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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Transitions (Version 3)
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/).
Prepared by: Florence Cardinal
Revised by: Bob Sanchez
Posted on: Sun, 15 Apr 2001
Reposted on: Sun, 27 Jan 2002
Reposted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2003
Reposted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2004
Reposted on: Sun, 22 Jan 2006
Reposted on: Sun, 30 Sep 2007
Reposted on: Sun, 2 Aug 2009
Reposted on: Sun, 30 Jan 2011
Reposted on: Sun, 23 Sep 2012
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Exercise: In 400 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 400 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?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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