: Re: How to not confuse readers with simultaneous events? In an omniscient third person, I have 8 (practically unrelated) events going simultaneously in different parts of a large mansion. I want to

@Sue2132873

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This rapid scene-switching works in film because you can establish exactly where you are and who you are with in an instant, with a framing shot or something else that recalls one.

In a novel, you either have to re-describe the setting or you need shortcuts for recalling it.

Lauren Ipsum's example of starting each short scene with the primary character's name (or occasionally, the room), and keeping each scene separate from the other, works very well.

You have two basic approaches as options here.

Tell a normal narrative, perhaps moving from setting to setting as an investigating person does, or not. But every-so-often, have a set of short scenes.

In this case, I would also set aside the sequence of short scenes (the "check-in bits") from the rest of the narrative. Either in a separate chapter or in a sub-chapter with a divider of some sort (one more substantial and different from the dividers between the short scenes themselves).

Have short scenes throughout the story and intersperse them as needed.

In this case, you'd have longer scenes taking up most of the space, but you'd throw in short (or medium) scenes when important to do so. Simply set them apart visually with a divider of some sort (it can be subtle) and always "frame your shot."

Even a film would not keep up the rapid switching for too long, and your novel shouldn't either. It's wearying on the eyes.

Adding in short scenes so the reader knows these things are happening simultaneously and gets a sense of what other characters are doing? Very possible. Just make all transitions crystal clear. Both in the fact that there is a setting switch and where you are switching to.

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