We're all familiar with the "meanwhile, back at the ranch" transition to move the action from one locale, and perhaps time, to another. A transition is a small bridge spanning a space. Use it to get from one place to another without interrupting forward motion. This can be done within a chapter with small breaks or between chapters. Types of simple transitions: Space break - inch space between ending of one scene and beginning of next. No substantial separation between sections, no interruption of flow and continuity of action Paraphrases such as meanwhile, back at the ranch, two hours later, the next day, etc Elimination of unnecessary description. Example: Bill watched the people entering the lobby of the movie theater, hoping his wife wouldn't be too much longer. Two bags of popcorn later, he still watched for her. Chapter Breaks: A chapter break is an emphatic and definite separations within a novel. It shifts the story from one place and time to another. They can include: Full visual change, making the reader turn the page, or look to next page. Can denote big chunks of time or not, but always alter direction of the story or begin new situations Example: Imagine a runaway train plunging toward a station with passengers aboard and people in the station. There is panic, fear, scrambling, many emotions at play. Remember the movie Silver Streak? Options: If each passenger tells his or her own story, a quick space break flicks story from one to another. This rapid change of pace keeps the momentum of the speeding train and builds reader involvement. If you as the writer want to change the pace, slow the speed of the train slightly, maybe going up an incline, and start another chapter to show what's happening at the train station. This could involve the terminal supervisors, medical teams, etc. This format adds to the suspense. Then begin the next chapter back on the train with more quick space breaks to show hectic activity and passengers at risk. Check out more Transitions. Good luck and keep writing! Let me know how these tips work for you. Send me a note via the Contact Me page. Or, you can post a note on my Yahoo message board: Subscribe to bonniehamre Powered by groups.yahoo.com Web Design by Bel Oso Productions All contents Copyright © 1995 - 2007. All rights reserved.