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IWW
Practice-W Exercise Archives
Exercise: Transitions (Version 4)
These exercises were written
by IWW members
and administrators to provide structured practice opportunities for its
members.
You are welcome to use them for practice as well. Please mention that
you found
them at the Internet Writers Workshop
(http://www.internetwritingworkshop.org/).
Prepared by: Florence Cardinal
Revised by: Bob Sanchez
Posted on: Sun, 15 Apr 2001
Reposted on: Sun, 27 Jan 2002
Reposted on: Sun, 20 Apr 2003
Reposted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2004
Reposted on: Sun, 22 Jan 2006
Reposted on: Sun, 30 Sep 2007
Reposted on: Sun, 2 Aug 2009
Reposted on: Sun, 30 Jan 2011
Reposted on: Sun, 23 Sep 2012
Revised and Reposted on: Sun, 20 Mar 2016
Reposted on: Sun, 15 Mar 2020
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Exercise: In 400 words or less, smoothly move a character
from one location to another, or from the present back to
the past, or forward to the future.
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Moving a character from one scene to another is often a tricky
maneuver for a writer. If a character changes location too
quickly, readers feel disoriented and confused. But if the
action drags, weighted down with too many details, or
unnecessary conversation, a reader’s attention flags.
For example, your story might include these transitions: an
employee walks into the boss’s office, endures an angry scolding,
and then … he’s fired. He's told to make himself scarce. So he
quickly leaves the office building and walks into a nearby bar to
have a drink and contemplate his future.
Here’s another type of transition: a realtor decides to explore a
house that’s just come on the market. She unlocks the front door,
walks into an empty room, feels disoriented, and suddenly finds
herself standing in the past. The house is now furnished in Fifties
style. She sees a family sharing dinner around a dining room table.
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In your critique, decide if the character moved naturally from the
opening situation into the one that follows. Did you easily follow
the action? Or did you feel confused or disoriented?
Web site created by
Rhéal Nadeau and
the administrators of the Internet Writing Workshop.
Modified by Gayle Surrette.
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