Exposition 101:
There are SO MANY THINGS I could talk about when it comes to exposition - and believe me, I’ll get there, but before I can get too far, I need to be sure you understand the foundations.
But first,
What IS Exposition?
Exposition is the conveyance of essential background information about the characters, setting, and plot within a story. It's the narrative device that provides the audience with the context needed to fully understand and engage with the unfolding drama. Whether it's a character's backstory, the historical setting of the narrative, or the internal mechanics of a fictional world, exposition introduces and explains the elements that might not be immediately obvious through action alone.
What is Good Exposition?
Good exposition is seamlessly woven into the fabric of the story, so much so that the audience may not even recognize it as exposition. It's delivered at the right moments, often through dialogue, action, or visual storytelling, in a way that feels natural and engaging. Good exposition:
Enhances Understanding: It clarifies the stakes, making the audience care about what's happening and why.
Fuels Engagement: By providing just enough information to pique curiosity without overwhelming the audience.
Feels Organic: It's integrated into the narrative in a way that feels inherent to the story, not tacked on or forced.
Examples of good exposition include a character revealing a pivotal piece of their backstory during a heated argument, or a brief, visually rich scene that sets the historical context of the story without a word being spoken.
You can dive more into this with a truly excellent YouTube video from Raising The Stakes
What is Bad Exposition?
Bad exposition, on the other hand, can halt the momentum of a story, pulling the audience out of the immersive world you've crafted. It's often:
Clunky and Obvious: When characters say things solely for the audience's benefit, which they would already know.
Info-Dumping: Large chunks of information are delivered all at once, overwhelming and boring the audience.
Unnaturally Integrated: It sticks out awkwardly, disrupting the flow and pacing of the narrative.
An example of bad exposition might be a lengthy monologue where a character outlines the entire political system of a fantasy world in detail, without any prompting or context.
Once again, Raising The Stakes has an excellent video on the subject with a bunch of examples
How to Find the Balance
Mastering storytelling involves skillfully balancing and seamlessly integrating exposition, ensuring the information feels natural rather than forced. It’s an art not easily achieved. As you can see from above, PLENTY of massive films have poor exposition. BUT, that doesn’t mean yours has to. You’re better than that.
Here are some foundational, yet perennially relevant, tips to fine tune your exposition:
Show, Don't Tell:
Whenever possible, convey information visually. If you can show a character's backstory through a series of flashbacks or their actions, it's often more engaging than having them explain it.
Drip-feed Information:
Spread out the exposition throughout the narrative. Give out information little by little, as needed, to keep the audience interested and the story moving.
Utilize Subtext:
Characters can talk around an issue, revealing important background details through what they're not saying directly. This can add layers of intrigue and depth. Also helps you avoid “On The Nose” dialogue.
Feedback is Crucial:
Use readings, workshops, and script feedback to gauge whether your exposition feels natural or forced. Adjust based on honest critiques from trusted parties. When we inevitably get too deep into our work, having an outside set of eyes is invaluable.
Revise with Purpose:
Look for moments where providing information slows the pace or feels jarring. Find creative ways to embed that information more naturally into the story.
In-Dialogue Exposition Tip:
This is my own little trick. Ask yourself:
Does the character need to say this right now? OR
Do I as the writer need the character to say this?
If it’s the 2nd one - get rid of it. Give us that information some other way.
Effective exposition requires a delicate touch—a balance between revealing too much and not enough. The art of exposition is turning necessary information into a compelling part of the storytelling process.
This topic is far from over & I look forward to diving deeper now that we have the basics under our belt 😉
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