Some very minor Heartstopper timeline changes
Hello everyone! Bit of an odd post today, please feel free to not read this if you're tired of my nonsense.
This is probably the most nit-picky thing I have ever done to Heartstopper, but I felt like I needed to explain to you all what I am doing and why.
I am moving the most recent events in Heartstopper one week forwards in time.
Firstly, don't panic! Nothing major about the comic is changing. Just the timeline. And only by one week.
You: Alice, why are you doing this, you absolute perfectionist?
Me: Making a webcomic is so weird. Even though I work very far in advance compared to a lot of webcomic creators, it still leaves very little room for hindsight, and no room to edit things I wrote/drew long ago, because I've already posted it for people to see. I actually struggled a lot with planning the structure of chapter 3 because I wanted SO many things to happen, but I needed it to all happen before Nick and Charlie's school summer holidays, because I have a load MORE things I need to happen then!! This is no doubt why this chapter has ended up so phenomenally long.
In this case, after someone posted a comment in the $5 tier yesterday, I realised how little time had actually passed in the comic compared to how much Nick and Charlie's relationship had advanced. Despite it being almost 300 pages since Nick and Charlie's first kiss, only about a month had progressed in the comic's timeline. It felt odd. It felt unrealistic. I know a lot needed to happen in this chapter, and a lot has happened to N&C in that month, but still. A month. Hm. Don't know how I feel about that.
Honestly, there's not a lot I can do to rectify it - because of what I have in store for chapter 4, the comic can't move too far into the future, because Nick and Charlie have things to do at the end of May and beginning of June that can only happen (mainly GCSE exams and also some other things I have planned).
What I can do is move the events one week into the future. Does it solve much? I mean, not really. But it makes me feel a little bit better. And it's my comic. So there.
You: I'm confused.
Me: Aren't we all. I made a calendar for you, in case that makes things easier. After moving the May events one week into the future, this is now what the chapter 3 timeline looks like:
So, yeah. There you go.
I haven't updated the pages on Tapas and Tumblr yet but I'm about to do that! Also I'm making this post public in case any non-Patrons want to see it and understand why I've done this.
If you've read this far, I hope you found this at least a little interesting, instead of what it really is - the blatherings of a control freak!!! Do let me know if you have any questions (or point out if I've done anything wrong because my brain hurts and I wouldn't be surprised if I've messed something up) :)
xxx
Comments (15)
I actually wrote down all the dates to know how much time they had been together, though I started this comic long after you changed everything :D What i wanted to say was: people (me) do notice those details, so thanks for putting them in the first place, and I'm gald you changed them when it didn't seem right to you
Alice this is extremely interesting!
This is the kind of stuff I love to read! Mainly because I’m just as nit picky about timeline. Thanks for sharing
Okay so I've read and loved all your books. Solitaire was heartbreaking due to how much I related to Tori. Seeing Charlie struggling was really hard. The webcomic was great because it's their relationship before the bad stuff. I know bc of the timeline that Charlie's stuff starts in June. Is that going to be a (big) part of the storyline? I just need a little warning. I hope this isn't spoiling anything; it is in the books. Anyways thank you for brightening every day with the comic. Also wanted to say how much I love IWBFT 💜💜💜
I'd also be happy to delete this comment so other users aren't expecting the aforementioned direction of the plot.
YES YES THIS MAKES SENSE, I APPROVE. I DON'T THINK IT'S TOO FAST or too little time. I think that is an important thing to consider but looking at your calendar, I don't think it's too unrealistic! Good work. I am a nerd and enjoyed looking at the calendar lmao, but definitely did not really notice the time line as being problematic until now
This is very reassuring, thank you so much!!! :D
I feel you, whenever I write something that happens in more than a week, I gotta use a calendar lmao. Sometimes I think I spend as much time putting the events in a calendar as planning said events. So, no worries, it makes sense and I'm not scared by your organization!! :D Also it's a nice change, it gives Nick a bit more time too so, yeah, it feels more realistic.
what year are they in right now?
Charlie's in Year 10, Nick's in Year 11!
It’s your comic make it as perfect as you want
I actually never noticed. For me, N&C just live in this timeless bubble of cuteness😂 But I get you. I alway have a perfectly dated timeline written down for my stories (just like you with a calendar) and when I find something unrealistic, I have to change A LOT.
I think that's why I never noticed either 😂
This was also a big struggle for me when I was writing my stories was the timing and the real life pacing and had to make a calendar too! Keep up the great work! You’re amazing!!
I love how deep you are into your webcomic. You even made a calender! It's beautiful.