Writing World

Bill W · 2026-07-11T09:16:43Z

The word tomorrow literally translates "at morning". It traces back to the 13th-century Middle English tomorwe (originally written as two words, to morwe). It is a combination of the preposition to (meaning "at" or "on") and morrow, which stems from the Old English morgenne (meaning "morning"). Because "morrow" originally referred to the early part of the day after the present one, the phrase to morwe evolved to mean the entire day following today. Over time, through the 16th to the early 20th century, the two words merged into the single, unhyphenated "tomorrow".

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the word tomorrow was first used in English around 1275. The earliest recorded use is found in the writings of the poet Laȝamon, meaning "at or on the morning following the present day".

Bill W · 2026-07-11T09:28:04Z

The concept of "tomorrow" serves as the primary engine for audience engagement in storytelling, transforming a passive viewing experience into an active, emotional journey. It creates urgency and provides hope, driving characters to make critical choices that shape their destinies and resolving unresolved conflict.

Storytellers leverage the concept of tomorrow in several vital ways:
Creating Stakes and Urgency: By introducing a looming deadline (e.g., "by tomorrow morning"), writers establish intense tension. This compels characters to act, revealing their true nature through difficult decisions.
Building Anticipation: The promise of the future keeps audiences turning pages or staying in their seats. It acts as the ultimate hook—the lingering question of what happens next.
Thematically Exploring Consequences: Speculative narratives and sci-fi use imagined tomorrows to hold a mirror to today's societal issues, exploring potential futures based on current choices without the risk of real-world conflict.
Fostering Empathy: Stories about tomorrow (e.g., in Gabrielle Zevin's novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow) allow audiences to process grief, heal, and connect with characters facing insurmountable odds.
Driving Character Motivation: A character's vision of a better (or worse) tomorrow is often their primary psychological anchor. This is the "why" that gives them the strength to endure the trials of the present.

Understanding this temporal anchor helps you construct narrative arcs that resonate deeply on an emotional level.

Edited 4 hours ago by Bill W