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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47657
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47657
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Skipping scenes is usually quite welcome in a novel. Sometimes you don't want to see every step. But the amount of skipping you propose is pretty jarring. You will break your readers out of their immersion in your world if you do something like that. Especially if you do it over and over.

The way to make it work is just as you say, to fool the reader into thinking the transition occurred. Do this by starting the transition then allow the reader's brain to fill in the gaps.

> Bob meets Charlie. They chat online but we see Bob has another window open where he's discovered Charlie's IP address. Yadda yadda yadda, he shows up at Charlie's door.
> 
> Mary is tied up by the robbers who invaded her home. As the one watching her turns away, she slips one finger out. Then another. He gets called to help move something heavy. Yadda yadda yadda, she's off running.
> 
> Axel and Susan can't open the cabin door because of the snow blocking it. Wait? What's this cord hanging from the ceiling? Why it's a pull down ladder. Yadda yadda yadda, Susan's crossing the lake.

Just that little extra bit will start a reader's gears churning. Every one of us can imagine what happens next. In many cases, the reader may not remember you didn't fill in the gap.

The only way to trick the reader into missing the fact that you've left so much out is to get her/his brain to do the work for you. It might be right or it might be wrong, but it will be there. Start the process and then make your transition.

Original score: 44