Put transitions to work in your writing. Learn how to use them with skill.
You can use emotion, the weather or just blank lines.
Examples:
#1. By the time John reached home, the light rain had become a downpour.
(weather)
#2. Twenty minutes later, Paul slammed the door behind him. His
annoyance had grown to uncontrollable rage when he stormed into
Jones’s office. (emotion)
#3. It was 2:00 PM when he left his apartment.
Drop four blank lines and continue with narrative:
Chuck entered the courtroom five minutes late.
The four blank lines indicate a transition from one place to another or the passing of time. The reader automatically accepts it. You may also use asterisks instead of blank lines. Be sure you center them:
* * * *
Open one of your favorite books and read passages that contain obvious transitions. Study how they were written and apply the same technique.
Don’t waste the reader’s time and bloat your story with unnecessary information.
Examples:
#1. Marilyn had thirty minutes to make her flight. She got on the freeway at
4:00 PM. Work traffic was in full swing. It was bumper-to-bumper and
she had twelve miles to the airport. By the second off ramp traffic was
at a standstill.
#2. Liz left a message on Don’s answering machine. It was important, she
needed to see him tonight. He listened to the recording twice before
heading to the parking garage. On the elevator, he kept replaying what
Liz had said in his mind. When he got to his car he wondered if he
should really make the two-hour drive. She hadn’t contacted him in
four months.
All of the extra information in the examples above drags the story down instead of moving it forward.
Put on your editor’s hat, get out your blue pencil and cut the fat from the examples above.
Examples:
#1. Marilyn had thirty-minutes to make her flight. She got on the freeway at
4:00 PM. Work traffic was at a standstill. The airport would be jammed.
#2. Liz left a message on Don’s answering machine. It was important, she
needed to see him tonight. Liz hadn’t contacted him in four months. He
left for the parking garage.
Use blank lines or the four asterisks after the transition narrative to move your story to the next scene. The reader will assume the difficulties the characters had while going from one place or time to another.
Quite often, in fiction, what the author doesn’t say has as much impact as two or more lines of exposition.
Give your audience the benefit of the doubt. Allow them to become more involved in the events of the story.
A pinch of salt and pepper makes the dish taste better.