Quick Writing and Editing Tips – Transitions #Writing #Editing

Transitions are used to:

• Change time
• Change location
• Change character viewpoint
• To skip unimportant time periods or events

So how do you use transitions skilfully?

• Start a new chapter – this easily lets your reader know the narrative has moved on
• If you’re changing scene/time/viewpoint  within a chapter use a physical sign like ***** centred on the page, or double space and then don’t indent the first line of your next paragraph.
• Keep it short and simple – ‘that night’, ‘the next day’.
• Jump right in – rather than say: ‘When Linda arrived at the coffee shop the next morning’ go for ‘Linda slid into the booth and took a sip of her latte’. We know where and when Linda is straight away.

Advertisement