Narrative exposition, now often simply exposition, is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative. This information can be about the setting, characters' backstories, prior plot events, historical context, etc.[1] In literature, exposition appears in the form of expository writing embedded within the narrative.
An information dump (more commonly now, infodump) is a large drop of information by the author to provide background they deem necessary to continue the plot. This is ill-advised in narrative and is even worse when used in dialogue. There are cases where an information dump can work, but in many instances it slows down the plot or breaks immersion for the readers. Exposition works best when the author provides only the bare minimum of surface information and allows the readers to discover as they go.[2]
Indirect exposition/incluingedit
Indirect exposition, sometimes called incluing, is a technique of worldbuilding in which the reader is gradually exposed to background information about the world in which a story is set. The idea is to clue the readers in to the world the author is building without them being aware of it. This can be done in a number of ways: through dialogues, flashbacks, characters' thoughts,[3] background details, in-universe media,[4] or the narrator telling a backstory.[3]
Indirect exposition has always occurred in storytelling incidentally, but is first clearly identified, in the modern literary world, in the writing of Rudyard Kipling. In his stories set in India like The Jungle Book, Kipling was faced with the problem of Western readers not knowing the culture and environment of that land, so he gradually developed the technique of explaining through example. But this was relatively subtle, compared to Kipling's science fiction stories, where he used the technique much more obviously and necessarily, to explain an entirely fantastic world unknown to any reader, in his Aerial Board of Control universe,[5] starting with the novella "With the Night Mail" (1905).
Kipling's writing influenced other science fiction writers, most notably the "Dean of Science Fiction", Robert Heinlein, who became known for his advanced rhetorical and storytelling techniques, including indirect exposition.
The word incluing is attributed to fantasy and science fiction author Jo Walton.[6] She defined it as "the process of scattering information seamlessly through the text, as opposed to stopping the story to impart the information."[7] "Information dump" (or info-dump) is the term given for overt exposition, which writers want to avoid.[8][9] In an idiot lecture, characters tell each other information that needs to be explained for the purpose of the audience, but of which the characters in-universe would already be aware.[10] Writers are advised to avoid writing dialogues beginning with "As you well know, Professor, a prime number is..."[11][12][13]
^ abDibell, Ansen (1988). Plot. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books. ISBN0-89879-303-3. *Kernen, Robert (1999). Building Better Plots. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer’s Digest Books. p. 51. ISBN0-89879-903-1.
^Morrell, Jessica Page (2006). Between the Lines: Master the Subtle Elements of Fiction Writing. Cincinnati, Ohio: Writer's Digest Books. p. 64. ISBN978-1-58297-393-7.
exposition, narrative, this, article, about, background, information, story, expository, writing, rhetorical, modes, exposition, other, uses, exposition, disambiguation, narrative, exposition, often, simply, exposition, insertion, background, information, with. This article is about background information in a story For expository writing see Rhetorical modes Exposition For other uses see Exposition disambiguation Narrative exposition now often simply exposition is the insertion of background information within a story or narrative This information can be about the setting characters backstories prior plot events historical context etc 1 In literature exposition appears in the form of expository writing embedded within the narrative Contents 1 Infodumping 1 1 Indirect exposition incluing 2 See also 3 Notes 4 ReferencesInfodumping editAn information dump more commonly now infodump is a large drop of information by the author to provide background they deem necessary to continue the plot This is ill advised in narrative and is even worse when used in dialogue There are cases where an information dump can work but in many instances it slows down the plot or breaks immersion for the readers Exposition works best when the author provides only the bare minimum of surface information and allows the readers to discover as they go 2 Indirect exposition incluing edit Indirect exposition sometimes called incluing is a technique of worldbuilding in which the reader is gradually exposed to background information about the world in which a story is set The idea is to clue the readers in to the world the author is building without them being aware of it This can be done in a number of ways through dialogues flashbacks characters thoughts 3 background details in universe media 4 or the narrator telling a backstory 3 Indirect exposition has always occurred in storytelling incidentally but is first clearly identified in the modern literary world in the writing of Rudyard Kipling In his stories set in India like The Jungle Book Kipling was faced with the problem of Western readers not knowing the culture and environment of that land so he gradually developed the technique of explaining through example But this was relatively subtle compared to Kipling s science fiction stories where he used the technique much more obviously and necessarily to explain an entirely fantastic world unknown to any reader in his Aerial Board of Control universe 5 starting with the novella With the Night Mail 1905 Kipling s writing influenced other science fiction writers most notably the Dean of Science Fiction Robert Heinlein who became known for his advanced rhetorical and storytelling techniques including indirect exposition The word incluing is attributed to fantasy and science fiction author Jo Walton 6 She defined it as the process of scattering information seamlessly through the text as opposed to stopping the story to impart the information 7 Information dump or info dump is the term given for overt exposition which writers want to avoid 8 9 In an idiot lecture characters tell each other information that needs to be explained for the purpose of the audience but of which the characters in universe would already be aware 10 Writers are advised to avoid writing dialogues beginning with As you well know Professor a prime number is 11 12 13 See also editShow don t tellNotes edit Kaplan SAT Subject Test Literature 2009 2010 Edition Kaplan Publishing 2009 p 60 ISBN 978 1 4195 5261 8 Bell 2004 p 71 a b Dibell Ansen 1988 Plot Cincinnati OH Writer s Digest Books ISBN 0 89879 303 3 Kernen Robert 1999 Building Better Plots Cincinnati Ohio Writer s Digest Books p 51 ISBN 0 89879 903 1 Morrell Jessica Page 2006 Between the Lines Master the Subtle Elements of Fiction Writing Cincinnati Ohio Writer s Digest Books p 64 ISBN 978 1 58297 393 7 Rudyard Kipling Invented SF Michelle Bottorff 11 June 2008 rec arts sf composition Frequently Asked Questions Lshelby com Retrieved 6 November 2011 papersky Thud Half a Crown amp Incluing Papersky livejournal com Archived from the original on 19 November 2011 Retrieved 6 November 2011 Bell 2004 p 78 3 3 Methods of screenplay exposition 18 October 2010 John Ashmead Darrell Schweitzer George H Scithers 1982 Constructing scientifiction amp fantasy TSR Hobbies p 24 Retrieved 10 March 2016 Kempton 2004 Write Great Fiction Dialogue F W Media p 190 ISBN 1 58297 289 3 Rogow 1991 FutureSpeak a fan s guide to the language of science fiction Paragon House p 160 ISBN 1 55778 347 0 Info Dumping Fiction Writer s Mentor Archived from the original on 23 June 2015 Retrieved 10 March 2016 References editBell James Scott 2004 Write Great Fiction Plot amp Structure Cincinnati Writer s Digest Books ISBN 1 58297 294 X Crews Frederick 1977 The Random House Handbook 2nd ed New York Random House ISBN 0 394 31211 2 Sebranek Patrick Kemper Dave Meyer Verne 2006 Writers Inc A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning Wilmington Houghton Mifflin Company ISBN 978 0 669 52994 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Exposition narrative amp oldid 1194265511, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
