How to show travel and time passage on first person?

Question

I m trying to  write a novel and it s like Catcher in the Rye style of coming of age sorta and it would work best in first person cause it is depended on thoughts of the main character and how they perceive stuff but I just can t figure out how to write time and travel? Like in 3rd person you could say "James walked to his next class" and it makes sense but in 1st you can t say "I walked to my next class and sat down next to Hannah." Cause it s kinda boring and doesn t add much but I can t just place the character in different settings without explanation of how they got there? Same with time, how would I make it skip a few hours ahead or something in first person? Thanks!

Anthony Cade · Answer

I think the characters understanding of time is always what mens it easy to read and flow I think. For Eg. After that time seemed to blend together and before I realised it I was in history class.
Or something like.... I was so tired by the time it got to Art class... I mean 3 hours had passed since I spoke to Jenny and I was dumbfounded by what happened.

That kind of thing where the characters understanding explains the passage of time. Or you could go down the Brett Easton Ellis kind of thing and just separate moments with a time title like.
9 o'clock 
I was making coffee.
Or Art class
Before I knew it I was painting.

? · Answer

If you think that's boring, cheer it up a bit: "I ran to the classroom, dashed in just as the teacher was starting the lesson, and found the only seat left - next to Hannah." There's presumably some reason for mentioning Hannah. To make time go on, just say "After school ... "

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How to show travel and time passage on first person?

2 Answers