Thread: Transitioning Scenes

I'm at a crossroads in my novel at the moment where I'm having trouble transitioning from a nighttime scene to the first scene of the new day. My problem is taking my characters from that night to the next morning. For example, here's an excerpt:

Avidan concurred, ran his hand over the dusty cover of the book and shoved it back into his pack. Night was having no mercy on time and morning would come swiftly before they knew it. Looking over to Faelan he could see that the wolf was already asleep and far off in dreaming, he could only hope that sleep would come as fast for him. He placed his stuffed pack against the interior wall of the hollow and laid down his head on the uncomfortable mass, memories and ideas darting through his head at unimaginable speeds. He wondered if the reason he had come so far was worth the risk, and he nodded gently to himself for reassurance, he needed nothing more and the encouragement rising from that reality pushed the remaining thoughts into seclusion. Within another moment's time his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.

My question stems from this: How do I get from the excerpt listed above, and to the next morning;s scene without being far to abrupt or, in contrast, far to confusing to the reader? I feel just starting a new paragraph would keep the pacing and the tone both still within reach of the former night and starting a new chapter would completely dismantle my pacing.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Insert three asterisks.

Avidan concurred, ran his hand over the dusty cover of the book and shoved it back into his pack. Night was having no mercy on time and morning would come swiftly before they knew it. Looking over to Faelan he could see that the wolf was already asleep and far off in dreaming, he could only hope that sleep would come as fast for him. He placed his stuffed pack against the interior wall of the hollow and laid down his head on the uncomfortable mass, memories and ideas darting through his head at unimaginable speeds. He wondered if the reason he had come so far was worth the risk, and he nodded gently to himself for reassurance, he needed nothing more and the encouragement rising from that reality pushed the remaining thoughts into seclusion. Within another moment's time his eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.

* * *

The next morning, Avidan awoke . . .

Thank you for your reply.

I was thinking the same thing but I wasn't sure if anyone had an additional alternative to it. I have seen both Asterisks used as well as multiple other symbols to separate alternating scenes, but I was never too sure as to the way that is most widely accepted.

Thanks again.

I would insert a line space.

I note you don't indent paragraphs. If you did, an alterantive would be to insert a line space and left align.

I do not even see the need for the asterisks or the line space. I might not even start a new paragraph. "he drifted off to sleep." The next morning.... This is perfectly natural to the human experience. You fall asleep and the next thing you know, it's morning. There is no need for an elaborate transition. C.M.

Originally Posted by C.M. Aaron

I do not even see the need for the asterisks or the line space. I might not even start a new paragraph. "he drifted off to sleep." The next morning.... This is perfectly natural to the human experience. You fall asleep and the next thing you know, it's morning. There is no need for an elaborate transition. C.M.

I agree with Aaron. I took the question to imply, the next morning - somewhere else.

Seconded about just carrying on in a new paragraph. Though if it was me, I'd do a line space simply because a new day after a previous night would be enough of a break to warrant it.

But it's all personal semantics at the end of the day. If you want to use asterisks, line spaces, new paragraphs or even just run on in a new sentence, go for it. Whatever works for you as the writer.

Originally Posted by qwertyman

I would insert a line space.

I note you don't indent paragraphs. If you did, an alterantive would be to insert a line space and left align.

Yeah, I do indent it just didn't show up when I copy and pasted.

I'm thinking I may instead use the line space instead of the asterisks, the asterisks (to me at least) seem that they could be used to suffer an even wider amount of time or distance traveled such as switching to a segment with another character, or a dream sequence.

It essentially boils down to my personal preference for storyline pacing and how that affects me as a writer. I'm obsessive about pacing.

Line space or centred asterisks work best.

Agreed to going directly to the next morning in a new paragraph.

Re: the three centered asterisks--actually, in your manuscript, you want to use the "#" symbol, own line, centered.