PinkFloydian21

What's a good way to pass time in a piece, other than saying "Two weeks later," or "After a while..."

I'm working on a short piece and need to jump quickly to get to the end but don't want to sound too corny or cliche.

__________________
Visit my writing site, http://www.writingreservoir.co.nr

edropus

Unless it's something that drives the story, highlights the characters or really engages the reader, I'd suggest against it. Things that qualify as literary tricks are usually identifiable as such. If it's two weeks later, I'd much rather have the narrator just tell me that and get to what I want to read then introduce another character just to create some dialogue explaining how long it's been.

Mr.B

In short stories, its usualy not too diffucult to explain that time has passed without specificly stating it. Let scene, character mood, character memories, and dialouge explain that time has changed.

PinkFloydian21

Thanks for the responses. The main character is pregnant and I don't exactly intend on writing a full 8 or 9 month's worth of narration or dialouge to pass the time. I'm sure that it's less difficult than I'm imagining but I haven't slept much over the last day or so.

__________________
Visit my writing site, http://www.writingreservoir.co.nr

starStuff

if the character is pregnant you could indicate a great passage of time by, perhaps, having a scene where she is shopping and is realizing the difficulty of finding clothes. Or, another character could say that she looks great for being x months pregnant. Or she is at the doctor and they tell her that it'll only be a few weeks.

the possibilities are endless. I think its okay to jump right to a scene where great time has passed since the last one. As long as the dialogue and imagery supports it, the reader will understand

__________________
Please read and critique my Novella-in-Progress, tentatively titled:
The Gadon Stone
Prologue
Chapter 1: The Library

Chapter 2 is in the works. These are posted in the Critique and Advice forum here.

spider8

Why not have the character give birth?- That way we'll know 9 months has passed. Or title the next chapter '9 months later'. Or if conception was in the Summer, jump to the Spring. Or have the character plant a tree and then jump to the tree being knee-high. Or have the character begin knitting a scarf and jump to it being 42 feet long. Or concieve in the time of Leo and say we're now in the time of Pisces. Or maybe give her an abortion so you won't have to worry about the nine months. Hope this was helpful.