How to transition to another scene when writing a story with more then one charater?

7 Dec 2013

Okay guys and girls i'm back asking something new again.Okay I just wanna know how this would be done in writing I know it's possible in writing but what would it look like?I plan to write some stories where I want to be able to transition to another scene.

So please show example's of how you would form it in your stories,and if you have already done that in some stories please share some advice or tips you may have.Thank you.^_^

7 Dec 2013

Quote by LovingHer17
Okay guys and girls i'm back asking something new again.Okay I just wanna know how this would be done in writing I know it's possible in writing but what would it look like?I plan to write some stories where I want to be able to transition to another scene.

So please show example's of how you would form it in your stories,and if you have already done that in some stories please share some advice or tips you may have.Thank you.^_^

On Lush, my transitions look like this ***** or o-O-o for a major transition.

A transition is simply taking a reader from one scene to another. Make sure you have brought your first scene to a satisfying conclusion and then place a marker of some kind (be consistent) and then set about setting the new scene.

As an example, here's my opening from 'Not Dead' here on Lush:

As the Earth wheels through space, the vast majority of its inhabitants are oblivious to the eternal war that is about to be reignited.

Equinox. Equilibrium - a deadly alignment. The enemy is massing. Not here in our world but in another place, another side that's not parallel, nor a shadow world, although it is dark. It's just… separate, misaligned; two worlds inhabiting the same location but oblivious of each other. Except for the special days of perfect symmetry, when night and day become equal and the Earth slips into phase with its toxic twin.

Cultural memories warn of what happens when the membrane between these two realities softens; in places they weaken to the point where they become permeable. As darkness falls, things slip through. Things not of this Earth. Hungry things, looking to feast.

Harvest Festival was not always what it is today: Harvest Festival was a joyous celebration by the Equinox’s survivors. Those who had hidden themselves well; those who had fought off the Army of Darkness; those who had not been taken; those who had not been harvested.

Through the centuries the Fables became confused by mistranslations and forgotten meanings. ‘Harvest Festival’ was corrupted, its true meaning adapted and adopted for something else.

On this night of equals, the hunters became the hunted. Oh, there was feasting alright...

Only a thin veneer held back the darkness. They alone protected the Earth, allowed it to resist the rising tide of death and destruction. They were the chosen few. Some were warriors, some were sacrifices; some were more willing than others. This is their tale…

o-O-o

Rocks are never comfortable. Even when you alter the molecular structure of a rock to mould it to the exact shape of your backside, there is the matter of the hardness and the cold to consider. Especially when you are expected to sit watch all night in the middle of a peat bog.

"What an inconvenient place to locate a reality door," Angharath muttered.An idea formed in the wizard's head.

This story starts by giving the reader a background, a definition within which everything else happens. It's like the 20 second voice-over at the beginning of the 'A-Team'

I call it 'world-building' but whatever you call it, it sets the foundation for what comes next. I used 'o-O-o' to denote the transition as what follows is the start of the story proper; then I set the scene (sitting on a rock in a peat bog) and introduced a main character (Angharath) and told you he's a wizard. He doesn't seem like a warrior and he doesn't seem willing but as to the feasting... well perhaps you should read the story to see who gets to do the feasting.

16 Jan 2014

This will help thx

16 Jan 2014

An impressive opening, as usual, Ms Abigail.

When it comes to scene shifts, one of the most powerful tools is the word, "Later." Minor shifts, for instance moving into an adjacent room, might need nothing more than a quick line describing the move. Major breaks, such as time, place, and/or POV will probably require some indication alerting readers to the transition. Best I recall, the most common marker is, ### sandwiched between two blank line. And speaking of numbers, the number one rule is: Be consistent.

glasses8

In my sig line, the, "FROM: Becky..." contains several time and place shifts.

RUMPLATIONS: AwesomeHonky Tonk and Cyber Bar
Home of the Lush "IN" crowd: indecent, intoxicated, and insolvent
a place to gossip, share news, talk sports, pimp a story, piss & moan, or just grab a drink. Check it out.

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwords. -- ROBERT HEINLEIN

17 Jan 2014

Hey! I use **** or start the next line with a new character's name. I agree with AbigailThornton that you make sure you have brought your first scene to a satisfying conclusion first though.

17 Jan 2014

Cal, thanks to 'find and replace' there's no reason to not hive your agent, editor, mother-in-law, whatever the want when it comes to transition markers.

BTW, the #2 rule is to never, ever let a transition confuse your reader.

glasses8

RUMPLATIONS: AwesomeHonky Tonk and Cyber Bar
Home of the Lush "IN" crowd: indecent, intoxicated, and insolvent
a place to gossip, share news, talk sports, pimp a story, piss & moan, or just grab a drink. Check it out.

Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwords. -- ROBERT HEINLEIN