What do authors use to indicate a change in time or setting or a progression in the plot of a story?

Authors use various techniques to indicate a change in time, setting, or progression in the plot of a story. Some of these techniques include:

1. Chapter Breaks: Starting a new chapter can signify a shift in time or setting.
2. Scene Breaks: A line break or a symbol (like three asterisks) can indicate a transition within a chapter.
3. Time Markers: Specific phrases or terms like "weeks later," "the following year," or "that evening" can help indicate a change in time.
4. Descriptive Language: Changes in the environment or weather, character actions, or sensory details can signal a shift in setting.
5. Dialogue: Characters might reference past events or future plans, helping to set the timeline.
6. Flashbacks or Flashforwards: Narrative shifts that transport the reader back or forward in time can show progression in the plot or context.
7. Foreshadowing: Hints about future events in the story can create a sense of time progression.
8. Character Growth: Changes in a character’s thoughts, feelings, or relationships can indicate the passage of time and development in the plot.
9. Climactic Moments: Key events that occur can mark important turning points in the narrative structure and plot progression.
10. Use of Tenses: Shifts between present and past tense can indicate changes in time, especially in complex narratives.

These techniques help guide the reader through the narrative and create a clearer understanding of the story’s timeline and progression.