- \n
- How Exposition Differs From Plot<\/li>\n
- The Importance of Exposition<\/li>\n
- What Artful Exposition Looks Like<\/li>\n
- An Example of Good Exposition<\/li>\n
- The Ways to Convey Exposition<\/li>\n
- for Writing Exposition<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
Table of contents<\/h2>
- What is Exposition and How is it Different From Plot?<\/a><\/li>
- Exposition is Essential<\/a><\/li>
- The Balance of Artful Exposition<\/a><\/li>
- What is an Example of Good Exposition?<\/a><\/li>
- How to Convey Exposition<\/a>
- 1. Through Narration<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Through Inner Monologue<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Through Dialogue<\/a><\/li>
- 4. Through Epistolary Means<\/a><\/li>
- 5. Through Flashbacks<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- A Few Tips for Writing Exposition<\/a>
- 1. Only Share What is Absolutely Necessary<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Dialogue is Your Friend<\/a><\/li>
- 3. Start With What's Unique<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li>
- Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n
What is Exposition and How is it Different From Plot?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The meat of expository writing is often at the beginning of a story. It's not hard to see why this is. You need to set up your story with things including setting, characters, and even world-building in some novels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, science fiction and fantasy stories often have a lot of exposition at the beginning because the world or time in which the story takes place is so different from our own. This can be tricky, because it can bore readers in those ever-important first few pages. We'll discuss more on this challenge later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For now, just keep in mind that exposition doesn't just happen at the beginning of the story. A good story should have bits of exposition woven throughout.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, exposition is backstory, location, time, and character factors<\/a>. Plot, on the other hand, is all about what happens during the story. Plot and exposition are intertwined, but it's important to make the distinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Plot is conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement \u2014 otherwise known as the resolution, where all the plot points come together. Exposition is the backstory that allows the plot to happen, helping to build the emotional stakes and making sure the reader isn't confused about the story as the plot progresses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exposition is Essential<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Exposition is essential because it adds texture, understanding, and context.<\/strong> It's also used to make clear character motivations. All these factors add up to make the reading experience enthralling and pleasurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Put another way, you can't have a good plot without some exposition, and exposition without plot might as well be a dry news story detailing the five Ws and not much more. This is why expository writing is so important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Balance of Artful Exposition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The problem of relaying important information to the reader in an entertaining and creative way is something that writers of novels, television shows, and movies all face. Exposition, when done improperly, is also called an \u201cinfo dump,\u201d and it can bore readers to tears<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily, you can learn to use exposition in creative and engaging ways throughout your narrative to keep your readers entertained while conveying important information about the characters, story, and world.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>A good story should have bits of exposition woven throughout. Do it well and readers will be immersed in the story. Do it badly, and it will feel like an info-dump.<\/span>Click To Tweet<\/i><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nRobert Jordan was a master of this in his Wheel of Time series, conveying information simply through the differences in thought patterns and dialogue of different characters. You could learn much about their cultures just by listening to them speak, or what they chose to value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had the same conveyance of information happened in a less interesting setting, i.e just telling us the worldbuilding, it could<\/em> bore some viewers, causing them to zone out or simply switch to a more engaging read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is an Example of Good Exposition?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Since many writers struggle with exposition at the beginning of a story, let's take a look at the first lines of a book with great exposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I was arrested in Eno's Diner. At twelve o'clock. I was eating eggs and drinking coffee. A late breakfast, not lunch. I was wet and tired after a long walk in heavy rain. All the way from the highway to the edge of town.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
-From Killing Floor<\/em>, by Lee Child<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The exposition in this first paragraph is simple, to the point, and packed with information. The first line is the key. The reader immediately wants to know why this character is getting arrested. But the exposition sets the scene, telling the reader that the character has just gotten into town and hasn't had breakfast, so presumably he's been traveling for a while. And yet he's getting arrested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We eagerly read the exposition because our curiosity has been piqued by that first line.<\/strong> This is one of the tricks of conveying information. You tell the reader only what they need to know, and no more. And there are several ways to do this well.<\/p>\n\n\n\r\n
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How to Convey Exposition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Changing up the way you convey exposition throughout your story is a good idea. It keeps things fresh and helps keep the story moving without getting bogged down in paragraphs of expository narration or stilted dialogue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These days, most authors use indirect exposition, which is a way of drip-feeding the reader important background info instead of spending chapters or paragraphs explaining things through direct exposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Through Narration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Narration is the most straightforward way of providing background information to the reader. <\/strong>Though the type of narrative exposition is dependent on the type of narration you, as the writer, choose for your story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
An omniscient narrator<\/a>, for instance, will be able to provide background information on all the characters, whereas a first-person narrator (like the example above) will only be able to provide limited background information based on his or her experiences and knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Narrative exposition can be used for both direct and indirect exposition, but many new writers end up doing an “info dump” when using this form of narrative conveyance. Still, that doesn't mean you shouldn't use it whenever the scene calls for it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Through Inner Monologue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Exposition via internal monologue is great for revealing character motivation<\/a> and emotions. We get a glimpse into the main character's mind, and it can provide us with insights and backstory in a personal way that's hard to do any other way.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- 2. Dialogue is Your Friend<\/a><\/li>
- 2. Through Inner Monologue<\/a><\/li>
- Exposition is Essential<\/a><\/li>
- What is Exposition and How is it Different From Plot?<\/a><\/li>