Transitional Chapters

NicoleMD · Nov 10, 2007

I just recently finished the second draft of my comedic space opera!

hooray

It's been a long six months...

The story is episodic in nature, and reading through for the first time in a couple months, things felt pretty solid and entertaining until I got to one particular chapter. I've gotten feedback that this chapter and another chapter later on don't keep the fast-paced, high-stakes action as do the rest of the chapters. I noticed that both of these "problem" chapters are transitional chapters in between episodes.

I slowed the pace on purpose, my intentions on focusing a bit on internal problems and character relations and some world building/backstory. This is about a third of the way into the novel. Coincidentally, during my read through yesterday, I fell asleep half-way through this chapter. It was probably near my bed time anyway, but still I think that says something.

So what do you think about these transitional types of chapters? How do you make them more interesting? Is it possible that this is just a natural resting spot for a reader?

Nicole

Bufty · Nov 10, 2007

Not sure you should be thinking in terms of 'transitional types' of chapters to cover the points you mention. Every chapter must keep the story moving forward. Pacing is adjusted all the way through by various devices, including briefly covering the points you touch on.

What you call 'showing character relations' should be part of the normal chapters, and be evident through character interactions.

Internalising is again something that can be built into a normal chapter - just don't go on and on and on with internal dilemmas. Your character is obviously going to 're-assess' his position from time to time and decide what he does next.

The same goes for backstory -it should be slipped in in small pieces in a normal chapter as and when required on say a 'need to know basis' with one character extracting the info from another who is reluctant to give it.

And world building too, is not something you suddenly stop and devote a chapter to. Build the world as your character travels through it and discovers it -bit by bit.

Any help?

Julie Worth · Nov 10, 2007

Why do you need an entire chapter? Why not summarize it into a single paragraph, or even a sentence? Readers don't need to know everything, so cut out the boring stuff.

NeuroFizz · Nov 10, 2007

Go with your gut on this one. Sometimes too much action is packed into chapter after chapter and the reader ends up either drenched in sweat or reaching for prozac (or putting the book down). As mentioned by the previous posters, pacing is critical and it can be tough, so I'll go back to the first sentence--go with your gut. You know what you like as a reader. See how your favorite authors do it.

Doogs · Nov 10, 2007

Have you tried weaving the conflict and backstory elements into the story? If you can manage it, you can cut those transitional chapters down to a paragraph or two - as Julie said.

My WIP is semi-episodic in nature as well (at least in my head). Every three chapters represent a mini story-within-a-story, making for a sort of undulating pace the whole way though. I don't know if there are any transitional chapters, per se, other than in the sense that EVERY chapter is a transitional chapter, moving the story from the end of the previous to the beginning of the next. The pacing varies...some chapters culminate in massive, epic battles, while others focus on political intrigue or some personal drama...but they move the story forward.

If you're falling asleep, maybe you were just tired. On the other hand, it could be a bad sign. Even if you're working on interpersonal/backstory issues, there's no reason you can't revise to speed things up a bit, knock out the extraneous, etc.

mscelina · Nov 10, 2007

Personally, I'm a big favorite of build and plateau, build and plateau--usually allocating a small chapter after a particularly large plot event for 'recovery'--both for the characters (who are usually bleeding) and for the reader because I have a lot of action in my stories. If, upon rereading a rest stop in your story, it seems to be too much or too heavy then trim it. I use those plateaus as places to resolve character subplots or whatever so that there's still 'something going on'--albeit not as intense as what precedes or follows. If you keep in mind that anything in the story must progress the plotline, it will usually keep you out of a 'dead' chapter.

Bufty · Nov 10, 2007

I'm not convinced in favour of having chapters deliberately treated as 'rest-stops' or transition points. The objective is to keep the reader turning pages.

I could well be wrong, or am misunderstanding, but if a chapter is ended in such a way that a reader wants to turn the page and read on - what's the point of having him turn the page to find a 'rest stop' chapter?

Why a separate chapter? Why not build your rest-stop into the current chapter then up the pace again to lead into the next - the idea is to keep the reader wanting to turn pages -no?

Mind you -if the characters are beaten into a pulp and have nowhere to turn - it would work in that instance insofar as the reader wants to know how they're going to get out of the situation.

Julie Worth · Nov 10, 2007

Bufty said:
I'm not convinced in favour of having chapters deliberately treated as 'rest-stops' or transition points.

Right. That's what chapter breaks are for.

Judg · Nov 10, 2007

I like Celina's advice here. It's OK to have quieter chapters, but there should still be something happening. You can use a much lower-level conflict, even an internal questioning, but there has got to be some element of tension or discovery somewhere.

Still, you've got both your gut and your readers complaining about this chapter. Ignore at your own peril. You can either eliminate the chapter entirely and weave the important bits into other parts of the story, or you can find some way to add some life and movement. It sounds to me like you have solid reasons for believing that something has to change.

maestrowork · Nov 10, 2007

NicoleMD said:
I slowed the pace on purpose, my intentions on focusing a bit on internal problems and character relations and some world building/backstory. This is about a third of the way into the novel. Coincidentally, during my read through yesterday, I fell asleep half-way through this chapter. It was probably near my bed time anyway, but still I think that says something.

I guess the question is "why?" Why do you feel the need to add these chapters and what purpose do they serve? If it's about character development and world building, can't you do it in the "fast-paced" chapters that also move the plot along? Why do you need these "transitional chapters."

Also, do you just stop the plot all together? Do your readers get bored and wonder what those chapters have anything do with the story? Even with build-and-plateau, you still need some momentum, forward movement -- it may not be fast-paced, but it should still move the story along somewhat. So if you find yourself actually stopping the motion just to talk about "internal issues" or "look, isn't that temple beautiful with so much history behind it," then you risk taking your readers out of the story.

NicoleMD · Nov 10, 2007

Well, the plot hasn't stopped. They've just escaped their alien pursuers and have a moment to deal with each other when their lives aren't in immediate peril. I don't want to rush right into another clash, and I thought a few pages of "down time" would be useful...giving the reader time to enjoy the journey, or get in a few winks, apparently.

The main culprit in slowing this chapter I think I will take out and work in elsewhere -- two pages out of 13, so that should help some. Five pages into the chapter, they're back in mortal danger, but I've got a secondary character relaying an ancient tale he thinks will help the situation, though the MC keeps begging him not to bother him with tales while he's trying to figure out a way to escape the enemy ships. Maybe I'll try to up their argument and make it more physical.

Thanks for your ideas! I'll keep at it.

Nicole

MDSchafer · Nov 10, 2007

The question I would ask, is does the world building add to the story in a meaningful way? If you're doing world building for the sake of world building I'd be against it. Look at another episodic space opera, Star Wars. In the original trilogy we don't learn a whole lot about the Star Wars universe, and when they do start to focus more on world and "Character" building (ie the new trilogy,) I think the narrative slows down a bit and becomes much less interesting. Darth Vader is a lot more scary when you don't know there is a frustrated nine-year-old boy inside that costume.

ORION · Nov 10, 2007

My editor at Putnam had me cut mine and thread the important stuff through the previous and subsequent chapters.
Falling asleep is a tip off!

Transitional Chapters

NicoleMD

Onomatopotamus

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

NeuroFizz

The grad students did it

Doogs

mscelina

Teh doommobile, drivin' rite by you

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

Julie Worth

What? I have a title?

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

NicoleMD

Onomatopotamus

MDSchafer

ORION

Sailed away years ago