If you’re looking for a good writing book, I sincerely suggest you read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King. It’s to the point and really accessible, and my favorite writing book out there. It’s like the new Strunk & White, but geared toward fiction.

That said, I had the same trouble with my first book. I didn’t know how to transition between scenes. So I didn’t. Even in my new book, each chapter is a sort of self-contained scene. Every once in a while I have multiple scenes in a single chapter, but not often.

Maybe we should do another workshop series on transitions…

If you’re looking for a good writing book, I sincerely suggest you read Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne & Dave King. It’s to the point and really accessible, and my favorite writing book out there. It’s like the new Strunk & White, but geared toward fiction.

That said, I had the same trouble with my first book. I didn’t know how to transition between scenes. So I didn’t. Even in my new book, each chapter is a sort of self-contained scene. Every once in a while I have multiple scenes in a single chapter, but not often.

Maybe we should do another workshop series on transitions…

I have a particular problem transitioning in and out of scenes. I guess because it’s become shorthand almost to just separate it with spaces, or ******* So we get lazy and forget how to transition and that we can do it without creating a mini-chapter inside the chapter. Definitely something to keep in mind. Though I do use ********* on the rare occasion where I switch POV inside one chapter.

also… Silly Frank, girls locker rooms are for girls! :P

I have a particular problem transitioning in and out of scenes. I guess because it's become shorthand almost to just separate it with spaces, or ******* So we get lazy and forget how to transition and that we can do it without creating a mini-chapter inside the chapter. Definitely something to keep in mind. Though I do use ********* on the rare occasion where I switch POV inside one chapter.

also… Silly Frank, girls locker rooms are for girls! :P

Eliza – Good point. It seems to me that narration should be used when a lot of information is required, rather than showing everything that happened, to keep the story going. And if a lot happened, then you’re required to write a longer narration. The biggest concern I have with that, however, is that long narration can get a bit boring these days. Unless, of course, you’re Neil Gaiman, Steven Lawhead, or someone brilliant like that.

And then again, there are exceptions to the rule. Moral of the story: If there’s justification behind your decision, do it.

The only thing that I could think to add is that narration can also be preferable in a longer-than-usual form if someone else is telling a story about something that happened while the POV character was absent.

Eliza – Good point. It seems to me that narration should be used when a lot of information is required, rather than showing everything that happened, to keep the story going. And if a lot happened, then you're required to write a longer narration. The biggest concern I have with that, however, is that long narration can get a bit boring these days. Unless, of course, you're Neil Gaiman, Steven Lawhead, or someone brilliant like that.

And then again, there are exceptions to the rule. Moral of the story: If there's justification behind your decision, do it.

The only thing that I could think to add is that narration can also be preferable in a longer-than-usual form if someone else is telling a story about something that happened while the POV character was absent.