discovers a sanctuary where time stands still, inhabited by beings who have transcended time. As they explore this timeless realm, they must decide whether to stay or return to the flow of time.

The Alien Artifact : A character finds an ancient artifact that allows them to travel through time and space. As they uncover its origins and purpose, they must decide how to wield its power responsibly.

The Time Dimension Explorer : An explorer ventures into the dimension of time, encountering creatures that exist only within its boundaries. As they navigate this strange world, they must learn its rules to survive.

The Cosmic Reunion : A character travels through time and space to reunite with a lost loved one, encountering alien civilizations and cosmic wonders along the way. As they journey across the universe, they must confront the challenges of navigating time as a dimension.

Time Travel in Storytelling

Time travel has fascinated audiences for years, blending science fiction with deep philosophical questions.

It offers a unique way to explore the mysteries of time and existence, and it makes us rethink the very nature of reality.

Definition and Appeal

Time travel is the idea of moving between different points in time, much like traveling from one place to another. Time travel stories allow writers to explore themes like causality, destiny, and the human condition.

What makes time travel so appealing is its endless possibilities—whether it’s changing the past, seeing the future, or experiencing alternate realities.

These stories make audiences think about “what if” scenarios, challenging their views on reality and time.

Historical Context

The idea of time travel has come a long way since it first appeared in literature.

Early examples include Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle and Edward Bellamy’s Looking Backward , where characters find themselves in different times through supernatural or futuristic means.

H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine further established time travel in literature and paved the way for countless stories about the impact of altering time.

Common Tropes and Themes

Time travel stories often use certain tropes and themes.

One of the most famous is the grandfather paradox , which deals with the consequences of changing the past—like potentially preventing your own existence.

Another popular trope is the alternate timeline or parallel universe , where changes in the past create different realities, allowing stories to explore themes of destiny and choice.

Then there’s the time loop , like in Groundhog Day , where characters relive the same day repeatedly, often leading to personal growth and self-discovery.

Your Time Travel Toolkit

Time travel stories are an open invitation to adventure—to explore new worlds, uncover hidden truths, and let your imagination soar.

As you dive into these story prompts, remember that this is just the beginning of your creative journey!

To help you along the way, download my free worksheet designed to help you build unforgettable characters.

And if you need a guiding hand, explore my coaching services to take your storytelling to the next level. The adventure of writing your next great story awaits. Are you ready to begin?

Filmmaker, Author, Actor and Story Consultant

Neil Chase is an award-winning, produced screenwriter, independent filmmaker, professional actor, and author of the horror-western novel Iron Dogs. His latest feature film is an apocalyptic thriller called Spin The Wheel.

Neil has been featured on Celtx, No Film School, Script Revolution, Raindance, The Write Practice, Lifewire, and MSN.com, and his work has won awards from Script Summit, ScreamFest, FilmQuest and Cinequest (among others).

Neil believes that all writers have the potential to create great work. His passion is helping writers find their voice and develop their skills so that they can create stories that are entertaining and meaningful. If you’re ready to take your writing to the next level, he's here to help!

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EveryWriter

A New Community of Writers

Discover 100 Captivating Time Travel Writing Prompts

May 16, 2024 by Richard Leave a Comment

Discover 100 Captivating Time Travel Writing Prompts: T ime travel has always been a captivating concept that has enthralled people across generations. From ancient myths to modern science fiction, the idea of traversing through time has been explored in countless ways. Whether you’re seeking to change the past, witness historic moments, or glimpse into the future, time travel remains a rich source of inspiration for writers and storytellers looking for engaging time travel story ideas.

The allure of time travel lies in its endless possibilities. It allows characters to break free from their own reality and explore unknown territories. Through time travel fiction prompts, protagonists can visit different eras, encounter historical figures, and gain new perspectives. Time travel opens up a world of adventure, self-discovery, and the chance to impact the grand scheme of things.

However, time travel also presents unique challenges and consequences. Altering the past can create ripple effects, paradoxes, and unintended outcomes in the present and future. Characters must navigate the moral dilemmas of interfering with historical events and the potential repercussions of their actions. Time travel stories often explore the intricacies of cause and effect, free will, and the nature of time itself.

This curated list of 100 time travel writing prompts offers a diverse array of ideas to inspire writers and ignite their creativity. From thrilling adventures and romantic encounters to thought-provoking explorations of history and the human condition, these time travel fiction prompts span various genres and themes. Whether you’re passionate about science fiction, historical fiction, romance, or mystery, you’ll find time travel writing inspiration to spark your imagination.

Embark on a journey through time and let these prompts guide you in crafting your own unique time travel stories. Explore the possibilities, challenge your characters, and let your imagination soar as you navigate the twists and turns of the temporal landscape. Prepare to travel through the ages and unlock the boundless potential of time travel storytelling. Discover the perfect time travel story ideas to captivate your readers and leave them craving more.

Here are 100 time travel writing prompts:

• A character discovers a mysterious pocket watch that transports them to a different era each time they wind it.
• A scientist invents a time machine but gets stranded in the distant future.
• A person from the present day wakes up in the body of a historical figure.
• A character travels back in time to prevent a tragic event but inadvertently alters the course of history.
• A group of friends discovers a portal to the past in their backyard and decides to explore different time periods.
• A character falls in love with someone from another time but struggles to maintain the relationship.
• A person from the future travels back to the present day to warn humanity about an impending disaster.
• A character accidentally travels to the time of the dinosaurs and must find a way to survive.
• A time traveler attempts to solve a historical mystery but becomes a suspect themselves.
• A character discovers they are a descendant of a famous historical figure and travels back in time to meet them.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and is shocked by modern technology and society.
• A character uses time travel to explore different versions of their own life based on different choices they could have made.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the past and must find a way to restore the original timeline.
• A character discovers a time machine in an antique shop and uses it to explore different eras.
• A person from the future falls in love with someone from the past but knows they can’t stay together.
• A character uses time travel to attend historical events and witness them firsthand.
• A time traveler accidentally brings a dangerous artifact from the past to the present day.
• A character travels to the future and discovers a dystopian society.
• A person from the present day becomes stranded in the past and must adapt to a different way of life.
• A time traveler attempts to prevent a famous assassination but discovers that history has a way of correcting itself.
• A character discovers a way to communicate with people from different time periods through dreams.
• A person from the future travels back in time to prevent a global pandemic.
• A character uses time travel to explore different cultures throughout history.
• A time traveler accidentally creates an alternate timeline and must find a way to merge the two realities.
• A character discovers a time machine that only allows them to travel back in time for a limited amount of time.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and becomes a celebrity due to their unique perspective.
• A character uses time travel to attend their own funeral and learn how they will be remembered.
• A time traveler accidentally prevents their own birth and starts to fade from existence.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through music and explores different eras through famous songs.
• A person from the present day travels to the future and competes in a high-tech sport.
• A character uses time travel to solve a family mystery that has been passed down for generations.
• A time traveler falls in love with a famous historical figure but knows they are doomed to a tragic fate.
• A character accidentally travels to a parallel universe where time runs backward.
• A person from the future travels back in time to prevent a major natural disaster.
• A character uses time travel to attend a concert by their favorite musician who died before they were born.
• A time traveler becomes stranded in a time loop and must find a way to break the cycle.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through dreams but struggles to control their destinations.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and becomes a successful entrepreneur with their unique inventions.
• A character uses time travel to explore different religions throughout history.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the outcome of a major battle and alters the course of history.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel forward in time.
• A person from the present day travels to the future and discovers a utopian society.
• A character uses time travel to solve a series of historical crimes.
• A time traveler becomes trapped in a time period where they are mistaken for a deity.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through paintings and explores different art movements.
• A person from the future travels back in time to prevent a major terrorist attack.
• A character uses time travel to meet their ancestors and learn about their family history.
• A time traveler accidentally brings a deadly virus from the future to the present day.
• A character discovers a time machine that runs on human emotions.
• A person from the present day travels to the past and becomes a silent film star.
• A character uses time travel to explore different mythologies and meets legendary creatures.
• A time traveler becomes stranded in the Ice Age and must find a way to survive.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through scent and explores different historical perfumes.
• A person from the future travels back in time to attend a famous music festival.
• A character uses time travel to solve a decades-old missing persons case.
• A time traveler accidentally prevents a major scientific discovery and must find a way to set things right.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great historical significance.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and becomes a social media influencer.
• A character uses time travel to explore different literary movements and meets famous authors.
• A time traveler becomes trapped in a time period where they are mistaken for a spy.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through taste and explores different historical cuisines.
• A person from the present day travels to the future and competes in a reality TV show.
• A character uses time travel to prevent a major environmental disaster.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the outcome of a major election and alters the course of history.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great personal significance.
• A person from the future travels back in time to attend a famous sporting event.
• A character uses time travel to explore different fashion trends throughout history.
• A time traveler becomes stranded in a time period where they are mistaken for a prophet.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through touch and explores different historical textiles.
• A person from the present day travels to the past and becomes a successful pirate.
• A character uses time travel to solve a major archaeological mystery.
• A time traveler accidentally brings a dangerous technology from the future to the present day.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great romantic significance.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and becomes a successful politician.
• A character uses time travel to explore different dance styles throughout history.
• A time traveler becomes trapped in a time period where they are mistaken for a witch.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through sound and explores different historical musical instruments.
• A person from the present day travels to the future and discovers a society where humans have merged with technology.
• A character uses time travel to prevent a major act of terrorism.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the outcome of a major scientific experiment and alters the course of history.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great tragedy.
• A person from the future travels back in time to attend a famous theater performance.
• A character uses time travel to explore different architectural styles throughout history.
• A time traveler becomes stranded in a time period where they are mistaken for a revolutionary.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through emotion and explores different historical moments of great joy or sorrow.
• A person from the present day travels to the past and becomes a successful explorer.
• A character uses time travel to solve a major medical mystery.
• A time traveler accidentally brings a dangerous ideology from the past to the present day.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great artistic significance.
• A person from the past travels to the present day and becomes a successful inventor.
• A character uses time travel to explore different philosophical movements throughout history.
• A time traveler becomes trapped in a time period where they are mistaken for a god.
• A character discovers a way to time travel through memory and explores different moments from their own life.
• A person from the present day travels to the future and discovers a society where humans have colonized other planets.
• A character uses time travel to prevent a major natural disaster.
• A time traveler accidentally changes the outcome of a major court case and alters the course of history.
• A character discovers a time machine that can only travel to moments of great scientific significance.
• A person from the future travels back in time to attend a famous peace conference.
• A character uses time travel to explore different spiritual practices throughout history.
• A time traveler becomes stranded in a time period where they are mistaken for a messiah.

In conclusion, these 100 time travel writing prompts offer a treasure trove of inspiration for writers seeking to explore the captivating world of time travel fiction. From thrilling adventures and romantic escapades to thought-provoking explorations of history and the human experience, these prompts cover a wide range of genres and themes. Whether you’re a seasoned author or a budding writer, these ideas provide the perfect launching pad for your creative journey.

As you embark on your time travel writing adventure, remember to let your imagination run wild. The beauty of time travel fiction lies in its ability to transport readers to different eras, challenge their perceptions, and evoke powerful emotions. Use these prompts as a starting point, but don’t be afraid to put your own unique spin on them. Infuse your stories with your distinct voice, create memorable characters, and craft plots that keep readers engaged from beginning to end.

The power of time travel storytelling lies not only in its ability to entertain but also in its capacity to shed light on the human condition. As you write your time travel tales, consider the lessons and insights that your characters can learn from their temporal adventures. Explore the consequences of altering the past, the importance of cherishing the present, and the potential for personal growth and transformation. Through your stories, you have the opportunity to inspire readers and provoke meaningful reflections on life, love, and the passage of time.

As you dive into the realm of time travel fiction, don’t forget to have fun and enjoy the creative process. Writing is a journey of self-discovery and expression, and these prompts are here to guide you along the way. Embrace the challenges, revel in the triumphs, and let your passion for storytelling shine through in every word you write. Whether you’re writing for yourself or sharing your stories with the world, remember that your unique perspective and imagination have the power to captivate and inspire others.

So, grab your pen or open up your laptop, and let these 100 time travel writing prompts be your gateway to a world of endless possibilities. Embark on a journey through time, create unforgettable characters, and weave tales that will leave a lasting impact on your readers. The realm of time travel fiction awaits, and with these prompts as your compass, you’re ready to navigate its thrilling twists and turns. Happy writing, and may your time travel stories transport readers to extraordinary places and times.

If you enjoyed these writing prompts, we have many more on our site .

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About Richard

Richard Everywriter (pen name) has worked for literary magazines and literary websites for the last 25 years. He holds degrees in Writing, Journalism, Technology and Education. Richard has headed many writing workshops and courses, and he has taught writing and literature for the last 20 years.  

In writing and publishing he has worked with independent, small, medium and large publishers for years connecting publishers to authors. He has also worked as a journalist and editor in both magazine, newspaper and trade publications as well as in the medical publishing industry.   Follow him on Twitter, and check out our Submissions page .

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The Rules of Time Travel for Fiction Writers

Time travel is a staple of great fiction—when it’s done right. When it’s done wrong, you’re turning wormholes into  plot  holes instead. Here’s how to get a handle on the mechanics of time travel for fiction.

Doing Fictional Research

Start off by researching tales of fictional time travel and go through all the short stories, books, and movies you can get your hands on. Feel free to take your own notes on the story while you do this. If there’s a time paradox, ask yourself which—and  why . Excellent examples from film are  12 Monkeys ,  The Butterfly Effect ,  Project Almanac  and  Back to the Future . (There are plenty more, including  Hot Tub Time Machine .) Good books include  The Time Traveller’s Wife ,  The Time Machine  and  22/11/63 .

Family Guy’s  Back to the Multiverse  does a good job at explaining what’s called the multiverse theory, where people aren’t just traveling through time, but skipping through alternate realities as they do so—here, the “rules” of the universe can be a little different, like the point where Family Guy’s Brian and Stewie find themselves going through a Disney-like alternate reality where there’s, well, a lot of singing.

Sounding “Sciency” the Right Way

We all remember the “flux capacitor” from  Back to the Future . You’ll have to choose a  method  of time travel first. You can be creative: The most obvious solution is a time-machine—but remember to ask whether the time machine stays in one place (as in  22/11/63 ), travels with the time traveler (like  Back to the Future  or  Family Guy ) or is simply  really  weird—in  Butterfly Effect , the protagonist has to be reading from his diary to jump in time.   

Explaining Paradoxes

Paradoxes occur when things contradict each other; time travel paradoxes are plenty, and often part of the fun when writing it.  Just don’t lose track . What counts in one chapter, has to count in another chapter—and if ripples  can  be felt throughout your storyline because of a character’s reckless time traveling, make sure these ripples in time continuously make sense.

The Grandfather Paradox  is a popular example and one best illustrated by  Back to the Future . If you go back in time to kill your grandfather, do you effectively kill your father—and thusly yourself?  The Hitler Paradox  is another example: If you go back in time to kill Hitler, then Hitler doesn’t exist—and you wouldn’t  need  to kill Hitler in the first place. That’s pretty damned trippy, don’t you think?

The Predestination Paradox  is something I’d like to illustrate with a scene from  The Matrix , where Neo meets the Oracle; she warns him to look out for the vase. When he asks ‘what vase?’, he knocks it over. This, simply, is when your past self is the very  cause  of needing to travel back in the first place. This creates an endless loop (hence this also being referred to as a  closed causal loop ) of travel.

The Bootstrap Paradox  happens when something is sent back (often to the traveler themselves), negating the need for its creation in the first place.  Astronomy Trek  explains the Bootstrap Paradox in terms of George Lucas going back and giving  himself  the finished scripts. (Yes, we  really  had to think about that one, too.)

Taking Notes & Mapping Timelines

Obsessive note-taking is always advised for writing fiction, down to the last little plot detail. Outline beforehand, and have an outline of where your story is going to go. This is the secret to many great authors you’ve likely picked up this week, and there are very few authors who can just pull a plot twist out of nowhere.

When writing time travel, your outlines might have to become a little more focused on timelines and consequences. Create a mind map however you like, even if you have to clothespin some twine across your office and start hanging up notes.

Real Studies in Time Travel (and Real Life Oddities)

Don’t discount real science when writing  science fiction . A recent computer simulation managed to come up with a  possible solution to the grandfather paradox   and even more recent studies have shown that, at least in terms of mathematical theory, time travel is  entirely possible . In 2014, scientists studied the  behavior of photons  beamed through time.

Real-life oddities have also popped up from time to time:  John Titor  notably posted on internet forums in the early 2000s, claiming that he was a time traveler from the year 2036 who came with the purpose of warning mankind. In 2006, a man called Håkan Nordkvis claimed that he had found a worm-hole through to meet his 72-year old self under his sink—yes, that does remind us just a little of  Being John Malkovich , but somehow still not as weird…

About the author

Alex j coyne.

Alex J Coyne is an author, freelance journalist and language practitioner. He has written for international publications and blogs, been featured on radio and appeared in NB Publishers’ Skrik op die Lyf, an Afrikaans horror collection. Visit his website and get in touch at http://alexcoyneofficial.wordpress.com.

22/11/63 was so bad I could barely read it. I gave up on it. The book was written for a reason but it seems sure to me at least it wasn’t to investigate time-travel. Time-travel is a conceit, simple as that – an often dumb idea made somehow interesting whatever paradox it comes up against or overcomes or attempts to overcome.

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How To Write A Short Story About Time Travel (with prompts)

Hey everyone,

So as the title suggests I put together this article about writing sci-fi time travel stories. I thought that people here could benefit from it! The whole article is below, for those that don't want to leave Reddit, but you can also click here to go to the OG post.

There is also a companion resource list with some writing prompts specifically for time travel/sci-fi that i put together too. To keep this post fairly short (as the articles are 1k words each), you can find that here if interested.

Anyhoo, I don't want to fling too many links at you. Enjoy the article and feel free to discuss below (just try to keep it civil if you can). Have a nice day!

The article:

How To Write A Short Story With Time Travel

Time travel is one of the most well-loved ideas for writing compelling Sci-Fi short stories. But how to write a short story using time travel as a key component can be a challenge - even for veteran writers in the Sci-Fi fiction sphere.

In this blog post we will cover things to consider and avoid when using this trope in your creative writing. We will also include some writer prompts to get you started on your journey to create your short story.

Write About A Character

This may seem relatively obvious, but many Sci-Fi writers fall into the trap of writing about their concepts over their characters. A story about a character will help your readers relate to the story and the characters in your story should be the focus.

The technology, advancements, and in this case the time travel, should all remain secondary elements to your story. There is nothing wrong with these secondary elements playing a vital role in the story and progressing the narrative but they shouldn’t be the story.

While this is a broad statement and generalisation, and a tip that is over emphasized a lot in writing, it’s true. It’s true and it works. While time travel is an awesome concept, people often read for the character’s story – not the story in and of itself.

Remembering to write – first and foremost – a story about a character will elevate the human connection that separates a good story from a great one. But do remember to keep it relatively simple. You only have a few thousand words to use, so use them wisely.

This moves us nicely onto;

Don’t Over Complicate Plot

This cannot be overstated when it comes to Sci-Fi short stories, and especially stories that have time travel at their core. Don’t make the reader feel dumb. At the same time, don’t alienate the reader that may be more scientifically inclined.

The plot should be simple. Keeping it simple will allow you to play around with the world, characters, and concepts that you have created. There are no original stories anymore, but rather original takes on a story. So, instead of focusing on being revolutionary with plot ideas, be revolutionary with your characters.

This links back nicely into the ‘write a story about a character’ aspect we just discussed. It is difficult to give precise advice for everyone’s story and everyone’s characters – but you’ll know best how to apply these concepts to your own work.

You’ll be surprised at what you can achieve by keeping the plot simple, the technology secondary, and putting your characters at the forefront.

Hint At Your Sci-Fi World Building

While it is very tempting to world build in any sci-fi short story, this can distract and pull away from actually telling the story. Having more emphasis on world building for a novella or full length novel is fine, but not so much for short stories. If anything, they should be lightly sprinkled in.

Certainly map out your world, your concepts, your ideas, your technology, the factions of the world, social constructs – the list goes on. World building is vital to make a story feel real but including too many of these aspects in a short story can flood it with information you don’t need to tell the story.

It is fine if your character is the best neo-western gunslinger in the outer most star systems. But unless this is a key component to driving the narrative, you don’t need it in there. Instead, why not hint with a line of dialogue that isn’t too on the nose?

Hinting at your world building ideas keeps your reader intrigued and gives them something to think about. This is always a good thing.

But I diverge, let’s move onto the juicy bit!

Stay Consistent And Use Real Science

Always, always, always, use real science for sci-fi. If you prefer science fantasy, that is absolutely fine! But for science fiction? It absolutely needs to be grounded in real science.

Read up on how spacetime works in our reality, as understanding this to a basic level will help you write you time travel story. Of course, we can bend the rules a bit, as time travel will obviously remain speculative and objective. What isn’t speculative and objective, however, are the rules of physics that govern our real world.

Decide upon a time travel rule set and stick to it. It must be consistent and must obey our understanding of physics as much as possible. This will keep it realistic and believable. If you stray, that is fine, but now you are wading into science fantasy territory.

With all that said, there is no ‘right’ way to write about time travel. There are different interpretations of the theories about how spacetime functions, and how time travel would function (if at all) in the real world.

A good starting place is reading into Einstein-Rosen bridges, negative mass, special relativity, general relativity, and the energy conditions ‘needed’ for time travel identified in our current scientific theories.

Another recommendation I would give is to read into light cones and Penrose diagrams, for a little bit of detail that can help you structure your time travel rules. It is important to consider how you would resolve certain time travel paradoxes too, for the sake of world building.

In terms of handling paradoxes, you could look into the butterfly effect and multiverse theory. The 2012 film Looper by Rian Johnstone handles time travel paradoxes in a very logical way – do watch it.

In Conclusion

There are many ways to write a sci-fi short story, and this article is by no means a comprehensive guide. It does, however, serve to give you a guiding light when beginning to research writing sci-fi short stories that include time travel.

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30 Time Travel Writing Prompts

Ever feel stuck in the present moment?

Wishing you could grab a pizza with Cleopatra, mastermind a plan with Machiavelli, or explore a future city filled with gadgets we can’t even imagine?

Hold onto your hats because we’re about to blow the doors off time travel stories!

Forget boring timelines, paradoxes are your new BFFs. These prompts will have you rewriting reality, jumping through history, and making the rules of time as bendy as a pretzel.

Let’s check them out.

Time Travel Writing Prompts and Story Ideas

Winds of the Lost Era: A gust of wind has the unique ability to transport anyone it touches to a different time for just one hour. When a young woman gets caught in this wind, she finds herself in the midst of a pivotal historical event. She has exactly sixty minutes to observe, interact, or possibly change history. What event does she witness? And what choices does she make?

The Last Sunset Before Eternity: The world’s leading scientists discover that there’s only one sunset left before the earth stops rotating, plunging half the world into perpetual day and the other half into eternal night. They’ve also created a one-time-use machine that can send one person back in time to prevent this. Who is chosen? And what historical point do they go back to to make things right?

Messages Across Time: A young woman discovers she can send messages to her younger self through dreams. Each message can only be a short sentence, but it’s enough to give her past self clues or warnings about the future. However, every change she makes creates ripples in her present, and sometimes, the outcomes are not what she expects. What message does she send first? And what unforeseen consequences emerge?

The Day the Clocks Stopped: Time everywhere freezes, except for one city. Its inhabitants live through days, months, and years while the rest of the world remains static. As they advance technologically and culturally at a rapid rate, they prepare for the day time might resume for everyone. How do they plan to reintroduce their city to the world, which is now centuries behind?

Chrono-Tourists: A company starts offering ‘Time Travel Tourism’. You can’t change major events, but you can witness them. A young couple decides to go on their honeymoon to witness a peaceful, beautiful moment from the past. But when they arrive, they realize it’s the eve of a significant, unrecorded disaster. How do they reconcile their experience with the joy they were expecting?

The Museum of Moments: In the future, there are no traditional museums. Instead, there’s a museum where people can experience any moment from the past in full sensory detail. A teenager decides to relive the ‘most peaceful day on Earth’, only to realize that peace is often a matter of perspective. What does he truly witness on this so-called peaceful day?

Time’s Locket: A locket passed down through generations in a family doesn’t just contain pictures; it allows the wearer to briefly live in the moments the pictures were taken. A young girl decides to experience a day in her great-grandmother’s life, hoping to understand her better. However, she discovers a family secret that has been hidden for decades, changing her understanding of her lineage.

Letters in the Sands of Time: In a small coastal town, messages mysteriously appear at sunrise on the beach, always addressed to someone present there. These are letters from their future selves. A man, skeptical at first, starts reading a letter addressed to him and discovers details of a choice he’ll soon have to make. What decision looms in his future, and how does this knowledge affect him?

The Two Lifetimes of Ms. Daniels: On her 30th birthday, Ms. Daniels wakes up to find herself back in her 10-year-old body but with all her memories intact. She lives her life again, making different choices based on her memories, until she reaches 30 again. And then, she’s back in her original timeline. How do her dual experiences shape her perspective? Which life felt more real to her?

Echoes of the Time Vortex: A cavern hidden in the mountains is said to echo not sounds from the present, but conversations from the past and whispers of the future. When a grieving mother enters the cave, she hears the voice of her departed child from a future that never happened. What message does she receive, and how does it change her healing process?

The Train at Midnight: There’s a legend of a train that passes through a town at midnight. Those who board it are taken to any point in time they desire, but they can only observe and feel emotions—they can’t interact. A woman boards to revisit a day she considers her life’s biggest mistake. What day does she return to , and what closure does she seek?

Chronicles of the Hourglass City: In a city shaped like an hourglass, the top half lives in the past and the bottom half in the future. A bridge connects the two, and citizens are allowed a single journey across it. A young woman from the future decides to cross into the past. What or who is she seeking, and what challenges await her in this duality?

Diary from Tomorrow: A man finds a diary on his doorstep, and to his astonishment, it’s filled with detailed entries from the next year of his life. Each day he reads about tomorrow, and each time he’s faced with the moral dilemma of acting on or ignoring the knowledge. What major revelation does the diary hold, and does he dare to change its course?

The Timestream Weaver: In an old attic, a loom is found that doesn’t weave fabric but moments in time. When operated, it can merge moments from different times into one. A curious teenager weaves together a day from her childhood and one from her elder years. What harmonies or conflicts emerge from this singular day?

Guardians of the Temporal Oasis: Deep in the desert lies an oasis where every drop of water lets you relive a moment from your past. But, you can’t choose the moment—it chooses you. A traveler, seeking refuge, drinks from the oasis and is thrust into a forgotten memory. What long-buried moment resurfaces, and how does it change his path forward?

The Timeless Town Square: A secluded town has a central square where time doesn’t flow linearly. Every day at dawn, the square chooses a random day from the past or future to reflect. Townspeople can enter to relive memories or see snippets of what’s to come. One day, the entire town gathers as the square displays a date significant to all. What date is shown , and how does it bind the community?

Candles of Yesteryears: A boutique sells candles, each corresponding to a year in history. When lit, the room transforms, enveloping the person in the ambiance of that year. An elderly woman buys a candle corresponding to a year she wants to forget. As it burns, what secret memory unfolds, and what catharsis does it bring?

Threads of Time: In a mystical land, there are multiple threaded structures that showcase the entire timeline of the universe. When touched, a person can feel the emotions of any moment stitched into it. A young prince touches a seemingly insignificant thread and is overwhelmed by its intensity. What hidden moment did he discover, and how does it reshape his understanding of history?

The Mirror of Moments Past: A mirror in an antique store doesn’t show the present but a past version of whoever stands before it. A woman sees herself as a child, interacting with someone she doesn’t remember from her childhood. Who is this mysterious figure , and why have her memories of them been erased?

Temporal Tunes of the Old Gramophone: An old gramophone has the power to play not just songs but also ambient sounds from specific moments in time. A listener can immerse themselves in the atmosphere of that moment. A man hears the background noise of a place and time he never visited but finds strangely familiar. Where does this sound take him , and what lost connection does he rediscover?

The Garden of Future Blooms: In a secret garden, flowers bloom showing visions of potential futures. One rare flower is said to bloom only once every century, showing a vision crucial for humanity. As it blossoms, many gather to witness its vision. What future does the flower reveal , and how do those who see it react?

Clockwork of Cosmic Consequences: A clockmaker designs a timepiece that can turn back time, but for every minute turned back, it fast-forwards another person’s timeline by a year. The creator, desperate to rectify a personal mistake, uses it, but at what cost? Whose life gets fast-forwarded , and how does this unintended consequence play out?

Whispers of the Time-Touched Tree: A tree in a forest is said to be touched by time. Those who sleep under it dream of a moment from their past, but from the perspective of someone else who was there. A soldier, burdened by guilt, sleeps under the tree, hoping to understand a decision he made in battle. Whose eyes does he see through , and how does this new perspective aid his quest for forgiveness?

Shadows of the Sundial: In an abandoned village, there’s a sundial said to cast shadows not of the current time but of times gone by. When a researcher places her hand where the shadow falls, she’s momentarily transported to the moment the shadow represents. She inadvertently touches a shadow that takes her to a day the village wishes to forget. What dark secret is unveiled, and how does she reconcile with the truth?

Temporal Café: A café opens downtown where each table is set in a different era. Patrons can’t interact with the past or future directly but can witness and hear conversations. A detective sits at a table set in the future, trying to solve a case that’s stumped him. What revelation about the case does he overhear, and how does it change the course of his investigation?

The Time-Torn Map: An explorer discovers a map that doesn’t just lead to places but to times. Marking a location and date transports the holder to the specified moment. The explorer chooses a date and place where a famous artifact went missing. What happens when he arrives , and how does this journey reshape historical narratives?

Waves of the Temporal Beach: There’s a beach where each wave that crashes ashore comes from a different era. Collecting items brought by the waves can provide glimpses into various moments in time. A historian finds an item linked to her family’s past. What story does the item tell , and how does it redefine her family’s legacy?

Melodies from the Time-Touched Violin: A violin is found that, when played, doesn’t produce sound but images from the past or future. A musician plays a tune, and a series of events unfold before her, hinting at a future personal dilemma. What decision does she foresee , and how does she prepare for it?

Stairs of the Epoch Tower: An ancient tower’s stairs are said to ascend through time. With each floor representing a different era, climbers can observe, but not interfere. A writer ascends, seeking inspiration, but finds himself on a floor mirroring a future event of his own life. What event does he witness , and how does it inspire his next work?

The Time Capsule’s Promise: A school’s time capsule is unearthed not by students from the present but by visitors from the future. They leave behind a message for the current generation about an impending global challenge. What warning do they give , and how does the world rally in response?

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Not Your Usual Time Travel Story Ideas (2024)

Looking for unusual time travel story ideas and writing prompts? You’ve come to the right place!

Read on for ideas like a world where time flows differently in different regions, a person with an ability to travel in their dreams, and more!

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• S tory ideas

Picture prompts

The time travel trope.

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Related posts: Tragic Love Story Ideas (2023) The Most Enticing Forbidden Love Story Ideas (Updated in 2023) 40+ Sad Backstory Ideas for Your Character (2023) 17+ Enticing Soulmate Story Ideas (2023)

Time Travel Story Ideas & Writing Prompts

Time travel has long been a captivating concept in storytelling, transporting us to narratives of endless possibilities. Now, let’s explore some unique and unconventional story ideas!

Please note that the genders in these prompts and story ideas are just placeholders and do not mean to enforce any hurtful stereotypes nor offend anyone.

Story ideas

From unexpected time travelers to unconventional methods of traversing through time, embark on a thrilling, time-bending adventure with these exciting ideas.

• Lost Time A group of explorers stumbles upon an alien-made, time-traveling elevator that can transport them to different moments within their own lifetime, at the cost of reduced longevity.
• Reversed A scientist makes a mistake in their time travel machine, which sends them spiraling into an alternate reality where time operates in reverse.
• Past and Future Memories In a post apocalyptic world, a person finds that they can jump into the past as well as potential future memories of others. Then, they navigate through different people’s experiences in the hope of finding a way to undo the effect of the apocalypse.
• Time is Money In a world where time flows differently in different regions, a society formed where time travelers exist and time itself can be a commodity. (Originally appeared in my post The Most Mesmerizing Fantasy World Ideas (2023) )
• Chronicler of Lost History A person wakes up every day in a different time period, with no control over when or where they’ll end up next. As they try to find out why, they realize that their purpose is to witness and document crucial moments in history that have been erased from collective memory.
• Time-Traveling Detective In a time when time travel is possible, a time-traveling detective agency specializes in solving crimes and incidents that occur across different points in time.
• Network of Selves There’s a new invention that allows people to split their consciousness into multiple timelines, creating a network of parallel selves.
• Tour Across Time Time travel is a regulated industry, and a tour guide accidentally takes a group of tourists to a time period that never existed, causing a ripple effect that alters the course of history.
• Time-Traveling Companion There’s a peculiar type of animals that have the innate ability to traverse time. Once they form a unique bond with a human, the bond will allow that human to time travel along with said animal.

• The Time Capsule After unearthing a long-forgotten time capsule, a tight-knit group of friends is transported back to their younger selves. (A similar concept appeared in my post Beyond the Mundane: Captivating Slice of Life Story Ideas (2023) )
• The Time Thief A physicist accidentally creates a device that allows them to move between parallel universes. They exploit this power to commit crimes across dimensions, staying one step ahead of authorities.
• The Reversed Time Traveler A time traveler’s machine malfunctions, causing them to experience life in reverse. Frustrated by their reversed existence, they seek to disrupt the flow of time itself.
• Cheering Through Time An alien with the ability to explore different time periods gets stranded on earth and befriends a cheerleader. But as the two jump between time periods, they unwittingly start a chain of event that might spell catastrophe for both of their home planets.
• Happy Days Specific emotional triggers can create a quantum leap, launching individuals through time to a moment in the past or future when a similar emotional event occurred.

Here are some time travel picture prompts, because a picture speaks a thousand words! What kind of time travel prompt or story jumps out at you when looking at the picture prompts below?

The concept of time travel has fascinated storytellers for generations, offering endless possibilities and narrative intrigue, allowing writers to explore the complexities of cause and effect, challenge the boundaries of linear time, and delve into the profound impact of altering the past or glimpsing into the future.

In time travel stories, protagonists often find themselves in paradoxes and moral dilemmas as they attempt to correct past mistakes, change the course of history, or prevent catastrophic events where the smallest alteration can have far-reaching repercussions.

Time travel narratives also provide a fertile ground for exploring themes of identity, self-discovery, and the relentless march of time, prompting characters and readers alike to ponder the nature of free will and the fragility of existence.

If you need more story ideas and prompts, please browse our Story Ideas & Writing Prompts category!

Have any question or feedback? Feel free to contact me here . Until next time!

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10 Ideas for a Time Travel Story

Here are 10 quick ideas for a time travel story, including everything from colonies in the distant past and future, to time traveling Jews, Jesus, and jealous husbands.

If one of these ideas inspires you to create a time travel story of your own, let us know and we’ll share it with out community!

1. Future War

A future dictator invades the past. He sends giant war machines into 19th Century London, Paris and Washington, and he demands that all world leaders surrender to him. It’s up to a team of time traveling heroes to stop him.

2. As Time Goes By

A scientist discovers that he can slow down time in a localized area. He can use this to visit the future (and stop off anywhere along the way), but he can never go back. At first, he uses the device to prolong his own life, spending a day inside the time-bubble as a month passes outside. Later, curiosity compels him to travel into the distant future in search of new wonders and a fresh start.

Our protagonist finds a future world full of wonders, and he begins to build a new life for himself. But when things start to go wrong, he finds himself traveling forward yet again. Eventually, the urge to travel forward becomes irresistible as he searches for perfection. Is he really searching for something, or just running from his own past?

As our traveler comes to the end of his life he realizes that, while he has seen more than most people, he hasn’t really lived at all. He’s spent his whole life running.

3. Doing Time

Using a time machine, a penal colony is established in Earths distant future – a future in which humanity is extinct and the sun is approaching the end of its natural life-cycle. When the end finally comes, do the guards evacuate the prisoners or leave them to their fate?

4. The Man You Used To Be

After his wife leaves him, a scientist travels back in time to be with her again. He’s determined to get it right the second time around, and thinks he knows what to do to keep her happy. But when he travels into the past he comes across an obstacle he hadn’t counted on – the past version of himself.

SEE ALSO: Travelling in time but NOT space

Desperate to be with his wife again, he plots to do the unthinkable – he plans to murder his past self and take his place.

There are two obvious ways in which this story could end, each equally as ironic. 1) He kills his former self and is happily reunited with his wife, but after spending one perfect day together the time paradox begins to kick in and he vanishes into oblivion. 2) He kills his former self, but his wife recognizes that he is not the man he used to be. Because of what he’s been through and what he’s done, he’s changed, and his wife can see it in his eyes. She leaves him again.

5. Future Tense

Fearing the extinction of humanity is on the horizon, a large group of humans travel into Earths distant future to avoid the catastrophe. They arrive in a time in which the Earth has recovered from the disaster, and in which all traces of human civilization have disappeared. Many animal species have evolved beyond recognition. In this new wilderness, they attempt to build a home.

Knowing that the end of human civilization is near, people are desperate to travel to the future colony. With a limited number of places available, people fight for the last remaining passes. Eventually, the future colony finds itself with too many mouths to feed.

6. Past Participants

With the destruction of Earth imminent, humanity begins colonizing the distant past. The colonization effort slowly begins to interfere with the timeline. Each group of colonists that arrives from the future has experienced a different version of history, with increasingly interesting results.

One group of time travel colonists is from a fascist timeline in which the Nazis won the Second World War, and they try to take over the colony. Another group reports having found the remains of the colony during a future archaeological dig, indicating that the colonization effort will eventually fail.

7. Populating Zion

A team of scientists rescue Jews from Nazi extermination camps by transporting them forward in time just before the moment of their deaths. Nazis are confounded when they open the doors to gas chambers and find that their victims have mysteriously vanished. In the future, thousands of rescued Jews struggle to understand what has happened to them, and they begin to hail the lead scientist as their Messiah.

8. Time Me Up, Time Me Down

After inventing a time machine, a scientist travels into his own future where he meets his beautiful future wife. Back in his own time, he meets his future wife for the first time (for her at least), but she isn’t interested in him. He tries his hardest to impress her but fails. How can this be when they are meant to be together?

Determined to win her heart, he travels back to their first meeting over and over again, trying something different each time. He even visits her past in an attempt to learn more about her, but nothing works. Becoming increasingly obsessed, he eventually resorts to kidnapping her. He takes her forward in time to show her their future life, but his actions have drastically changed the timeline.

9. Final Interview

A time travel agency sends a man to interview famous historic figures just hours before they die. The interviews are not only important to historians, they have also become a form of popular entertainment. After interviewing countless historic figures over a long and distinguished career, our protagonist has become something of a celebrity himself. One day, a younger man arrives at his home insisting that he be allowed to interview the protagonist. The protagonist realizes that the younger man is his future replacement, and that he himself is soon to die.

(Thanks to  Jorgen Lundman for this idea, the full version of which can be read here )

10. Jesus vs The Time Police

The technology needed for time travel exists, but it has been outlawed by most of the world’s governments. A special police unit or federal agency uses specialist equipment to track down illegal time travelers and prevent them from damaging the timeline.

Some of the time travelers are attempting to alter their own past for personal gain, others are rich tourists seeking a thrilling but illegal encounter with the past. One day, however, they track down a time traveler who has managed to evade them for several years. He has been living in the past for all this time, and he claims to have become an important historical figure. Doing a little research, they determine his claims to be true. The time traveler has had a profound effect on the timeline, and undoing his actions might have profoundly negative consequences. He has written himself into history – a history that the time-police have always accepted to be true.

The illegal time traveler might be a famous general, monarch, or president. He might even be a religious figure, such as Jesus (as such, he may not have had an entirely positive effect on history, but a profound one nonetheless). If the illegal time-traveler is Jesus, might his ascension to heaven actually be his forced return to his own time, staged by the time-police?The time-police are faced with a dilemma – set the timeline straight and undo his actions without knowing what the result might be, or allow him to continue living in the past.

This article was written by Mark Ball . With thanks to Jorgen Lundman.

Use our Random Story Idea Generator for inspiration for more stories.

Fiction Writing , Writing Prompts and Exercises

Time travel writing prompts, by lisa  •  may 3, 2019  •  0 comments.

What if you could travel back in time and live your life over again starting from the point you went back to? Would you do it?

To sweeten the deal, what if you retained the memories of everything that you had lived through and experienced in the future? Now you could avoid all the stupid mistakes you had made. Everything would turn out better, right? But would it?

Every decision we make, whether good or bad, sets into motion things that will happen. Each decision we make, the bad ones as well as the good ones, helps to form us into who we are.

The following quote is from Towards Zero , one of my favorite books by Agatha Christie: When you read the account of a murder – or, say, a fiction story based on murder – you usually begin with the murder itself. That’s all wrong. The murder begins a long time beforehand. A murder is the culmination of a lot of different circumstances, all converging at a given moment at a given point. People are brought into it from different parts of the globe and for unforeseen reasons. […] The murder itself is the end of the story. It’s Zero Hour.

That quote pertains to murder, but the same can be said for just about any other circumstance in our life. If we had the ability to go back in time to relive parts of our life over, it would change the future and maybe not for the better.

Writing Prompts:

Look at your own life and choose a decision you made in the past that you would like to change. Now pretend that you’re able to go back in time while retaining all of your present memories and change that decision.

How is your future affected? Since you remember what your life was like before you changed a decision you made in the past, you can see how different it is now. You can see the ripples that were put into motion by that one changed decision.

What is different?

Is your family life the same? Is it worse? Or is it better?

Do you have the same parents? How has you changing the one decision affected them? Do any of the family members you once had no longer exist? Are there new ones?

If you were married, are you still married to the same individual? Do you have the same children?

What about your job? Do you have the same job or do you have a better job?

Do you have the same circle of friends? Do any of the friends you had no longer exist?

Has your financial situation changed?

I’m sure there are many more ways you can think of that your life would have been changed by that one changed decision. Make notes on all of these things and write a story.

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How to Write a Time Travel Story Without Paradoxes

The concept of time travel has long been a popular theme in fiction and film. Traveling back in time to alter the course of history is an alluring idea that has enthralled not just fiction writers but scientists as well. Yet, if you've ever seen or read a time travel story, you're aware that time travel is a tricky concept to grasp. It might be challenging to stay faithful to your worldbuilding concepts while simultaneously incorporating suitable temporal paradoxes.

For this reason, we will explore different paradoxes and go through various tips to help you write a time travel story without the risk of paradoxes.

Where does the idea of time travel come from?

Traveling across time is a shared universal dream. But where did the fascination with time travel begin, and why does the concept appeal to so many people? The lure of time travel has deeper origins. Appearing in some of our oldest stories , it is woven into the very fabric of our language and imagines a world without constraints of time and space. Its roots may be traced back to ancient tales of time travel found in numerous civilizations throughout the world, giving the notion its distinct characteristics derived from different cultures.

We come across time travel stories in ancient cultures throughout the world , although we cannot claim to know where the concept originally came from and who pioneered it. However, we can observe that the genre rose to prominence in the nineteenth century. From this time period comes Charles Dickens' classic novella A Christmas Carol , in which Ebenezer Scrooge travels both ahead and backwards in time. Around the same period, H.G. Wells popularized time travel in literature with his timeless novel The Time Machine , which featured the concept of a "time machine," which featured a vehicle that could travel purposefully and selectively in time. Inspired by this emblematic icon, many beloved time-travel stories published after this have incorporated some form of the time machine. Such is the famous TARDIS in the long-running BBC classic series Doctor Who , a blue box that can transcend time and space. Doctor who interestingly explores time travel paradoxes, with time paradoxes taking a center stage for many of its episodes.

Time travel paradoxes

There are many logical contradictions when it comes to time travel. Here are some of the major paradoxes:

Bootstrap paradox

The Bootstrap Paradox is a theoretical paradox of time travel that arises when an object transported back in time becomes locked within an unending cause-effect loop. This occurs as the travel in time takes place as a response to a specific event.

Consistency paradox

Consistency Paradoxes , such as the Grandfather Paradox , or the Hitler paradox , a type of timeline mismatch that arises from the prospect of changing the past. These paradoxes change history in such a way that time travel into the past, which caused such action in the first place, is no longer possible. To simply illustrate the paradox, in the film The Time Machine , a protagonist builds a time machine to travel back in time in order to save his fiancé from death. Her rescue, on the other hand, would lead to a future in which the machine never existed since her death was the direct motivation for its creation. But then, how is it you can go back and save your fiancé if her death hasn't given you the push to create the time machine? It results in a paradox. The timeline is no longer self-consistent.

Butterfly effect

The Butterfly Effect is based on Chaos Theory , which states that seemingly minor changes may have massive cascade responses over extended periods of time and that even minor changes can fundamentally reshape history. The name "Butterfly Effect" originates from Ray Bradbury's short tale " A Sound of Thunder ," in which a character in prehistoric times walks on a butterfly, causing massive changes in the future.

How to avoid these paradoxes

The self-healing hypothesis.

Writers seeking to escape the paradoxes of time travel have devised a variety of inventive methods for presenting a more consistent picture of reality. The self-healing hypothesis is one of the most basic solutions to any time travel paradox, implying that no matter what is changed in the timeline, the principles of quantum physics will self-correct to prevent a contradiction from arising and sustain the existing flow .

Because events would adapt themselves, a paradox would not occur. So, changing the past will trigger another alternative chain reaction that will keep the present unaltered. This effectively states that the likelihood of a paradox arising in any given circumstance is zero. The self-healing hypothesis simply indicates that no matter what a traveler has done in the past, the end outcome is the same in terms of global conditions. This does not rule out the possibility of changing the past, but it does eliminate the prospect of minor changes having the power to generate massive ones. Most crucially, as an author, you are not obligated to describe the particular events that repair time. It is enough to affirm that they take place and ensure that your event sequences and their conclusion are consistent.

Time traveling monitor

Another way to avoid temporal paradox would be creating the time traveling monitor that would follow the timeline protection hypothesis , which posits that any attempt to create a paradox would fail to owe to a probability distortion. The monitor would adjust the probability in order to avert any damaging events occurring, which would also give you free rein to come up with creative scenarios. Nonetheless, to prevent an impossible event from taking place, the universe must favor an improbable event occurring.

Balancing the timeline

The paradoxes themselves are intertwined and they can as well occur simultaneously. No one knows if a real-life paradox would result in a large-scale timeline alteration, or if the closed-loop is kind of automatically self-correcting since everything works out equally in the end. Going back to the Consistency Paradox, yet another approach to avoid it is to acknowledge, regretfully, that you can't and shouldn't attempt to change the past. That is unless you can rule out any chance of a bad domino effect as a result of your activities. In this manner, you can attempt to alter the past while keeping the chronology intact. This means following up the time-change event with another change that balances out the activities and ensures that the outcome remains the same despite the intervention.

The notion of a time loop is one of the most prevalent strategies to get away with time travel in science fiction. You may travel through time here, but any changes you make are predetermined. For example, suppose you were pushed out of the way of a car one day. You return to your timeline from the future and realize that that person was in reality you.

Paradoxes are avoided with this method of time travel, but everything is predetermined. If you wish to prevent a tragic incident from occurring in your past, there's nothing you can do since even if you could, it would still happen in the time loop. Whatever you did, the key events would just re-calibrate around you. This could be the solution for the Grandfather Paradox — that would mean that the event propelling you back in time would happen regardless of your actions, providing your younger self with the incentive to go back and stop it. To put it another way, a time traveler could make adjustments, but the original conclusion would still occur — perhaps not exactly as it did in the initial timeline, but near enough.

Parallel universe

There is also another possibility: creating a parallel universe . The future or past you visit might become a parallel reality. Consider it as a huge fortress where you may construct or demolish as many castles as you like, but it has no bearing on your primal stronghold. When you travel back in time, the future is gone, it never happened, and the universe will evolve anew, even if you do nothing to influence it. It does not affect the future you experienced, but it does affect the future of the reset world. That can entail creating a scenario in which the protagonists travel to the past and discover themselves in a parallel world or multiverse, with no change to their original chronology.

Countless science fiction stories have examined the conundrum of what would happen if you could travel back in time and do something that would jeopardize the future. Please note that you are free to make your own rules for it. This is your work of fiction. The universe will be as you will design it in your story. If the paradoxes do not exist in your story, then you may make up your own rules around it. You can as well bypass the rules your worldbuilding has established if you have a valid cause for doing so and if this is what your writing demands.

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The Definitive Writer’s Guide to Time Travel (historical fiction tips and tricks)

Any writer can travel in time (it’s true), but to do it well takes effort…and a plan. Here is your complete plan to write convincing historical fiction or non-fiction.

Jenna Coleman did it.  You can, too.

Jenna played the role of The Doctor’s companion , first as Oswin Oswald, then as Clara Oswin Oswald and finally flying off in the Tardis as Clara Oswald for three seasons.

After all that time travel to shake her up, you’d think she would be eager to plant her feet firmly in her own time. But, no, she went straight back to the mid 1800s, playing Queen Victoria in Victoria .

Writers often find that themselves zipping back and forth through time just to complete one novel.

Ghostwriters get even worse jet lag. They often live in multiple time zones, all at once. They might be working simultaneously on a romance novel set in early San Francisco, a drama unfolding in the court of Alexander the Great and a sci fi adventure at some unknown date in a dystopian future.

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Any writer can travel in time, but to do it well takes effort. Future travel is easy. We all know we’ll wear fish in our ears and scramble our particles in transporter beams.

Getting the past right in historical fiction is a little more challenging. Here is a good starter guide to getting the past right. Of course, it’s just a guide.  Every book is different.

Time Travel Tips for Writers

Work with timelines

You should have at least two timelines before you even start writing. The first timeline, which is probably most obvious, is the timeline of the story you are writing about.

You might create several timelines for this, covering the protagonist, the antagonist and perhaps a few of the other main characters. You might even set out their events on two sides of a single line.

The second timeline should be a history line. It should include all major external events that could impact the story.  For instance, you might want to include the start and end of World War II, even if the story is not war-related. It should also include all lesser events that are close to the story.

Time is a lot like space. You need to know where a story takes place and the major physical or visual aspects of the setting. You need also to know the time aspects of the setting.

With the two timelines in hand, you can cross reference the two.  Make sure your story fits well into the historical timeline, and make adjustments if it does not.

If you plan to outsource your writing, you will save yourself a lot of frustration by getting this done before hiring a ghostwriter .

Technology and style of the day

No, they did not have flush toilets in the court of Kublai Khan.  How will you deal with that? Technology touches everything.  While transportation and communications might be obvious, simple home implements – such as flush toilets – can really color your story.

If someone drops by unexpectedly in colonial America, you can’t have the host just put a kettle on.  They first have to load the stove up with wood.

As important as is the functionality of things in a different era, the appearance of those things makes a difference, too. Here are some questions to ask:

What would this person be wearing in this era? More specifically, it’s important to figure out what the person would be wearing in various situations, just as we have different outfits for different situations.

What about architecture and home décor? How did things look in the garden (were there gardens?) and in the various rooms? Your story might come before plastic was invented or before wall paper was in style, for example.

Vocabulary of the day

As soon as you have dialogue in historical fiction, you have language to contend with.  How did people speak in those days.

If you go far enough back in time, you won’t be able to be totally authentic. After all, what type of English did the ancient Greeks speak? Even if you go back to Shakespeare’s time, the English of the day would make tough reading for us. Much better to use modern English vocabulary with some tweaks that give our modern minds a sense of days gone by.

Just as today, there were curses and there was slang in almost every era. Interjecting this more colorful language, where it would have been appropriate, gives your manuscript an air of authenticity.  But be careful, because not all slang will be understood and not all curses will seem very sharp to today’s reader.

And that’s another thing to get right – social norms.  Throughout history, the pendulum has swung between repressive and libertine. Make sure your manuscript reflects where the pendulum was at that time in history.

Time Travel Research Guide for Writers

If getting historical fiction right seems like a daunting task, there’s a reason.  It is a daunting task. In fact, it might be a writer’s most daunting task.

There is a lot of information to seek that we just take for granted in our own time. And the information is not readily available.  There are no year-by-year lists one can run to.

But there are places to turn:

Museums: There are history museums and there are art museums.  Photos and paintings give us some idea of how the upper classes dressed, how they wore their hair, etc. Village museums give a glimpse of how ordinary people lived at a certain time.

Books: Many old novels describe the surroundings, and sometimes pictures give an idea of what people and their abodes looked like. Novels from the era can also give you a good idea how to color your dialogue.

Documentaries: Whenever a film is available, make a point to watch. It will give you a feel for how things might have been.  Keep an open mind, though, because it will be mostly an educated guess.

Internet: Of course, the Internet is full of information and images.

Academics: If you are lucky enough to find an academic willing to work with you on historical accuracy, you have it made. Academics can provide input in advance, then “proofread” for historical accuracy.

Enthusiasts: Less reliable than academics, historical enthusiasts can also be helpful.  You’ll find plenty of Civil War enthusiasts, but likely fewer with knowledge of 17 th century Finland.

Time travel is fun.  And it’s even more fun if you are a writer or a singer in Hamilton . Or a Tardis passenger. Since Broadway is a long shot and blue boxes are in short supply these days, you might as well time travel as a writer.

David Leonhardt is President of The Happy Guy Marketing, a published author, a "Distinguished Toastmaster", a former consumer advocate, a social media addict and experienced with media relations and government reports.

Read more about David Leonhardt

Hi David, Awesome post……. your article is really informative and helpful for me and other bloggers too because writing a quality content is not a cup of tea. Really you have described everything in descriptive, simply yet effective too. You’ve done a great job with this. Thanks to share this informative article.

Hi Dave What a joy to be here again after a long gap. I am here today via your Quora question. Time Travel Tips for Writers” A lot of tips to pick for writers. Well written post with a lot of practical tips for a genuine writer. Yes, a writer needs to have a lot of patience. As you said: “Perfecting time travel might be a writer’s most daunting task. if one can achieve this area, I am sure he will succeed in his task. Thanks Dave for this wonderful and informative shout out especially for a writer like me. Learned a lot from it. Keep writing Best ~ Phil

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Several Time Travel Story Ideas

• Posted on 14 Feb, 2020
• Leave a comment

I’ve been working on my novel a lot lately, which is a time travel mystery/thriller. I’m currently about 200 pages in, and I’m satisfied that I’ve avoided a lot of sci-fi tropes so far. It’s a complicated sci-fi subject with a lot of moving parts.

If I’m being honest, the 7 ideas below are insanely weak. I’ll revisit this post sometime later this week. But if you’d like some better ideas, I’ve got a better list here:  10 time travel ideas.

Here are 7 sci-fi ideas…

• A man travels to the past solely in order to create a duplicate of himself. But the duplicate has an evil side and forces the man to swap places, taking his life in the future.
• An entire family time leaps to one hundred years into the future, only to find earth has been evacuated.
• A man travels back in time in order to murder someone who ruined his life, knowing he’ll have a great alibi.
• A man finds a time machine that a time traveler has hidden in the shed behind his house. He inadvertently damages it and the time traveler shows back up to the broken machine.
• A time traveler travels back in time in order to leave a hard drive with the richest man on earth, full of technological designs and secrets he knows the man has the resources to develop, much earlier than they were originally developed.
• A time traveler from far into the future (a few million years) shows up in present-day New York City. He’s surprisingly alien in appearance and has powers that we could have after a million years of evolution.
• A scientist invents the first time machine and immediately shows up to warn himself not to use it.

Let us know what you think about our ideas! Comment below to give us your opinion, add onto an existing idea, or submit one of your own!

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Using time travel without creating plot holes [closed]

There are different types of time travel (they have different rules and constraints) throughout literature, so I was wondering if you could list some of them here, and which ones are best for driving forward narration without creating plot holes. I would like a list, but I don't think it's good for a Q&A website, so I will just ask for the best or preferred way to use time travel in narration without plot holes, and which types of time travel are best or you personally like to use for achieving that.

• creative-writing
• 2 Mmm, a list isn't going to work on a Q&A site - we tend to close those. And "best" is rather opinion-based. But there is a good question in there, about how to avoid plot holes in a time-travel story. Except that it might be too broad. (I'm not VTCing. I'm looking for how the question can be improved.) –  Galastel supports GoFundMonica Commented Feb 23, 2019 at 20:36
• 1 Since most sci-fi stories involving time travel rely on physics mechanisms that are somewhere between unfeasible (e.g. surviving a journey through a wormhole) and ridiculous (travelling faster than light), there might be tropes but there are no "rules and constraints". Choose the one you like, describe a variation or invent a new one! –  Chappo Hasn't Forgotten Commented Feb 23, 2019 at 23:32
• 1 I would advise not accepting an answer so quickly, because it makes you less likely to get more answers. Generally, it's advised to wait at least 24 hours, so that people in other time zones get a chance to see it. I would say the accepted answer is not complete, because it only lists types of paradox and not types of time travel like you asked for, and it doesn't really cover your question about how to construct a consistent story around them. –  N. Virgo Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 2:28
• I actually decided to choose an answer, because it was about to get closed for no reason, even though I said it was optional to make a list and the question isn't broad at all. –  user36239 Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 13:14

5 Answers 5

There are basically three kinds of time travel paradoxes in fiction:

• Grandfather paradoxes alter history in a way that would prevent the time travel into the past that made such an alteration happen, e.g. because the original timeline motivated the journey to achieve such an alteration, or because the traveller's existence is prevented. The name derives from the latter, since if you killed your grandfather when he was very young you'd never exist, which means you wouldn't kill him, which means... well, you get the idea. Marty McFly faces such a threat in Back to the Future , and a subtler variant - preventing his return to 1985, and hence eventual second visit to 1955 - is a danger in the first sequel. The motive-deleting version is a plot point in a very unfaithful-to-the-book 2002 film adaptation of The Time Machine . The protagonist eventually learns the reason he couldn't prevent his lover's death is that then he wouldn't have gone back to do it.
• Predestination paradoxes (in which an event happens because someone travelled in response to it, e.g. accidentally starting a fire while trying to discover how it happened) aren't really paradoxes, and you could argue they're not plot holes either. But they sure bother people. The 2010 Doctor Who episode The Big Bang relies heavily on predestination, as can be seen if you watch the episode and imagine it from the Doctor's perspective instead of Amy's or Rory's. Rory lets him out of the Pandorica and tells him everything he'll do for the first two thirds or so of the episode, and all because the Doctor ends up time travelling in ways that told him what it would involve. I remember at the time this was what reviewers minded, not the grandfather alternative. Neither paradox type we've discussed so far need contradict the time travel rules you establish, but Back to the Future can't keep its story straight on this one: Marty changes history from what he remembered in some ways, but to what he remembered in others (e.g. encouraging a man to run for mayor).
• The last one, which people don't discuss as much, is when a loop technically doesn't make sense if you keep track of the age or entropy of objects. Futurama: The Game gives an example. The crew find their ship damaged and repair it, then later go back in time in a way that damages their ship. They land next to the ship when it was younger and take the undamaged ship, causing their younger selves to find the newly wrecked one minutes later. If you think about it, this means the ship they find has already been around the loop an indeterminable number of times. I guarantee your readers/audience won't pick up on things like this.

Plot holes aren't necessarily a bad thing; but if you're worried about them, set clear rules on whether you can change history to or from what you remembered, then stick to them. The most profitable time-travel film series, BttF, got away with it, but that doesn't make it bad advice.

• Regarding Doctor Who, it's important to remember that the TARDIS is capable of resisting mild paradoxes. That handwavium power is one reason the show can avoid time-travel based plot holes despite being based entirely on time-travel. –  forest Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 8:18
• 5 @forest All you're proving with that comment is that the right line of dialogue in a cunning script makes a viewer accept something that doesn't really make sense, which is the real lesson for writers of any analysis like this. Never mind the TARDIS, the universe shouldn't be able to withstand a paradox. –  J.G. Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 8:22

The easiest way to time-travel without paradoxes is the rewind universe.

Think of the time-machine as a bubble that preserves your body and mind. The entire universe around this bubble reverts to 1963. When you get out, the future is gone, it hasn't happened, and from now on, the universe will evolve again, and may evolve differently even if you do absolutely nothing to affect it.

The reason for this is (putting on a physicist's hat) due to quantum wavefunction collapse. When the wavefunction collapses (say, spontaneously for some reason), there are several super-positions of possible particle configurations, and the "collapse" means exactly ONE of these is selected entirely at random as "reality", all the others are discarded.

But if by some means your time-machine finds the magic switch that reverts the universe back to as it was in 1963, all the wavefunctions of that moment are restored, and as they collapse, they again select one eigenstate (the technical name for the super-positions) entirely at random as "reality".

So, although most things happen exactly as they did before, not everything will, this "fundamental randomness" will not be repeated the same eigenstate selections from the first nanosecond after the rewind.

Then you have the interference of yourself. You were preserved inside the bubble, all your memories and flesh were preserved. So in a sense you know the most-likely future, the bigger things are the more likely they are to repeat. If you already exist in 1963, then two of you exist; you are just another human 56 years old (from 2019). You could go kill your younger self, your parents, if you go far back all your ancestors.

It doesn't make a difference in this new world that you wouldn't be born or wouldn't survive, because you don't have to invent or use a time machine to get back there.

Only your brain contains the memories of the future that evolved before, with your parents or siblings. But memories aren't real , they are entirely encoded in the configuration of neurons in your brain, and you brought that with you.

As far as the universe is concerned, you just randomly materialized in 1963 and the universe continues from there. There is no future after the rewind, so there is no communication or cause-and-effect with the future.

If you travel forward in time, faster than one-second-per-second like we all do, then you will just see the slightly different evolution of this rewinded universe, and many things at the macro level will be nearly the same, and many things at the micro-level may be different.

Particularly, perhaps, the effects of spontaneous decisions that had little preamble to push them in a particular direction. Impulse buying, or impulse sex that resulted in a pregnancy, or impulse violence that changes the course of a life.

Other things you might count on, and ultimately change the course of the future. You could stop the JFK assassination, perhaps. You could be there (as your future self) to save a childhood friend of yours from drowning, or dying in a car accident.

Things like that do not change the future you lived through, but change the future of the reset world. You might find your 56-years younger self, because your friend lived, did not experience the shock or grief you did, and as a result chooses a slightly different path in life, and never invents a time machine (e.g. if you jump forward a year at a time to check).

There are no paradoxes, once you travel back, or rewind the universe, nothing of the future exists anymore, except for what was in the protected bubble: You, your brain, your memories, your notes, computers or whatever tech or anything else you brought with you. The people, the history, everything after the point in 1963 when you arrive has been obliterated, just as if it never existed. And the world starts again, with you in it. But even that is not a paradox, you and your machine are just energy (E=MC^2) in a particular configuration of particles. Nothing in quantum mechanics prevents that particular configuration from spontaneously appearing. (It is only astronomically unlikely, but not impossible.)

Time travel is cheating. You are already cheating. Even if you come up with a worldbuild-y excuse how your cheat works or what limits it, you are already cheating, so just accept it.

Plot holes are not created by time travel, they are created by poor writing – like inventing "rules" for something that is already breaking the rules, and then forgetting to follow your own rules.

Is an old professor going to pop up at the beginning of the story and tell the reader the rules? How are the rules known, did someone try to cheat on their cheat and then discovered they couldn't? Did it kill them, or did they keep trying over and over until they gave up? Did everyone else agree that they would honor the rules and never attempt to prove or disprove the "theory"?

What controls this rule (the author)? Is it pretend physics (the author)? Destiny and fate (the author)? Or maybe some doodad not been invented yet (sequel)? Maybe a daredevil with sex appeal and charisma will come along and break the rule (just a little) – is that a broken story with a plot hole, or is he a truly the chosen one who cheats better than the other cheaters in every story that involves (magic) cheating?

You are the author , not some rulebook that says what is the correct way to cheat (in this story). If the story has plot holes, it's because the author put them there. Maybe it's not an accident because this old professor's theory of how cheating works is wrong, and it takes the right kind of hero to break the rules (of cheating).

This isn't worldbuilding, this is writing. We don't dictate made-up rules by consensus. The only master of consistency within your story is you. If you want to break the rules that you have set up within your own story, you might have a good reason. It might fit your theme about taking a leap of faith, or trusting the unknown, or heck, just risking it all on one last gamble. There are narrative reasons to break your own rules, even for individual characters – because you want to say life is unfair, or a higher power can intervene, or maybe the whole point is that the rules are breaking down, or "Crap! We just broke the rules! and now we are doomed".

It's your universe. We can help you with mistakes or bad plot choices, but there is no system of rules that makes that easier or foolproof. Not cheating physics is one way to stay "safe" but that is the whole point of the story, isn't it?.

Time travel v. 1 : Back to the Future model. In this model people can go back in time and change the past; however, they must avoid the grandfather paradox or else a "bad thing" will happen like disappearing, which resolves it by force, but may also destroy the universe. This brings a second "dimension" of time into the mix, wherein regardless of how Marty moves in the first dimension he's always going to disappear unless he fixes the loop that will allow him to go back in time.

The problem with this form of time travel is when the "bad thing" does happen. The act of the bad thing happening causes many changes in of it self. Imagine if somebody noticed a Marty disappearing that would set in motion a series of events that would probably have prevented him from ever being able to disappear, which causes more problems. What BttF fails to define is what would happen if Marty disappears, would all of causality keep going in loop where he cannot exist but disappears and thus can exist, or would time in each case go on without him, creating what are essentially two universes. Or would somebody notice Marty disappearing and/or the universes changing into one another thus causing a cascading effect where eventually, everything this side of the event horizon will be in a state of complete uncertainty. Either way the "bad thing" seems to be an overly convoluted way to bring about a simpler result, and leaves a whole lot to be explained. Finally, ignoring the "bad thing" entirely, this form of time travel is hard to keep straight in your head.

Time Travel v. 2 : The Terminator way. These rules are pretty simple, when somebody goes back in time there is no need to remember the "previous" timeline at all, you can kill your own grandfather or do whatever you want because it doesn't matter, a whole new separate timeline has been created.

There are a couple problems here, the first one is that if all of the world lines in space time can change then what is the point of time anyway? 4D space time is what allows time to be possible. And if it is not necessary wouldn't it be simpler for conscious beings to just live in a 4D reality that changes? Although the only thing this paradox defies is Occum's Razor, and universe design best practices, it is a pretty clear problem, while a "bad thing" will always be a little more foggy as to whether or not it may be logically consistent; however, many people will still prefer the Terminator method over something as messy as disappearing.

Time Travel v. 3 : The Lost method. In Harry Potter and Lost, the future is destiny. Anything that a time traveler thinks they might be changing, is actually just something they never knew happened, and any attempts to change history will ultimately fail. Spacetime is a completely static object, albeit yet highly responsive to our actions, constantly thwarting that which might change things.

The problem with this form of time travel is probably the easiest to spot. So maybe the first time one tries to kill their grandfather it turns out, that he wasn't actually the father of your father. And maybe your gun jams on the second attempt, and on your third attempt he already had sex with your grandma by the time you got him. On your 8th try you might even learn that your dad didn't even do the thing you are trying to prevent him from being born for, but it's principal at this point. Eventually; however, your going to have witnessed nearly every inch of every second surrounding the time your grandparents bang, and the universe will have run out of space to bring up some wacky antic to stop you.

As logically inconsistent as this seems there can ever be any proof that time travel actually works via a self fulfilling destiny. Both Harry Potter and Lost might actually follow the Back to the Future model, we are only seeing things from the point of view after a stable sequence of events have been set in place. In BttF we only see when Marty first goes on his adventure; however, as his t2 goes on his memories of hearing about how his mother and father met by being hit by a car will eventually disappear with the image on the picture. We don't see this (as it is kind of sad), but they will be replaced by the knowledge that he was named after the person who brought his rich parents together after being hit by a car. From his new perspective his adventure will never have changed anything, he was simply fulfilling what had to be done. Likewise, when Harry saves himself he might actually just practicing responsible time travel ship by keeping the timeline consistent. Even though he knows that he would some how survive the death eaters, trying to wait for another savior could easily put him in an endless loop of getting half his soul sucked out, saving himself, only to have himself not save himself, and so forth, or wind up causing a "bad thing".

There are also reasons why each of the other types of time travel might appear to be this one; however, I don't want to spend all day on this.

Time travel v. 4 : The last one. It might be the case that whenever somebody might use a time machine to cause a Grandfather paradox, or some other kind of problem, the time machine just doesn't work. I cannot think of an example of this one, but I would bet it would lead to tension between characters who cannot ever get the time machine to work, and the characters who have the resolve required to stop themselves from doing whatever these things are.

I cannot think of any paradoxes with this form of time travel, at least none that are unique to it. Nor does the failure of the time machine introduce a hundred more questions like a "bad thing" does; however, it does not give you quite as much creative freedom as the Terminator method does, which could possibly be why I haven't seen it implemented, sacrificing quality for consistency defeats the whole point of consistency. However, I would argue that there is something to be said about originality.

See comments

• Wow that is going to need a lot of revision/shortening, but Ugh I just spent like 3 hours on that! I have a senior project to finish. Look I feel like the top answer left a little bit out, so I wanted to add more. Not that much more, but... if somebody else could please just make a shorter revised version for me in comments I'll replace it; however, I don't want to waste much more time with it. I might replace "bad thing" with something more descriptive, but else wise I ought to be done. –  Caston Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 10:30
• P.S. I was slightly sleep deprived while writing all of this, so I get it that it isn't the best first draft. –  Caston Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 10:39
• 1 A fifth model is presented in the movie "Kate and Leopold" (Meg Ryan, 2001). Time travel is through a natural phenomenon; at first accidental, But Meg (modern time) falls in love with Leopold (from the past) and travels back in time to get married, have children, and live out her life. The physicist that finally figures it all out, near the end of the movie, claims "All the loops have to be there! That's how time really works!" In other words, our naive perception of a straight timeline is wrong, world history can be paradox free even if Meg lives 30 years modern then 50 in 1850 (or so). –  Amadeus Commented Feb 24, 2019 at 12:55
• Well now the whole things put on hold and likely about to be closed, so what's the point? Also you didn't really explain how the time travel worked, just that it did, which I guess is kinda a version all on its own. (I don't know how much of my essay made any sense to you, so don't take it the wrong way.) –  Caston Commented Feb 25, 2019 at 23:48
• In the movie it is not explained how it works; it is plot device. A black portal surrounded by swirling clouds, it appears, you jump through it. It has been awhile, but I believe the physicist nails the timing of when it will appear, and it is due to gravitational alignment or something, so in a few days it will stop appearing. Backtracking to Leopold's time was the last time it appeared, then it won't appear again for X hundred years or something. All time-travel is hand-wavy by necessity, technically speaking it is impossible. –  Amadeus Commented Feb 26, 2019 at 1:22

To avoid plot holes use the end point consistency, or self-correcting, time travel model where, by definition, paradoxes cannot occur and then be careful to keep track of the final timeline. End point consistency basically means that no matter what a traveler might do in the past the end result, in terms of global events and conditions, is the same. This doesn't necessarily mean that the past cannot be changed at all but it does mean that small changes cannot lead to large ones. For example if someone follows the cliche and goes back in time to kill Hitler at birth then you simply get another leader with the same background and ambitions but a different name leading the Nazi party into World War II, the only change to world history is the name in the books. This is the simplest, in my estimation at least, model of time travel to write because you don't have plot holes or causality paradoxes, you can be "grandfathered" out of existence but there's no point because someone else, who's exactly the same as you while not being you, will take your place so deliberate grandfathering is a waste of time and energy. Most importantly as an author you don't have to explain the exact events that get time back on track you simply have to assert that it happens and make sure you stay consistent about your event series and their ultimate outcome.

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MA Creative Writing (Part Time)

Course options

Key Details

Course Overview

UEA pioneered the teaching of Creative Writing more than 50 years ago and is globally regarded as a leader of the subject. UEA has mentored countless award-winning authors, including Booker Prize winners Ian McEwan, Anne Enright, and Nobel Laureate Sir Kazuo Ishiguro. 

But today Creative Writing is changing, and so are we. Stories are now adapted from novels to streaming platforms to games and so much more. Digital technologies and AI are reshaping writing's possibilities and practical applications. Exciting fusion genres from authors across the globe are dominating bestseller lists and streaming platforms. Career opportunities in the creative industries across the world are increasingly vibrant and ever more dynamic. 

This course will equip you to engage with this world and its vast audiences, now and in the future.  You'll have the unique opportunity to work across forms of writing to help you discover and enhance your talent. You'll explore prose fiction and non-fiction, script and poetry, and hybrid, multimodal, and cross-genre writing. You'll also have the opportunity to develop all kinds of industry-oriented genre writing, from speculative fiction to young adult, fantasy to historical. You'll learn how AI and digital technology are transforming our ideas of writing and writers. You'll also find opportunities to experiment with writing for multiple digital realities and platforms, which are widely accessible and easily integrated. Most of all, you’ll develop skills to get noticed, published and build an audience in this digital world.  

At the same time, you'll benefit from UEA's established teaching excellence, creative writing workshops, and unrivalled connections with the fast-changing publishing industry in the UK and beyond. You'll become part of the university’s vibrant creative writing ecosystem, with events such as UEA Live , research and internship opportunities in the British Archive for Contemporary Writing , and a host of more informal occasions to share and celebrate your work and hear from prize-winning alumni. You’ll study in the historic city of Norwich, one of UNESCO’s Cities of Literature . You'll benefit from UEA's exceptional expertise in the world-wide breadth and history of literature, building your confidence and authority as a writer. 

You'll graduate a respected and versatile writer, steeped in practical and professional knowledge. You might translate that experience into a career in the creative industries, such as publishing and editing, writing for advertising, marketing, arts, culture, heritage and GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums) sector organisations, VR and XR experiences, digital gaming, streaming TV, and more. You may be embarking on a new writing career or you may be an established professional looking to upskill in a changing environment. Perhaps you want to understand more about writing and feel the thrill of seeing your work come together on page or screen. Whatever your ambitions, this course will inspire and enable you to discover your own voice and make the most of it in the next stage in your writer’s journey. 

Study and Modules

This part-time course takes place over two years. You'll take a taught module each semester, and then over the summer of your second year you'll complete your dissertation (submitted early September) with the support of your supervisor.   

In the autumn semester of your first year, you'll take a Creative Writing workshop in which you'll explore and experiment with a range of forms of writing, from genre fiction to screenwriting and poetry, establishing a competency and confidence across genres.  

In the second semester, you'll choose from a rich range of optional modules across the School and Faculty. These draw especially on the wealth of knowledge and experience of the School's literary critics, and currently include modules on writing and play (which encourages your own playful experiments in writing), contemporary fiction, or how writing is inspired by place. These modules will help put your own writing into context and provide you with touchstones for your own creations. 

Compulsory Modules

Workshop: introduction to forms, optional a modules, theory and practice of fiction, creative encounters, adaptation and interpretation, process and product in translation, creative-critical writing, ludic literature, environmental humanities: human cultures and the natural world, digital storytelling, japanese literature, the non fiction novel, the poetics of place, critically queer: sex, gender and sexuality.

Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.

Teaching and Learning

Throughout the course, you'll benefit from UEA's unrivalled Creative Writing tuition and literary critical expertise. Expert creative writers will lead your first workshop, helping to mentor you as you find your voice as a writer. You'll encounter leading practitioners of many of the forms you'll explore – novelists, scriptwriters, poets – who will help you to hone your craft and give their tips and insights into success in each genre.  

In your second semester, literature tutors will introduce you to traditions of writing from across the globe, helping you to interpret them and put them into context. But they'll also support you in your own creative experimentation. UEA has many years of experience pioneering forms of 'creative-critical' pedagogy, where you are invited to demonstrate your critical thinking and understanding through writing creatively. In this exciting environment, creative and critical thinking are often fused together.  

Over the course of the MA, you’ll build and develop your portfolio of writing. At the end of each of the workshops you'll submit work which demonstrates your growing versatility, craft, and experience as a writer. 

Your first-year optional module may invite you to write a literary critical essay, further creative work, or an experimental creative-critical piece. 

In the autumn semester of your second year, you'll study the ways digital technology is reshaping writing. By the end of this semester, you'll have a firm sense of the exciting potential of writing for new technologies and begin to incorporate that potential into your writerly toolkit.   

In your final taught semester, you'll take a second Creative Writing workshop where you'll continue to establish your craft, confidence and professionalism as a writer across forms. By the end of the semester, you might decide to specialise in a single form or continue to commit to the path of versatility and hybrid experimentation. 

Over the summer, you'll plunge into the thrilling culmination of your MA – your creative writing dissertation. You'll be supported by a member of our Creative Writing team as you write your project, which will become your calling-card as a writer and help to launch the next phase of your career. 

CREATIVE WRITING IN A DIGITAL WORLD

Workshop: finding your forms, creative writing dissertation, creative writing research methodology conference.

Our world-leading creative writing team will continue to help you mature as a writer, first by leading you through your second workshop, and then by supervising your dissertation project over the summer.  

In the autumn semester of Year 2, your encounters with contemporary creative digital technology will be facilitated by our cutting-edge  BLOC resources . These include our Music and Media Suite, which offers facilities for podcasting, digital design and publishing, audio production, and access to many creative software. These facilities are also supported by a superb team of professional technicians who will support you as you discover new creative abilities.  

In your module focussed on digital writing, you’ll also be assessed on the underlying writing you produce for a digital form – this could be writing for a podcast, game, XR experience, or even a combination of forms. 

Finally, your dissertation will bring your whole creative journey together, where you’ll produce an original piece of 12-15,000 words in length (or equivalent weight, in your chosen form(s)). This piece will be a reflection of the writer you have become. It may demonstrate your growing mastery of a single form – a substantial extract from a work of genre fiction, for instance – or it may show off your dexterity in moving across forms. You may also choose to focus on the digital side of your degree, producing writing for digital gaming or immersive VR experience.  

Entry Requirements

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

Degree classification

Bachelors degree - 2.2

Degree Subject

Any subject

Candidates are required to submit a portfolio of writing for assessment with their application  of 2500-3000 words in length. This could be part of a novel, non-fiction prose, script, poetry, a combination of short pieces from multiple forms, or a hybrid piece which combines forms together.

Our  Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all postgraduate applicants.

UK Bachelors degree - 2.2 or equivalent 

Any subject 

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):   

IELTS:  6.5 overall (minimum 6 in all areas) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.  

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date. 

 If you do not meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the required English skills.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2025/26 are: 

UK Students: £10,675

International Students: £22,700

We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month. 

Further Information on tuition fees can be found  here .

Course Related Costs

Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs. 

How to Apply

How to apply.

Applications for Postgraduate Taught programmes at the University of East Anglia should be made directly to the University. 

To apply please use our  online application form . 

Further information

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying, please do contact us: 

Postgraduate Admissions Office 

Tel: +44 (0)1603 591515  Email:  [email protected]  

International candidates are also encouraged to access the  International Students  section of our website. 

Employability

After the course.

You'll graduate as a confident creative writer, with an understanding of genre, audience, and the craft needed to shape writing. You'll also have a strong awareness of the contemporary writer's world and the digital dexterity needed to navigate it. This may lead to a career as a successful novelist or scriptwriter. You'll also be ready for careers across the creative industries: in publishing and journalism; marketing; roles in the arts, culture, heritage and GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives and museums) sectors; writing for digital gaming and the creative computing sectors. The creative confidence our courses give graduates have also underpinned successful business entrepreneurship. Graduates from our Creative Writing MA courses go on to careers in teaching or undertake PhDs (including UEA's own creative-critical PhDs). Many also undertake our courses for the profound pleasure and sense of achievement given by writing itself.  

Examples of careers that you could enter include: 

• Novelist/Scriptwriter 
• Publishing or Journalism 
• Marketing 
• Arts/GLAM-sector roles 
• Writing for digital gaming or creative computing sectors 
• Teaching or Academic careers 

Discover more on our Careers pages .  

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