How to Write Scene Transitions (Writing Advice)

Learn how to write strong and effective scene transitions.

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0:00 Intro
0:48 What Are Scene Transitions?
2:03 What Good Transitions Do
3:27 How Detailed Should Transitions Be?
4:47 Examples
6:13 Linear & Non-Linear Stories
7:08 Outro

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Writing Villains #6 - Impacting the Hero

The Anatomy of Story REVIEW:

Save the Cat Writes a Novel REVIEW:
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[blueseaturtle]

What are scene transitions
- The sentences or paragraphs that signal a change
- Scene endings should put the question of “what will happen next” inside your readers head (suspense)
- Scene intros usually answer (or start to answer) the question (should you answer it immediately or delay the answer for anticipation?)

“Curiosity it’s what drives us humans”

What good scene transitions do
- It clearly establishes the time, place and character pov
- Refreshes the tone, mood and/ or pacing (know when to change your pacing)
- Hints at upcoming conflict (one of the best ways to hint at this conflict is by getting inside your pov characters head)
- Conveys what the pov character wants
- Establishes the pov characters emotional state
- Maybe show the environment before heading straight towards the characters pov (this can establish the mood and hint at what what can come next)

How detailed should scene transitions be
- Whenever there is a greater change between the ending of one scene and a beginning of another, that’s when you should put a little more effort into your transition scenes

Examples:

If scene two happens immediately after scene one in the same location, you can continue the story without having to reorient the reader

If scene two takes place at a different time/place then scene one, you must indicate the time/location changes (reorient the reader)

Spice up your scenes instead of just giving a bland tiresome image/ and or sentences

Linear and non-linear stories
- Linear means it is a straightforward story where you do not jump around in the timeline
- Non-linear means your story does jump around its timeline, flashbacks and flashforwards (example, a Christmas coral)
- You must re-orient the reader when you jump around the timeline (detailed transitions)

[daforkgaming]

I needed this video the most. I always feel like my writing has poor scene transitions and I’m just listing what happens one paragraph after the other one

[Ayyavazi]

Scene transitions are a weak point in my writing. My beta readers were confused at several points because I didn't do these simple things. Thanks for making me aware of the process

[avocadora]

how does your channel have so little numbers??? YOU ARE GREAT MAN

[WriterBrandonMcNulty]

Do you always include Time, Place, and POV with your scene transitions? Let us know!

[scottsponaas]

I’m so glad I stumbled across your channel, Brandon. I’m writing a time-based memoir and these videos are SOOO helpful! It’s like you’re reading my mind and answering all of the questions I have. Thank you for this amazing content. God bless!

[payalshanbhag]

thank you it really helped and the last example was amazingly dramatic

[EconGun]

I'd appreciate a few examples of nonlinear transitions. Thank you Brandon!

[kit]

I think studying movies helps. They are short on time, so they really practice "enter late, leave early". They cut out the introductory stuff and get to the point. The scene cuts are crisp.

[Jazzadrin]

Hi Brandon, do you have any videos in particular on the topic of how to effectively write a novel? As in, how to overcome barriers or some advice you would've liked to know in starting on that journey, or atleast very early on? Thank you sir

[jasmint]

I'd probably start the scene with the detective from the example with a paragraph of showing him at the station or in the meeting with the police chief, drinking coffee or taking pain pills. More implying in an obvious way than actually stating the time and place.

[ridleyformk]

7:17: POV, yes. But time and place, not always.

[robread-jones]

I would suggest that there are some scene transitions which involve jumping between different times in which it is essential not to have a time stamp to re-orient the reader. A case in point was season 1 of Westworld which took place over two time periods, but the viewer wasn't explicitly made aware that there were time jumps - for all they knew, it was all taking place in the same time period. It wasn't until the end of the season when it became clear, and I thought it worked really well.

[tyleigh]

I'm writing a story and have just one question please any advice would be appreciated

[LakkzScratch]

I wasn't really look for a "two hours later" type of writing, rather two scenes taking place either at the same time or continuing from where the last scene left off.

[nidhalbt]

I kept imagining the drunk detective, making it to the police station only to find his badge has turned into a cheap plastic pink one and the cigarette in his mouth turning into a pacifier.
Then this came to my mind:
He looks around to see people in the station turn to caricature versions, one is the slithering snake, the other is a slutty cat, the other is a stubborn donkey.
At first he thinks he went crazy, then after learning who those people are, he realizes they're reduced to their essences, he is terrified and denies he's a winy baby.
he wonders how he can carry his work on and how people are going to take him seriously, so he decides to act as seriously and without complaints as he can
but it creates a funny situation where the appearance doesn't match the actions(imagine a baby taking himself too seriously)
the aha moment comes when he realizes that he needs not only to act seriously and responsibly but to also become a serious non-winy person and take the responsibilities he had been neglecting seriously and stop blaming others
he finally appologizes and fixes his situation with his family, his kids, his wife(just showing he had changed and stopped acting selfishly.
That's it, if anyone wants to steal this idea you're welcome.

[John.OuO]

God LOVED YOU so MUCH that He sent His only begotten son to die in YOUR PLACE so you won't have to die under Gods judgement but live forever IF you fully trust in Jesus, now that he's risen. Please repent. We all broke God's law, we sinned, but Jesus paid our fine. Romans 3:23, Revelations 21:8, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 10:8-10. Put ur trust in Jesus now, the only way to heaven. a lot of religions say Jesus is a way, a good teacher, Jesus said he's the only way John 14:6 none of us are good Mark 10:17-27, but when we put our faith in Christ we pass from death to life John 5:24 John 11:25-26. We're clothed in his righteousness Isaiah 61:10-11 2 Corinthians 5:4 it's good to trust in him and not how we perceive things, he'll direct our paths, and it's also good to turn from evil n follow him too. Proverbs 3:5-10 2 Corinthians 5:7 Mark 8:34-38