Hi Reader,

Let’s talk about a word that makes writers nervous:

Exposition.

In a nutshell, exposition is the background information that explains your story’s world, characters, or plot. It’s the stuff your audience needs to help understand what’s going on… but it’s also the stuff that can kill your momentum if you dump it on the page like a boring textbook.

And we’ve all seen it done badly.

You’re reading a thriller… and suddenly you’re trapped in a three-page lecture about how a lab works. Or you’re watching a movie… and two characters start telling each other things they already know, but the audience doesn't.

That’s exposition. And when it’s clunky, it stops the story cold.

Read my full article here: Exposition Mistakes (and how to fix them)​

So… is exposition bad?

Nope. Exposition isn’t the enemy. Bad exposition is.

Some stories need it - especially action, sci-fi, horror, fantasy, mystery, political thrillers… anything with:

• specific rules
• secrets
• technology
• magic
• supernatural elements
• a big “how does this work?” element
• or a world that isn’t like ours

The goal isn’t to remove exposition. The goal is to make it feel like it belongs.

The 3 most common types of exposition (and why they hurt)

Here are the big ones I see writers struggle with:

1) Narrative exposition​
Long blocks of text explaining the world, history, science, magic system, politics… all in excruciating detail. This is where pacing goes to die. If it resembles a seminar, more than a natural extension of a story, you're in trouble.

2) Dialogue exposition​
Characters giving overly-detailed speeches. Or telling each other things like, "as you already know...", just so the audience can catch up. It doesn’t sound like real conversation - because it isn’t.

3) Technical exposition​
This one shows up a lot in sci-fi and action: overly detailed explanations of gadgets, procedures, systems, or "how the mission works". It’s often accurate… and still boring. If it reads like the owner's manual on your washing machine, it needs work.

Too much exposition doesn’t pull readers in. It yanks them out.

The sweet spot: “show just enough”

Here’s the balance every writer is chasing:

• Too much info too fast → your story becomes a lecture
• Not enough info → your audience gets lost
• The sweet spot → weave it in smoothly and trust the reader

And the good news? You can do that without losing clarity.

My quick checklist for making exposition feel natural

If you’re rewriting and you’re worried your story is too "explain-y", try this:

✅ Show key moments and support them with small bits of telling​
✅ Make dialogue sound like real conversation, not a TED Talk
✅ Use your setting to reveal history and rules (signs, scars, behavior, routine)
✅ Let action scenes double as worldbuilding (we learn rules by seeing consequences)
✅ Trust your audience to connect the dots

When you stop telling everything and start showing just enough, your world becomes immersive. It feels real. And most importantly… it keeps readers hooked.

If you want a deeper breakdown (with examples + common mistakes to avoid), I wrote a full article on it here:

👉 Read: Exposition Mistakes (and how to fix them)​

And if you want an outside eye on your script - especially if you’re worried about pacing, clarity, or "too much explaining" - I can help.

👉 Script coverage: Click here!​

Click Here for Coverage!

Or if you'd like to talk things through before you're ready for coverage, try my one-hour coaching call (great for brainstorming, rewrite ideas, structure fixes, or getting unstuck).

🗓️ One-hour coaching call: Book Your Session today!​

Book Your Coaching Call Here!

Just remember - keep writing, keep rewriting, and don’t turn your story into a textbook!

Until next time, stay creative!

Neil

​

P.S. Check out my feature film, Spin the Wheel - out now on Tubi!

Click here to watch for FREE: https://tubitv.com/movies/100030151/spin-the-wheel​

Learn more about storytelling, screenwriting, and filmmaking:​ www.neilchasefilm.com.

Looking for in-depth help with your script, story or film? Check out my one-on-one coaching services here.

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