--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the hardest part of writing…" description: "\"I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting exposition out easily, without hitting people over the head with it.\" — Jillian Bell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg" --- # I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting… ![“I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting exposition out easily, without hitting people over the head with it.” quote by Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg) > “I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting exposition out easily, without hitting people over the head with it.” [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Exposition should flow naturally, not overwhelm the audience. **In simple terms:** Write clearly without heavy-handedness. Key Takeaway Aim for subtle storytelling. Themes writing clarity exposition Mood thoughtful analytical Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - screenwriting - novel writing - public speaking Key Concepts narrative flow audience engagement Questions to Reflect On - How can you test if exposition is clear? - When is explicit detail necessary? A Different Perspective Subtlety may be misinterpreted as lack of depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposition/) [Exposition Easily](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposition-easily-2387611/) [Getting Exposition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-exposition-2387612/) [Hardest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest/) [Hardest Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardest-writing-1267599/) [Hitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitting/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-getting-1215970/) ## Related quotes > [One of the tricks is to have the exposition conveyed in a scene of conflict, so that a character is forced to say things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-lehman/one-of-the-tricks-is-to-have-the-exposition-conveyed-in-a-scene-of/) [Ernest Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-lehman/) > [“As it turns out, business writing is all about getting to the point and leaving out all of the noise. You think you already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/as-it-turns-out-business-writing-is-all-about-getting-to-the-point/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [You're not just writing in a vacuum, and then handing it over to someone else to shoot. You're writing, and then getting feedback from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-glau/you-re-not-just-writing-in-a-vacuum-and-then-handing-it-over-to/) [Summer Glau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-glau/) > [For writing, getting off our buts means getting on our butts-putting it into a chair and not moving from the chair for a set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mcwilliams/for-writing-getting-off-our-buts-means-getting-on-our-butts-putting/) [Peter McWilliams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mcwilliams/) > [Writing's about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/writing-s-about-getting-up-getting-well-and-getting-over-getting/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Writing is not getting any easier or harder. I think I know what I want more, I know what I'm looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-warnes/writing-is-not-getting-any-easier-or-harder-i-think-i-know-what-i/) [Jennifer Warnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-warnes/) > [“The hardest part of writing is the same as doing your homework...it's staying seated in your chair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-hardest-part-of-writing-is-the-same-as-doing-your-homework-it-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Making sure that the geography and timelines work is always the hardest part of writing. But you owe it to the readers to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-scott/making-sure-that-the-geography-and-timelines-work-is-always-the/) [Michael Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-scott/) > [The hardest part of writing is not to get the ideas but to remember, why it is important to get them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/the-hardest-part-of-writing-is-not-to-get-the-ideas-but-to-remember/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“I heard a famous author say once that the hardest part of writing a book was making yourself sit down at the typewriter. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-l-engle/i-heard-a-famous-author-say-once-that-the-hardest-part-of-writing-a/) [Madeleine L'Engle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-l-engle/) > [“The hardest part of writing a story is making bad things happen to good people. The hardest part of writing horror is knowing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-m-dickson/the-hardest-part-of-writing-a-story-is-making-bad-things-happen-to/) [Allison M. Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-m-dickson/) > [I think the hardest part of writing is revising. And by that I mean the following: A novelist has to create the piece of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaim-potok/i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-is-revising-and-by-that-i-mean/) [Chaim Potok](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chaim-potok/) > [Usually the poems are written in one sitting. There's always a groping towards some satisfying ending. But I'd say the hardest part is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-collins/usually-the-poems-are-written-in-one-sitting-there-s-always-a-groping/) [Billy Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-collins/) > [The hardest part is writing a song as a story. A song is so short and there are only so many words that every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giveon/the-hardest-part-is-writing-a-song-as-a-story-a-song-is-so-short-and/) [Giveon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giveon/) > [“Having the courage to say the truth, unabashedly, is the hardest part of writing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-moncel/having-the-courage-to-say-the-truth-unabashedly-is-the-hardest-part/) [Carolyn Moncel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-moncel/) ## More by Jillian Bell > [I love playing idiots. I love very weird, confused women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-love-playing-idiots-i-love-very-weird-confused-women/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I think everybody has a point where they're not going to cross that line. There were a couple of things with Comedy Central that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-think-everybody-has-a-point-where-they-re-not-going-to-cross-that/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I actually bedazzled when I was younger. I totally did that to my jeans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-actually-bedazzled-when-i-was-younger-i-totally-did-that-to-my-jeans/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [My goal is to always play interesting and very odd women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/my-goal-is-to-always-play-interesting-and-very-odd-women/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I started doing improv when I was 8 years old, so it's always been in my life. I would feel naked without it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-started-doing-improv-when-i-was-8-years-old-so-it-s-always-been-in/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I've been very lucky to work with people I think are funny and who are really awesome human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-ve-been-very-lucky-to-work-with-people-i-think-are-funny-and-who/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I am so excited about the 'Goosebumps' movie; I am geeking out. I was a huge fan of the books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-am-so-excited-about-the-goosebumps-movie-i-am-geeking-out-i-was-a/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [It's exciting to do something you're writing. And it's also a lot easier to memorize because you wrote it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/it-s-exciting-to-do-something-you-re-writing-and-it-s-also-a-lot/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [These actors like Danny McBride and Jonah Hill are so good at improvising, and when they do it, it's this fun moment for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/these-actors-like-danny-mcbride-and-jonah-hill-are-so-good-at/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [If somebody has a question, they only have to ask one of us because we share a brain. We seriously have never said something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/if-somebody-has-a-question-they-only-have-to-ask-one-of-us-because-we/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I definitely had an AOL account when I was 14, but I don't remember what my screen name was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-definitely-had-an-aol-account-when-i-was-14-but-i-don-t-remember/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [You get more out of doing a web series than a pilot, in some ways, especially when we were interviewing for writers. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/you-get-more-out-of-doing-a-web-series-than-a-pilot-in-some-ways/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [People may think I'm wildly obnoxious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/people-may-think-i-m-wildly-obnoxious/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I always knew I wanted to do comedy. I like making people laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-do-comedy-i-like-making-people-laugh/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) > [I really learned how to improvise at the Groundlings.It's something I've always loved to do. For some reason it feels more honest at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-really-learned-how-to-improvise-at-the-groundlings-it-s-something-i/) [Jillian Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) [Explore all 18 Jillian Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/) ## More Exposition quotes > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [Many writers struggle with exposition in their novels. Often they heap it on in large chunks of straight narrative. Back story – what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott-bell/many-writers-struggle-with-exposition-in-their-novels-often-they-heap/) [James Scott Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott-bell/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-johnston/) > [“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/) > [“(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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) [Browse all 44 Exposition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exposition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting exposition out easily, without hitting people over the head with it.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jillian Bell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anything-is-getting-exposition/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Exposition" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anything-is-getting-exposition/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/778/jillian-bell-29616_hardest_i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anyt_1035259.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the hardest part of writing anything is getting exposition out easily, without hitting people over…” — Jillian Bell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jillian Bell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jillian-bell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I think the hardest part of...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anything-is-getting-exposition/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jillian-bell/i-think-the-hardest-part-of-writing-anything-is-getting-exposition/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```