Image by Tithi Luadthong on Shutterstock Doling Out Information During a Scene Exposition isn't your only option, but you'll need it. March 3, 2023March 9, 2023 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Choosing Scenes to Cover the Right Information If you have too much exposition, it could be because you have the wrong scenes. February 24, 2023March 2, 2023 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Judging What Information Your Story Needs If you focus on the wrong details, your story will lose its power. February 17, 2023February 16, 2023 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Managing Exposition Starts With Simplifying the Story No matter how good you are at communicating, you can set yourself up to fail. February 10, 2023February 16, 2023 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Lessons From the Writing of Elantris How well does Brandon Sanderson's debut novel hold up? December 23, 2022December 29, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Analysis, Writing
Five Tips for Avoiding Disorientation in Your Opening Hook While readers are sorting out what you're saying, they can't appreciate your story. April 29, 2022May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Which Descriptive Details Are Excessive to Readers? Don't describe scenes as though you're taking a photograph. September 10, 2021May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
How to Teach World Terms Without Confusing Readers Confusing new terms can make readers feel jarred and overwhelmed. April 16, 2021May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Worldbuilding, Writing
Episode 311: Delivering Information in Stories Readers need to know things to understand your story. January 24, 2021August 26, 2021 by Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, and Wes Matlock
How & Why You Should Consolidate Your Story Merging and reusing elements makes for a more streamlined story. December 4, 2020February 15, 2023 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Lessons From the Exposition of Crescent City Confusing info dumps and lack of plot focus make this a disorienting opening. October 16, 2020June 16, 2021 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Judging What Backstory to Keep and What to Let Go If you include too much history, your story will be an overburdened mess. June 12, 2020November 23, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling, Writing
Taming Your Exposition Skilled use of exposition is a matter of balance: not too much, not too little. December 27, 2019June 20, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Writing
Planning Your Story’s Opening Passages Readers have a lot to learn during an opening, and somehow they have to learn it while being entertained. May 3, 2019March 22, 2021 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling, Writing
Q&A: How Do I Write Exposition in Close Perspective? Answered by Chris Winkle February 11, 2019August 26, 2021 in Writing
Lessons From the Rushed Writing of The Blade Itself Confusing description and a lack of context bog down an action-packed opening. November 17, 2017May 24, 2022 by Oren Ashkenazi in Writing
Liberating Over-Burdened Stories Signs your story might be sluggish—and how to make it into a smooth, exciting read. November 10, 2017May 24, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Storytelling
Lessons From the Sloppy Writing of The Tommyknockers How lots of rambling and an uncertain focus turned this sci-fi opening into a slog. February 10, 2017December 27, 2022 by Chris Winkle in Analysis, Writing
Sarah West