I learned something.  I’m 84 years old so over the years I’ve learned a lot. Trouble is I can’t remember most of it. What was the point? Oh, yeah. I’m reading Robert B. Parker’s STRANGER IN PARADISE.  I’ve been a fan of his Jesse Stone novels since the first one. And before that?  Well, he’s written more than 50 books and I never read one I didn’t enjoy. Does that mean I’ve read them all? Whatever it means, I haven’t. Read them all, that is.

So where was I. Oh, yeah, I’ve learned something. I write Nick Bancroft mysteries published on the Internet and like many writers I have trouble with transitions. I’m often writing things like: The next day; or two days later. Or something else to indicate the passage of time.

Not Mr. Parker. He opens scenes with things like: “Molly came into Jessie’s office; Crow was sitting under the small pavilion  . . .

These move the story along without slowing the action with reference to insignificant passages of time. Good stuff. Now if I can only remember to use the device in my own writing.