Sometimes no transition word is needed due to how the story is written. A space can be put between paragraphs to show the change of time or the change of day. Sometimes all that is needed is a phrase like "a few years later . . ."
However (see how I used it there), sometimes a transition word is needed. I know that it is not good to always use the same transition word. When I write, though, I find I have to keep myself from always writing "however."
I know that I say it quite a few times as well. Yet, it seems that it is not needed as much in speech because the transition of time is obvious to everybody when speaking.
I try to keep "however" as not being my "go to transition word." The problem is that "however" only has a few words and phrases that are synonymous with it. Changing the line of reasoning can be difficult without using "however." The only other words that seem to truly work are "on the other hand," "but," "yet," "nevertheless," and "on the contrary." I forget to use "on the contrary." When it fits, that is a good one to use. However (there it is again), "on the contrary" doesn't always fit when wanting to use "however."
If using vernacular in your writing, you can change up how people say transition words. Instead of "however," there is saying "howe'er."
On that note, it brings me back to a poem I've loved since I was little. It's called "Eletelephony." I don't know the author and I think it may be anonymous. If it's not, apologies to the author if it is not wanted online.
Eletelephony
Once there was an elephant
Who tried to use the telephant.
No, no, I mean an elephone
Who tried to use the telephone.
Dear me, I'm not certain quite
That even now I've got this right.
Howe'er it was he got his trunk
Entangled in the telephunk.
The more he tried to get it free,
The louder buzzed the telephee.
I fear I'd better drop the song
Of elephop and telephong.
Books about story writing often quote the overused phrase "Don't say it, show it." If the first scene was in the early afternoon, then perhaps some description will let the reader know that evening has arrived.
ReplyDeleteThe most difficult challenge is giving each character a different style of speaking. Charles Dickens displayed this writing skill in his novel 'Oliver Twist.'