intendedchronological

Intendedchronological is a term in narrative theory describing the order of events as the author intends the audience to experience them. It represents the designed temporal sequence that guides pacing, foreshadowing, and thematic development, which may differ from the events' actual order or from the sequence in which they are presented on the page or screen.

It contrasts with chronological order, the strict order of events as they occur in time; with reported sequence, the order in which events are recounted; and with story order, the sequence readers reconstruct from the text. In practice, the intended chronology often arises in non-linear narratives, where flashbacks, flash-forwards, or parallel timelines are used to emphasize motifs, character development, or suspense while maintaining a deliberate temporal plan.

Analysts, editors, and creators may examine intendedchronological through author statements, drafts, or stylistic cues such as recurring motifs, anachronies, or narrator reliability. In film and game design, the term can describe the order in which the designer wants players or viewers to process events, which may be clarified or obscured by interstitial devices or interactive mechanics.

Limitations include ambiguity and variation in audience interpretation; the intended chronology may be altered by translation, adaptation, or differing narrative media. Nonetheless, understanding intendedchronological can illuminate authorial choices and the experience of time within a work.

See also: non-linear narration, chronology, flashback, foreshadowing, narrative perspective, editorial notes.