Altered States and Alternative Realities—What if we ask AI?—L. Kappel

Have you ever looked back at a single, mundane moment—a missed phone call, a different route to work, a split-second decision—and wondered, “What if”? This has always fascinated me.

Some of my stories take my protagonist away from her current life and back to her school days of being bullied. Her altered state begins in adult life after a divorce and the discovery her marriage was manipulated by her school bully.

The triggering moment could be trauma, alcohol, drugs, coma or a desire to get away from reality. This altered state should not be confused with “split personality” as the character remains the same person but takes both forks in a split road.

The 1998 film Sliding Doors created my fascination for the “What ifs” when the protagonist’s life splits into two parallel realities based on one small event.

Using this technique, I enjoy the development of choice, chance and the character’s alternative story from this decision.

How to do this:

1)     Identify the “Sliding Door” Moment

It must feel insignificant at the time but carry major long-term consequences. For example, in Sliding Doors, her train is delayed so she decides to take a taxi. In her alternative life, she is injured in a failed robbery.

2)     Define the Rules of Your Parallel Worlds

Research has suggested these rules for how your universes interact, or the reader will get confused.

The Split: In Sliding Doors, the timelines never cross, but they are edited together to show contrast.

Consequence: Ensure the A split is not "better" than the B alternative. The most interesting stories come from exploring the unexpected positives and negatives in both scenarios. Sliding Doors does this brilliantly.

3)     Structure the Narrative

Writing a dual-timeline story requires careful pacing so the reader doesn't lose interest in one story over the other.

Intercut Scenes: Switch between the two timelines at the end of chapters or at moments of high tension (cliffhangers).

Convergence: Although the plots are different, the theme should be consistent. Both stories should explore the same internal character journey (e.g., finding self-worth).

4) Focus on the Emotional "Why"

Don’t use this technique just for the gimmick. Use it to explore what your character needed to learn. I found this useful to develop my character from a life hidden to a life lived on her terms for the most part.

How I’d Use AI for Best Effect:

1)     Managing the Workflow

Writing two books or two storylines at once is taxing. Use AI to help manage the complexity. I found AI extremely helpful in explaining this portion of the blog.

2)     Brainstorming Splits

What are three different ways a character could react to finding a stolen wallet, creating two different storylines?

3)     Consistency Checks

For example, "Compare the character arc in Chapter 4 (Timeline A) with Chapter 5 (Timeline B) to ensure her personality remains consistent despite different circumstances".

AI suggests this Sliding Doors technique is a powerful way to show that our lives are a world of possibilities.