This Week's Practice Exercise

"Transitions (Version 3)"

Prepared by: Florence Cardinal
Posted on: Sun, 15 Apr 2001
Reposted on: Sun, 2 Aug 2009

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Exercise: In 300 words or less, move a character from point A to point B or from one time frame to another smoothly and quickly. Make us aware of the scene change without bogging us down in excess prose.
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Transitions, moving someone from one place to another, or from one time frame to another, are difficult for many writers. If you move your character too quickly, your audience may feel disoriented and it may take them a few moments to realize what has happened.

On the other hand, you can't show every step your character takes, or every second that passes as he moves from spring to winter.

Write a scene where you transport your character to a different time or place without jolting the reader or including too many unnecessary details. For example, if your character is sitting in the boss's office being reprimanded before being let go, you need to get him out of the office and into the bar with a clear transition the reader can follow and a minimum of fuss.

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Exercise: In 300 words or less, move a character from point A to point B or from one time frame to another smoothly and quickly. Make us aware of the scene change without bogging us down in excess prose.

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Critique by telling how well the writer takes us from one location or time to another. Does the transition knit the scenes together seamlessly, or do we feel as if we've hit a speed bump or a pothole?

These exercises were written by IWW members and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its members. You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that you found them at the Internet Writers Workshop (http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).