Time gaps between scenes

Sevilla · Mar 7, 2010

Does anyone have any advice regarding scene transitions, at a point in the story where some time has elapsed between the scenes?

I begin my story with the MC returning to her country after 8 years away, and finding the government has taken a turn for the worse. She's detained at the airport, questioned, and informed she can't leave the country or have any contact with anyone outside the country. When they finally let her go, her parents are waiting for her, and she can see that they are happy to see her, but she can tell that they aren't happy she's returned in the midst of all this. She tries to ask them questions but gets nowhere with them.

Then, it's some weeks later, she's found an apartment, and she's just gotten hired at a new job. She goes to her parents' workplace to tell them the good news, and meets the next MC, an employee of her parents.

I really have a problem writing like that when there's a gap larger than a day or so. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it okay for there to be a gap like this between the first and second scenes of the book?

Shinto · Mar 7, 2010

Many writers do this differently. Some break time gaps into different scenes, others break them into different chapters, and some just incorporate them into the narrative without a break at all.

For example: "Harry told me to come back next week. The following Monday I stopped by his shop and he told me the bike still wasn't ready yet."

It all depends what works better for your story, but any way is perfectly acceptable.

Mr Flibble · Mar 7, 2010

I really have a problem writing like that when there's a gap larger than a day or so. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it okay for there to be a gap like this between the first and second scenes of the book?

Yes it's okay

Plus what Shinto said - a short tell to ground your readers isn't a problem. 'It had been a month of weirdness before she found a semi-decent place to live' 'She'd been stopped and searched half a dozen times in the weeks since she'd arrived' 'It had been a month and she'd aged ten years...'

third person · Mar 7, 2010

I use a paragraph of exposition to summarize the mundane (travel and like like) and anything short of mid-level importance. If the break was used as a cliffhanger I'll get right back to the action.

Sevilla · Mar 7, 2010

IdiotsRUs said:
a short tell to ground your readers isn't a problem. 'It had been a month of weirdness before she found a semi-decent place to live' 'She'd been stopped and searched half a dozen times in the weeks since she'd arrived' 'It had been a month and she'd aged ten years...'

Thank you, it really helps to know I can do this. Something to keep the reader from going "What? Wait...where are we, now?"

RJK · Mar 7, 2010

I used two methods. The first, was in the chapter title. The second is in the first sentence. See below:

Chapter 18 - May 2009

April passed with no changes in the homicide investigations. The first Monday of May found the detectives at their favorite Tim Horton's having lunch.

I only add the extra information in the chapter title when there's a jump in time. Chapter 1, to establish the time frame of the story; chapter 2, to establish a jump; and chapter 18.

JayG · Mar 7, 2010

I dunno. I once finished with a chapter, inserted a break, and found myself typing, "Twenty years later." It seems to work pretty well.

If nothing of importance happens to change the situation from one scene to the next why does it matter how long it takes?

I try to leave out the parts people skip.
~ Elmore Leonard

shaldna · Mar 8, 2010

Shinto said:
Many writers do this differently. Some break time gaps into different scenes, others break them into different chapters, and some just incorporate them into the narrative without a break at all.

For example: "Harry told me to come back next week. The following Monday I stopped by his shop and he told me the bike still wasn't ready yet."

It all depends what works better for your story, but any way is perfectly acceptable.

this

Lady Ice · Mar 8, 2010

Sevilla said:
Does anyone have any advice regarding scene transitions, at a point in the story where some time has elapsed between the scenes?

I begin my story with the MC returning to her country after 8 years away, and finding the government has taken a turn for the worse. She's detained at the airport, questioned, and informed she can't leave the country or have any contact with anyone outside the country. When they finally let her go, her parents are waiting for her, and she can see that they are happy to see her, but she can tell that they aren't happy she's returned in the midst of all this. She tries to ask them questions but gets nowhere with them.

Then, it's some weeks later, she's found an apartment, and she's just gotten hired at a new job. She goes to her parents' workplace to tell them the good news, and meets the next MC, an employee of her parents.

I really have a problem writing like that when there's a gap larger than a day or so. Has anyone else had this problem? Is it okay for there to be a gap like this between the first and second scenes of the book?

I try and give hints as to how much time has passed. For example, if she's found a new job, I might say something like 'After many failed attempts, she'd managed to secure herself a reasonable job.' Establish the new situation properly and it should be clear to the reader roughly how how much time has passed.

DeleyanLee · Mar 8, 2010

A million years later and half a galaxy away....

Transitions are the way to do exactly that. "Four weeks later, Suzie had not only found an apartment adored, but she'd just landed the job she'd wanted. She couldn't wait to see the expression on her parents' faces when she told them. She hoped they'd be happy for her, instead of dour and silent as they had been at every other turn."

Quick, simple, to the point and gets the story moving with minimal fuss. What's not to love?

Time gaps between scenes

Sevilla

Shinto

Misanthrope

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

third person

She blinded me--with magic!

Sevilla

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

JayG

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

Lady Ice

Makes useful distinctions

DeleyanLee

Writing Anarchist