Topic: Weaving two stories into one

My current WIP has essentially two stories woven into one, but they rarely connect. It's a supernatural thriller about the Apocalypse, including the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Satan.

One half of the first book is dedicated to a Catholic orphan that the Church believes may be Christ returned in the flesh. He's being pursued by the Antichrist in Rome, so the Church sends him to the Holy Land to keep him safe and to visit the places where Jesus once walked the Earth in hopes of jogging his memory about who he may be.

The other half of the book is a series of supernatural murders in Rome of bishops and cardinals also believed to be the work of the Antichrist. This half of the story follows two detectives as they investigate the murders and close in on the Antichrist.

The two story halves really only connect at the beginning of the book and at the end. The connection at the end is very strong, but beyond that they don't overlap. There will be two scenes per chapter, one for each story half.

Question: is this an acceptable way to tell a story? I took some flak with my previous book because it was two separate stories that had minimal connection until the climax, when both halves came together. My new story will have even less of a connection.

Thoughts?

Quote Post 1

Re: Weaving two stories into one

As long as the stories connect in a reasonable manner in the end (the beginning would be a plus) then I see nothing wrong with the way you are presenting it. It's really a minimal version of a story within stories method of storytelling (The Arabian Nights being an extreme and well known version). Also, within most mysteries, separate parts of the solution don't come together until near the ending. The primarily separate story lines could be perceived as a "hook" for many trying to figure out how they will eventually connect. If you are convinced the story works as two halves, then that is the way you should proceed with confidence. Good writing. Take care. Vern

Quote Post 2

Re: Weaving two stories into one

I had the opposite problem: a very long story I had to break up into two novels.
I think if you alternate the two stories in a compelling way, maybe at least tie them together by the timeline, they will feel like one story. For example, the news of the murders could show up on a tv screen in a chapter about the orphan. Find a way to tie them together using “Easter eggs”. Or you can have a common thread running in the background.
As long as it isn’t a clear break, like first the story of the orphan for half the book, followed by the murder mystery part, you’re fine. In fact, I’m intrigued.

Quote Post 3

Re: Weaving two stories into one

Dirk: I recently read Jellicoe Road. It's a YA but it has two stories that take place at different times and  intersect at the beginning and the end. It really worked. There were themes that crossed over and some symbolism too. I loved it. And I couldn't wait to find out how the two stories connected so it really pulled me through to the end. Good luck with your story.

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Re: Weaving two stories into one

Thank you, everyone.

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