What are the common ways to indicate time in a story related to time in a story?

The change in characters' appearance can be a sign. For example, a character's hair turning grey over the story. Another is the change in fashion or style. If at the beginning of the novel people are dressed in a certain old - fashioned way and later in more modern styles, time has passed. Also, the introduction of new characters who are younger generations can show time moving forward.

Time - related phrases are often used, like 'days passed', 'weeks went by', or 'years flew'. Another method is the changing daily routines of characters. If a character used to wake up early every morning to go fishing but then gradually stops doing so as the story unfolds, it implies that time has passed and things have changed. The evolution of a character's goals and dreams can also indicate time passing. A character who once dreamed of becoming a famous singer but then gives up on that dream as the novel progresses shows that time has had an impact on their life.

One common way is chronological order. This is where events are presented in the order they occur in time, from the beginning to the end. Another way is through flashbacks. The story jumps back in time to show an earlier event that has significance to the current situation. And there's also foreshadowing which gives hints about future events in the time sequence of the story.

One common way is through the use of dates. For example, 'In 1945, the world was in chaos after the war.' Another way is by referring to seasons, like 'It was a cold winter when the tragedy happened.'

You can use clear markers like dates, seasons, or specific events. For example, 'It was the summer of 1985' or 'As the leaves turned gold in autumn'.

You could also mention specific dates or seasons. Saying 'It was Christmas Eve, and the snow was falling thickly.' gives a clear indication of the time of the year.

One common way is through direct description. For example, 'The story took place in a small cottage by the sea in the early morning.' Another way is through the characters' actions and dialogue. If a character says, 'I can't wait for the winter festival next week,' it gives an indication of the time. Also, using sensory details can help describe the place. Like 'The smell of damp moss filled the ancient forest where the story was set.'

You can add more vivid descriptions and details. That makes the story more immersive.

You might indicate time leaping by having the character experience d茅j脿 vu or strange memories that don't fit the current time. Or maybe they have a special device or power that causes the leap and it's mentioned explicitly.

You could indicate a time gap by starting a new chapter or section with a date or time stamp. Or, describe how technology or fashion has evolved to imply the time that's gone by.