This is one of my favorite things! In fantasy, I really like the way Joe Abercrombie does it...not always but very often blending scene transitions. They're really fun.
I'll have to go look at his! I was definitely trying to find an example of those pure blended transitions, but couldn't find any of the ones I was thinking of offhand. Stephen King used to do it a lot too!
I've got one I'm particularly proud of in The Faithless, lol, but I'll go look through my Abercrombie and see if I can find a choice bit to send. He also echoes chapter subjects/titles in a fun way.
Timely article. I am struggling with this at the moment. Trying to figure out the best way to communicate what a transition is doing (POV shift, time, place, etc.) and just how much belongs in a section and where the breaks are. As you say, all of it is critically important. Transitions are never automatic.
I love the idea of a literary match cut! This reminded me of the Every Frame A Painting episode on Satoshi Kon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz49vQwSoTE
Thanks, Kirk! I'll check it out.
This is one of my favorite things! In fantasy, I really like the way Joe Abercrombie does it...not always but very often blending scene transitions. They're really fun.
I'll have to go look at his! I was definitely trying to find an example of those pure blended transitions, but couldn't find any of the ones I was thinking of offhand. Stephen King used to do it a lot too!
I've got one I'm particularly proud of in The Faithless, lol, but I'll go look through my Abercrombie and see if I can find a choice bit to send. He also echoes chapter subjects/titles in a fun way.
Just getting to this post. Thank you for this. It's very helpful. I feel another book on writing is in your future! :D
"We cannot keep giving the reader the same emotion over and over and expect them to stay enthralled."
this was so incredibly helpful as i’m writing my first novel! thank you!
Timely article. I am struggling with this at the moment. Trying to figure out the best way to communicate what a transition is doing (POV shift, time, place, etc.) and just how much belongs in a section and where the breaks are. As you say, all of it is critically important. Transitions are never automatic.