--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many writers struggle with exposition in…" description: "\"Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/james-scott-bell-22468_arguing_many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in_327718.jpg" --- # Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels… ![“Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before the novel opens – is especially troublesome. How can we give the essentials and avoid a mere information drop? Use dialogue. First, create a…” quote by James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/james-scott-bell-22468_arguing_many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in_327718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/james-scott-bell-22468_arguing_many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in_327718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9ff/james-scott-bell-22468_arguing_many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in_327718.jpg) > “Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before the novel opens – is especially troublesome. How can we give the essentials and avoid a mere information drop? Use dialogue. First, create a tension-filled scene, usually between two characters. Get them arguing, confronting each other. Then you can have the information appear in the natural course of things.” [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Use tense dialogue between characters to naturally reveal backstory, avoiding heavy exposition. **In simple terms:** Show backstory through conflict in conversation. Key Takeaway Write scenes that reveal info while characters clash. Themes writing storytelling dialogue Mood practical instructional Type educational craft. When to use this quote - novel drafting - screenwriting - creative workshops Key Concepts exposition show vs tell Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance tension with clarity? - When is direct exposition appropriate? A Different Perspective May not suit all genres or narrative styles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Narrative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narrative/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I did not think much what I was writing them for, except that I knew I wanted my next novel to be in some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-mosley/i-did-not-think-much-what-i-was-writing-them-for-except-that-i-knew-i/) [Nicholas Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-mosley/) > [It's like, in movies where you talk to the audience 90 percent of the time, it's - you kind of want to stay away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jenkins/it-s-like-in-movies-where-you-talk-to-the-audience-90-percent-of-the/) [Richard Jenkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jenkins/) > [“Everything bad in the Old Testament (and there's a lot) is there to point out our sin, while everything good in the Old Testament…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/everything-bad-in-the-old-testament-and-there-s-a-lot-is-there-to/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [“Crafty writers...don't allow Exposition to form Lumps. They break up the information, grind it fine, and make it into bricks to build the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-k-le-guin/crafty-writers-don-t-allow-exposition-to-form-lumps-they-break-up-the/) [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) > [“(D)ialogue is generally the worst choice for exposition. 'When you're writing lines...you need to focus on the way people actually talk. And when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jincy-willett/d-ialogue-is-generally-the-worst-choice-for-exposition-when-you-re/) [Jincy Willett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jincy-willett/) > [“The first morning I really sat and watched him it was a Tuesday. I know that because Tuesday is trash day for our neighborhood.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-r-smith/the-first-morning-i-really-sat-and-watched-him-it-was-a-tuesday-i/) [Benjamin R. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-r-smith/) > [“No language about God will ever be fully adequate to the burning mystery which it signifies.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-johnston/no-language-about-god-will-ever-be-fully-adequate-to-the-burning/) Elizabeth Johnston > [Exposition suggests a great trust in the reader, and this expression of trust makes a book feel tender.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akhil-sharma/exposition-suggests-a-great-trust-in-the-reader-and-this-expression/) [Akhil Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akhil-sharma/) > [Mathematicians themselves set up standards of generality and elegance in their exposition which are a bar to understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/mathematicians-themselves-set-up-standards-of-generality-and-elegance/) [Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/) > [The method of exposition which philosophers have adopted leads many to suppose that they are simply inquiries, that they have no interest in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-raphael-cohen/the-method-of-exposition-which-philosophers-have-adopted-leads-many/) [Morris Raphael Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-raphael-cohen/) > [“Only 8000 different words appear in the Hebrew Bible, compared to the 20,000 or more that the average adult needs to know in most languages.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lane-greene/only-8000-different-words-appear-in-the-hebrew-bible-compared-to-the/) [Robert Lane Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lane-greene/) > [There are three necessary elements in a story - exposition, development, and drama. Exposition we may illustrate as "John Fortescue was a solicitor in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-connor/there-are-three-necessary-elements-in-a-story-exposition-development/) [Frank O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-connor/) > [“Exposition, after all, is telling and drama is showing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yorke/exposition-after-all-is-telling-and-drama-is-showing/) [John Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yorke/) > [I'm an enemy of exposition. I feel there's no need to overstate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anson-mount/i-m-an-enemy-of-exposition-i-feel-there-s-no-need-to-overstate/) [Anson Mount](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anson-mount/) > [“My sermon on the meaning of the manna in the wilderness can be adapted to almost any occasion, joyful, or, as in the present…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/my-sermon-on-the-meaning-of-the-manna-in-the-wilderness-can-be/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by James Scott Bell > [Status, worry and comparison are ways to madness, not victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/status-worry-and-comparison-are-ways-to-madness-not-victory/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“The exclamation point is a loud party-goer, demanding attention. Overdone, it can be annoying.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-exclamation-point-is-a-loud-party-goer-demanding-attention/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“At this point in the story, the character looks at himself. He takes stock of where he is in the conflict and––depending on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-this-point-in-the-story-the-character-looks-at-himself-he-takes/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [The thing I do at the beginning is a "voice journal," a free form doc that is the character speaking to me. I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-thing-i-do-at-the-beginning-is-a-voice-journal-a-free-form-doc/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Dwight Swain, the great writing teacher, once said that the secret of excitement is to go deeper into your characters. Create more backstory, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/dwight-swain-the-great-writing-teacher-once-said-that-the-secret-of/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Think of it as the Doorway of No Return. The feeling must be that your lead character, once she passes through, cannot go home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/think-of-it-as-the-doorway-of-no-return-the-feeling-must-be-that-your/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“A good story transports the reader to a new place via experience. Not through arguments or facts, but through the illusion that life is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/a-good-story-transports-the-reader-to-a-new-place-via-experience-not/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [The most important rule: Do not, I repeat, do not censor yourself in any way. Leave your editorial mind out of the loop. Just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/the-most-important-rule-do-not-i-repeat-do-not-censor-yourself-in-any/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [My philosophy on writing books is that if you learn only one new thing, or even get a new take on something you already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/my-philosophy-on-writing-books-is-that-if-you-learn-only-one-new/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“At some point you’re going to have to formulate your copy, and if you do it early, it will keep you from writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/at-some-point-you-re-going-to-have-to-formulate-your-copy-and-if-you/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Transformation is about change, and change needs to be proven. People can talk a good game. Someone can say he's sorry for stealing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/transformation-is-about-change-and-change-needs-to-be-proven-people/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Superb historical romance, with a spiritual theme woven seamlessly throughout. I much enjoyed The Covered Deep and look forward to more from its author!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/superb-historical-romance-with-a-spiritual-theme-woven-seamlessly/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Every hour you spend writing is an hour you don't spend worrying about your writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/every-hour-you-spend-writing-is-an-hour-you-don-t-spend-worrying/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [Write like you're in love. Edit like you're in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/write-like-you-re-in-love-edit-like-you-re-in-charge/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [“Psychological death is the key to all romances, isn't it? If the two lovers don't get together, they will each miss out on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/psychological-death-is-the-key-to-all-romances-isn-t-it-if-the-two/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) [Explore all 27 James Scott Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) ## More Arguing quotes > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [Any comprehensive doctrine, religious or secular, can be introduced into any political argument at any time, but I argue that people who do this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/any-comprehensive-doctrine-religious-or-secular-can-be-introduced/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [It's fine to talk about politics with people you agree with. But it is rude to argue about politics with people you disagree with.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-lessig/it-s-fine-to-talk-about-politics-with-people-you-agree-with-but-it-is/) [Lawrence Lessig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-lessig/) > [Men are fair, and they have learned not to personalize anger - they can disagree with you and argue to the bone, but afterward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-farrell/men-are-fair-and-they-have-learned-not-to-personalize-anger-they-can/) [Warren Farrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-farrell/) > [When Eudæmonidas heard a philosopher arguing that only a wise man can be a good general, "This is a wonderful speech," said he; "but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/when-eud-monidas-heard-a-philosopher-arguing-that-only-a-wise-man-can/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [Fasting is required, staying away from fighting and arguing and bombing of masjids is still going on. Hatred is still manifested between Sunni and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-farrakhan/fasting-is-required-staying-away-from-fighting-and-arguing-and/) [Louis Farrakhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-farrakhan/) > [The problem for the Left, however, is that the moment it stops painting the Right as vile, it has to argue the issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-problem-for-the-left-however-is-that-the-moment-it-stops-painting/) [Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [You can argue that the Terminator movies reboot their world each time they go back in time, but that doesn't negate the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/you-can-argue-that-the-terminator-movies-reboot-their-world-each-time/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [We may argue eloquently that 'Honesty is the best Policy' - unfortunately, the moment honesty is adopted for the sake of policy it mysteriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/we-may-argue-eloquently-that-honesty-is-the-best-policy-unfortunately/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [I'm a very serious person, but I don't take myself very seriously and I would rather laugh all day than argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stone-cold-steve-austin/i-m-a-very-serious-person-but-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-and/) [Stone Cold Steve Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stone-cold-steve-austin/) > [These eyes, tho' clear To outward view of blemish or of spot, Bereft of light, their seeing have forgot, Nor to their idle orbs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-milton/these-eyes-tho-clear-to-outward-view-of-blemish-or-of-spot-bereft-of/) [John Milton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-milton/) > [There's crucial distinction that has to be drawn between the Shari'a, which is this hugely expansive vision of cosmic order that I've been describing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadakat-kadri/there-s-crucial-distinction-that-has-to-be-drawn-between-the-shari-a/) [Sadakat Kadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadakat-kadri/) > [Only fools argue whether to eat meat or not. They don't understand truth nor do they meditate on it. Who can define what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guru-nanak/only-fools-argue-whether-to-eat-meat-or-not-they-don-t-understand/) [Guru Nanak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guru-nanak/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) Browse all 1,908 Arguing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens before the novel opens – is especially troublesome. How can we give the essentials and avoid a mere information drop? Use dialogue. First, create a tension-filled scene, usually between two characters. 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