Bad transitions are lethal because they make your story jump from one place to another , from one time to another or from POV to POV without any warning. A smooth transition plays a great role in gently drawing in your reader.
SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO IT:
Start with what POV1 does and when you switch to POV2, describe how POV2 reacts to what POV1 did.
Example 1:
Jessica had spent the day and then the night preparing her boyfriend’s birthday. Money was spent. Caterers were booked. The ballroom shone under the disco ball. She finished just after four, enough time to catch some zzzs
***
Paula entered the ballroom at five o’clock sharp. She crunched up some paper and lay twigs on top. Then she set a fire to the room. The ornaments caught fire first, then the drapes. She smiled contentedly as the automatic fire extinguishers kicked in. “Party ruined. Done,” she wrote on her list.
Example 2:
Jessica shrieked when she heard the ballroom was ruined. She called Paula, but no answer.
***
Paula blinked as her phone rang. She kicked it and put the cover over her head. Time to catch some zzzs.
-------------------
Transition for time passing. End the day and start it.
Example:
Paula said good night to the moon, wishing upon a star to get Bryan back. Where else could he go now? She switched the light and popped some pills in her mouth.
***
The sound of someone frying deliciously smelling eggs in the kitchen woke Jessica up. So Bryan had finally come home.
--------------------
The character learns that something will happen after the transition.
Example 1:
Paula read the text. The words blinked on her phone like red urgent bold highlights. “I WILL GET YOU, BITCH. SEE YOU AT PRACTICE.”
***
Paula grabbed her duffle bag and headed for the basketball court. The hallway was dark. No one seemed here yet. She almost tripped on something. She fumbled for her keys and turned on her flashlight. Bryan. That was Bryan’s body or at least what was left of it.
Example 2:
A police officer told Jessica to go to the morgue. “But why?” she asks. “Just come,” he said enigmatically.
***
At the morgue, Jessica found someone’s body. She couldn’t tell who it was, but rage gathered for months boiled through her. “I’ll kill the bitch,” she said, barely containing her tears of rage. “Scaring me to death like that. Unforgivable!”
----------------------
Actions in scene 1 leads to another action in scene 2.
Example 1:
Jessica loaded her gun. She removed the safety and faced the wall. She needed some practice before killing the bitch. She aimed at the target on the wall, a few feet away. She shoot, but the bullet ricocheted on the metal door behind the target and hit her right in the thigh. “Mom!” she yelled, hoping her mom was still home.
***
“Are you crazy or what?” yelled Jessica’s mom as the medics pushed the gurney into the hospital. “That’s called shooting yourself in the foot. You’re in so much trouble.” Jessica rubbed the sweat running down her brow and yelled back, “As if you cared!” “Fine, I’m going back to Dallas. Live your life!”
Example 2:
Bryan slammed the door after him. What did she think she was? What would he ask for a raise. He made enough money! He looked at his watch. He was going to be late again, thanks to Paula.
***
Bryan arrived ten minutes late at work that day. His boss pinned a note on his desk and left without a word. He was fire. “No, no, no! I’ll kill her!” he moaned. A few heads turned in his directions.
--------------------------
Something in scene 1 needs to be investigated in scene 2.
Example:
Jessica found a mask lying around on her bed. Who was here and why? She had no time to look for answers; her plane took off in half an hour.
***
When Jessica landed back in New York, three days later, she called the professional who had organized the masquerade. “Hey, Bryan, did you happen to order an elf mask with lizard scales during the party at my house?” “Let me check,” said Bryan typing the event date into his computer. “Friday, August 10, right?”
SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO IT:
Start with what POV1 does and when you switch to POV2, describe how POV2 reacts to what POV1 did.
Example 1:
Jessica had spent the day and then the night preparing her boyfriend’s birthday. Money was spent. Caterers were booked. The ballroom shone under the disco ball. She finished just after four, enough time to catch some zzzs
***
Paula entered the ballroom at five o’clock sharp. She crunched up some paper and lay twigs on top. Then she set a fire to the room. The ornaments caught fire first, then the drapes. She smiled contentedly as the automatic fire extinguishers kicked in. “Party ruined. Done,” she wrote on her list.
Example 2:
Jessica shrieked when she heard the ballroom was ruined. She called Paula, but no answer.
***
Paula blinked as her phone rang. She kicked it and put the cover over her head. Time to catch some zzzs.
-------------------
Transition for time passing. End the day and start it.
Example:
Paula said good night to the moon, wishing upon a star to get Bryan back. Where else could he go now? She switched the light and popped some pills in her mouth.
***
The sound of someone frying deliciously smelling eggs in the kitchen woke Jessica up. So Bryan had finally come home.
--------------------
The character learns that something will happen after the transition.
Example 1:
Paula read the text. The words blinked on her phone like red urgent bold highlights. “I WILL GET YOU, BITCH. SEE YOU AT PRACTICE.”
***
Paula grabbed her duffle bag and headed for the basketball court. The hallway was dark. No one seemed here yet. She almost tripped on something. She fumbled for her keys and turned on her flashlight. Bryan. That was Bryan’s body or at least what was left of it.
Example 2:
A police officer told Jessica to go to the morgue. “But why?” she asks. “Just come,” he said enigmatically.
***
At the morgue, Jessica found someone’s body. She couldn’t tell who it was, but rage gathered for months boiled through her. “I’ll kill the bitch,” she said, barely containing her tears of rage. “Scaring me to death like that. Unforgivable!”
----------------------
Actions in scene 1 leads to another action in scene 2.
Example 1:
Jessica loaded her gun. She removed the safety and faced the wall. She needed some practice before killing the bitch. She aimed at the target on the wall, a few feet away. She shoot, but the bullet ricocheted on the metal door behind the target and hit her right in the thigh. “Mom!” she yelled, hoping her mom was still home.
***
“Are you crazy or what?” yelled Jessica’s mom as the medics pushed the gurney into the hospital. “That’s called shooting yourself in the foot. You’re in so much trouble.” Jessica rubbed the sweat running down her brow and yelled back, “As if you cared!” “Fine, I’m going back to Dallas. Live your life!”
Example 2:
Bryan slammed the door after him. What did she think she was? What would he ask for a raise. He made enough money! He looked at his watch. He was going to be late again, thanks to Paula.
***
Bryan arrived ten minutes late at work that day. His boss pinned a note on his desk and left without a word. He was fire. “No, no, no! I’ll kill her!” he moaned. A few heads turned in his directions.
--------------------------
Something in scene 1 needs to be investigated in scene 2.
Example:
Jessica found a mask lying around on her bed. Who was here and why? She had no time to look for answers; her plane took off in half an hour.
***
When Jessica landed back in New York, three days later, she called the professional who had organized the masquerade. “Hey, Bryan, did you happen to order an elf mask with lizard scales during the party at my house?” “Let me check,” said Bryan typing the event date into his computer. “Friday, August 10, right?”