Brantley, to show that an event in the plot has already happened in his story, can use the temporal transition word "Earlier." This transition word indicates that the event occurred before the current point in the narrative. By using "Earlier," Brantley can effectively convey to the readers that the event has already taken place in the past.
Additionally, Brantley could also consider using the phrase "Shortly after" to signal that the event occurred not too long before the current moment in the story. This phrase implies a close temporal proximity between the past event and the present moment in the plot.
In summary, both "Earlier" and "Shortly after" are effective temporal transition words or phrases that Brantley can use to indicate that an event has already happened in his story, providing clarity and structure to the timeline of his narrative.
