The exposition in this first paragraph is simple, to the point, and packed with information. All the way from the highway to the edge of town.” I was wet and tired after a long walk in heavy rain. 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. Had the same conveyance of information happened in a less interesting setting, i.e just telling us the worldbuilding, it could bore some viewers, causing them to zone out or simply switch to a more engaging read. You could learn much about their cultures just by listening to them speak, or what they chose to value. Robert 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. Do it badly, and it will feel like an info-dump. Do it well and readers will be immersed in the story. 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.Ī good story should have bits of exposition woven throughout. Exposition, when done improperly, is also called an “info dump,” and it can bore readers to tears. 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. This is why expository writing is so important. 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. All these factors add up to make the reading experience enthralling and pleasurable.
It's also used to make clear character motivations. Exposition is EssentialĮxposition is essential because it adds texture, understanding, and context. 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. Plot is conflict, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement - otherwise known as the resolution, where all the plot points come together.
Plot and exposition are intertwined, but it's important to make the distinction.
Plot, on the other hand, is all about what happens during the story. So, exposition is backstory, location, time, and character factors. A good story should have bits of exposition woven throughout. We'll discuss more on this challenge later.įor now, just keep in mind that exposition doesn't just happen at the beginning of the story. This can be tricky, because it can bore readers in those ever-important first few pages. 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. You need to set up your story with things including setting, characters, and even world-building in some novels. The meat of expository writing is often at the beginning of a story. What is Exposition and How is it Different From Plot? What is Exposition and How is it Different From Plot?.
0 kommentar(er)
