

Rather than simply telling the reader about a character’s history or motivations, show it through their actions. This technique will help to make the setup feel less like an “info dump” and more like a natural part of the story. Instead of having a narrator dump information on the reader through exposition, have the characters mention important details in casual conversation. However, there are a few simple techniques that can help make exposition feel natural and organic. If done poorly, that part of the story can feel forced and contrived, bogging down the plot and preventing the reader from becoming immersed in the story’s world. Five ways to improve exposition in your writingĮxposition is an essential part of any piece of writing, but it can be challenging to get right.
EXPOSITION IN A STORY HOW TO
While too much setup can be cumbersome, a skilled author knows how to use exposition to create a rich and engaging tale.īy deftly weaving exposition into the fabric of the story, an author can create a work that is both entertaining and informative. Without exposition, readers would feel confused and disconnected from the story. Readers will get to know what boundaries and difficulties are present in the world of the story. Setup also gives readers important information about the story setting. This tension is the only way for a reader to engage with a plot in any meaningful way. The writer will later leverage this relationship to create tension as the character encounters a conflict.Ī reader must care about a character in order to worry about them and root for their success. This section is the foundation of the relationship a reader will build with a character. It’s vital in storytelling because it helps set the scene and provide context for the events later in the story.Ī reader can bond with the story’s main cast during the setup. This part of the story is also where the writer can set up a conflict. The importance of exposition in storytellingĮxposition is the part of the story where the author reveals background or backstory. It’s up to the author to decide how much setup is needed to make the story understandable and enjoyable. In some cases, authors deliver setup through dialogue between the characters.Īn author can also deliver exposition through narration or exposition dumps (where the narrator just tells you what’s happening). The exposition can take many different forms, from a simple description of the setting to a more complex explanation of the backstory. However, it can also occur later if new information is introduced. When is the exposition in a story?Įxposition is usually found at the beginning of a story before the rising action begins. We’ll talk about some tips on doing just that in a little bit. So, when writing the setup, try to make it exciting and fun.

EXPOSITION IN A STORY FULL
You can write this portion in several ways, but one of the most effective is to write scenes that are action-packed, witty, or chalked full of foreshadowing.Ī boring exposition will lose the reader’s attention. Exposition is simply the part of the story where the reader discovers the setting, the characters, and the conflict.Įxposition is crucial because it allows the reader to understand the story’s context and get to know the characters. What is the purpose of the exposition?Įxposition is often thought of as dry and boring, but it doesn’t have to be. After all, if they don’t care about the characters or plot, they won’t stick around for long.

This information helps set the stage for the rest of the story.Įxposition can sometimes be a challenge to write in an exciting way, but it’s essential to hook your reader from the very beginning. In other words, it’s the part that comes before the main action begins.Įxposition can include information about the characters, their backgrounds, the setting, and the conflict. It can be helpful to think of exposition as the “setup” of a story. Exposition DefinitionĮxposition is the part of a story that sets the scene and provides background information on the characters. We’ll start with the definition of exposition in a story. We’re going to answer the question: what is exposition in a story. Actually, You can totally do that it’s a technique called In Medias Res, and I wrote an entire article about it here, but we’re not talking about that today. As a writer, you can’t jump straight to the conflict of your story without giving your reader a little background on your characters and their world.
