Disclaimer

This is an effort to contribute back to the same knowledge base from where I have gained a lot. It doesn’t carry or convey any individual’s and/or organization’s view, the same is neither intended nor should be inferred.

Thursday, July 9, 2015

Exposition – Don’t Expose the Obvious


Her lovely pet met the accident; she admitted it to hospital. It was crying for her attention. She was sad; she couldn't face this much. She was soft-hearted. She sat down on a chair. It was helplessly watching her. She couldn’t help control her tears and doctor came.

Observe the exposition. Isn’t lots of this is obvious? For that matter, consider following: I had a piece of cake and it was sweet and soft.

Who doesn’t know that cakes are sweet and soft?

Exposition is the back ground of story, flash-back narrative information, description of characters' feelings and description of events taking place on the plot to construct it. It is important for reader to know these details and so is the exposition. 

The mantra of writing – ‘Show, don’t tell’ infers to minimize the expositions and make it invisible so that reader get to know what he needs effortlessly and unconsciously. The best way to create the motivation in the plot for characters to speak realistic dialogues in natural way to reveal information. This is however prohibited to write a California scene, where two characters hardly know each other well and sit to reveal their deep hidden personal truths in a conversation. 

Keep the best for last. That means don’t just reveal everything in a sequence to reader. Reveal only what is needed for him till that moment in the story. There should be a natural flow and least important information should be conveyed first and most should be conveyed for later stage.

Consider the actor in the movie, actor acts to show his feelings. Location, weather, physical appearances of characters etc. is entirely visible and is the prime job of camera man to make it visible. Sometimes, he accentuates it to seek audiences’ attention wherever required. This all has to be shown by words in writing.
Seeds of thoughts
A birthday celebration is going on. Protagonist is happy celebrating his wife's b'day. He has invited his Boss and other colleagues. Most of the colleagues have come and they all are happy for the young couple.

His Boss enters the party hall with a pretty woman. Some of the colleagues know that she was his wife but protagonist gets shocked. She was his ex-girlfriend who got married with the consent of her parents.

The pretty woman greets protagonist with a sweet 'Hello' and they moved. 

Write the exposition to show the changed mood of protagonist and of those reaction who noticed.

- Amit Roop


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