Transitions

“Transition: (a) a passage or change from one place, state, condition etc. to another; (b) passage in thought, speech, or writing, from one subject to another. ” (From the Canadian Oxford Dictionary.)

If we’re lucky and kind to ourselves, we will live long lives. And in that life time we will be different people, wear different hats, be different ages. Some will change more than others, but we will all change to some degree. When we take that same concept to our writing, we’re talking about the character arc. How does the character change over the course of the novel?

(There are stories where the protagonist doesn’t change, but I don’t particularly like those stories.)

All stories have characters, but I love stories where the main focus is the character development and plot is secondary. I’m interested in people: how they live, how they feel, how they function, how they survive. They say that fiction is the art that comes closest to representing human consciousness. I want to know what goes on inside people’s heads.

But if our story focus is on character, we still need conflict. And the most interesting times to write about in person’s life are the times of transition. These are the points in one’s life (or a character’s life) where change is possible, choices are made that will redefine the rest of their lives—or at least the next ten years.

Life Transitions:

• Coming of Age
• Marriage
• Divorce
• Death
• Illness
• Physical move
• Spiritual transformation
• Return to school / Leave school
• Career change
• Parenthood
• External crisis

These life moments are full of the possibility for inner conflict and tension. When considering plot and transitions, think about the three levels of antagonism for a character:

1. Internal – protagonist battles something within themselves
2. Interpersonal—protagonist’s goals are at odds with those of other characters
3. Societal—protagonist battles beliefs, laws or prejudices within their community or the world at large.

 

Writing Transitions

Then there is a completely different type of transition in writing, the moments that don’t make for good writing as nothing of much interest happens. The time between scenes. 

(The following lists are taken from, Between the Lines, by Jessica Page Morell. Pp 281-295)

Why we need transitions:

• Moving Readers Through Time
• Bridging The Gap Between Scenes
• Compressing Time
• Anchoring Flashbacks
• Indicating a Change in Setting
• Indicating a shift in Mood, Tone, or Emotion
• Indicating a shift in Point of View
• Clarifying Relationships

Methods  to Deliver Transitions:

• Lighting, shadows, sun, stars, moonlight etc. – “As the stars blinked on, one by one, she waited.”
• Weather—“When the storm passed, we stepped out into the changed landscape.”
• Seasons, years, and eras.—“It had been five years since she last saw Jim.”
• Objects—“As the candle flickered low, shadows filled the room.”
• Mundane activities—“As she piled dirty dishes into the sink, she could hear her guests gather their coats and preparing to leave.”
• A character’s appearance and health—“Now eight months pregnant, Mary seemed to have acquired an inner glow since we last we met.”
• Specific references to time and date—“It rained on my birthday.” “Christmas dawned bright and clear.”
• Indirect references to time passing or movement—“The spring blooms were fading in the garden.”
• Activities—“As the minister intoned the familiar words, ‘Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today,’ the crowd grew quiet.”
• Interruptions as a telephone or doorbell ringing. “Just as she found her handbag and keys, the phone rang.”
• Sound—“I could hear the distant rumble of the ocean.”
• Space Breaks and Chapter Breaks—indicate change
• Datelines—included at the beginning of chapters

If we think in movie terms, transitions are the cut scenes or the place where the camera pans out. Pay attention as you’re watching movies, see the techniques they use. One thing is true for both novelists and scriptwriters: the more interesting you make your story, the less the reader is going to notice your transitions. But we do need to think of them as markers, pointing the way forward, orienting the reader to change. Like many things in writing and life, balance is key, and so is variety.

Transitions, some of the most interesting and least interesting elements of writing!