tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post3703552596029367142..comments2024-03-29T09:30:44.859+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: Exposition Ninjamooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-51859037990459905142011-10-17T16:40:43.674+01:002011-10-17T16:40:43.674+01:00@Laoch-thanks very much
@Ciara-hello. Haven't...@Laoch-thanks very much<br /><br />@Ciara-hello. Haven't we been following each other's blogs for many months?<br /><br />@Laura-Yes, aha writing is pretty much what we all want, that perfect moment of pulling the reader all the way in.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-11277913544271529262011-10-17T13:07:49.829+01:002011-10-17T13:07:49.829+01:00I think the best writing is when we don't noti...I think the best writing is when we don't notice narrative and think 'oh that must be important later'. I love when something is woven so intricately that later in the book I say, 'aha.'Laura Paulinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06503090226508079501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-40128526935401179072011-10-16T20:35:18.588+01:002011-10-16T20:35:18.588+01:00I found you via Michael's post. I'm a new ...I found you via Michael's post. I'm a new follower. This blog hop is such a great idea. :)Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-56112100285218909392011-10-14T22:40:33.551+01:002011-10-14T22:40:33.551+01:00@Madeline-makes the writer look insecure, like a l...@Madeline-makes the writer look insecure, like a liar trying too hard to be convincing.<br /><br />@Angela-I agree, and I'll be awaiting your call.<br /><br />@Alex-as chief ninja I expect you to know all about this stuff already.<br /><br />@Christa-why is it those sorts of doors never open smoothly? There's always a knack to it.<br /><br />@Michael-you have put my name forward before, as yet still no official nomination. I believe they have some ridiculous stipulation about being published (pah!)<br /><br />Actually I had no idea about Alex's blogfest until today when all these poses started appearing in my reader. I've been buried in my wip of late (yes, I do occasionally write fiction too).<br /><br />@LD-you are most welcome.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-39897337495011497362011-10-14T22:26:59.964+01:002011-10-14T22:26:59.964+01:00Yup, this one's going in my 'tips worth ha...Yup, this one's going in my 'tips worth hanging on to' folder. Thanks.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-87848657832339226252011-10-14T19:58:53.954+01:002011-10-14T19:58:53.954+01:00When you finally get around to publishing your boo...When you finally get around to publishing your book...I shall expect you to scoop the Pulitzer or the Nobel (I can't remember if I've said this in an earlier comment). But you are right on target with the exposition thing (as with all of your writing advice). How come you aren't doing the "Pay It Forward" blog hop?Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88058855501587000992011-10-14T19:04:49.649+01:002011-10-14T19:04:49.649+01:00Good advice. I can handle exposition pretty well, ...Good advice. I can handle exposition pretty well, but I have a harder time describing complicated settings in a way that don't lose the reader. I can see it all in my head, but how do I not be so cumbersome about saying that the storage garage is across the alley from the back of the store and has two padlocks on the left side and one of those doors that you have to lift up by yourself....<br /><br />Er, is this a tangent? Perhaps this is a blog post for another day.Christa Desirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15614441465633549710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-32355721287586997292011-10-14T16:34:34.353+01:002011-10-14T16:34:34.353+01:00Excellent advice - as always. I like using dialogu...Excellent advice - as always. I like using dialogue to insert snippets of backstory. Used that a lot in my second book.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-37009677064276291482011-10-14T16:28:46.640+01:002011-10-14T16:28:46.640+01:00It helps if you can do it with humor. Easier said ...It helps if you can do it with humor. Easier said than done, I know. When I figure out exactly how to do it, I'll let you know.Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12399082789777816445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-8246493575985461762011-10-14T15:00:47.301+01:002011-10-14T15:00:47.301+01:00Great post! This part hit home for me -
"Th...Great post! This part hit home for me - <br /><br />"The other thing to remember is that straight ahead is boring. If the information ends up going exactly where you think it’s going, the reader will get there before you and then wonder why you’re telling them something so redundant."<br /><br />I stopped reading a book recently because it kept hammering - loudly, clumsily - a point over and over - it was too much. There's something to be said for subtlety.Madeline Mora-Summontehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05529397293165046430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-46134180248727680132011-10-14T12:42:31.732+01:002011-10-14T12:42:31.732+01:00@Beverly-cheers. Amzing how often you still hear t...@Beverly-cheers. Amzing how often you still hear that sort of dialogue, especially in movies.<br /><br />@Bryce-thanks very much.<br /><br />@angela-I believe rubbing hands together is part of ninja training.<br /><br />@Rogue-since my example climaxes at the factory I would assume it is a key part of the story. Mind you, I am making it up as i go along so who knows?<br /><br />@Donna-well, not all of them...<br /><br />@Mary Mary-and so it should be. What kind of craftsman finds teh work easy?<br /><br />@Jamie-fantasy is especially problematic as you have to explain stuff that would be already known in a more contemprary setting.<br /><br />@Sarah-good luck!<br /><br />@Ted-I think the audience is too savvy to be able to use the more clunky devicdes of yester year.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-88195720870854399702011-10-14T08:53:17.268+01:002011-10-14T08:53:17.268+01:00Yep, it's gotten to the point in books, and es...Yep, it's gotten to the point in books, and especially in movies, where if I see them spend any time at all on something seemingly irrelevant then I assume it will be needed for the plot later.Ted Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09022309459554237650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-66792129706051504842011-10-14T07:58:09.498+01:002011-10-14T07:58:09.498+01:00A timely post as I'm about to start chipping a...A timely post as I'm about to start chipping away at the mountain of info dumping in my first draft next week :-)Sarah Tokeleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13273148070092101085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-55532243335258261102011-10-14T07:28:59.688+01:002011-10-14T07:28:59.688+01:00Awesome tips. Exposition is something I have a lit...Awesome tips. Exposition is something I have a little difficult in achieving without being too info-dumpy.Jamie Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15168603412367448706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-12837125741793257052011-10-14T03:16:35.078+01:002011-10-14T03:16:35.078+01:00Good subject to tackle! I agree that it's all ...Good subject to tackle! I agree that it's all craftsmanship. As a writer, you have to learn how to make this kind of info flow seamlessly in the scene. But, yeah, it's tricky!Mary Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09429769115085903305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-79204365612051115812011-10-14T01:38:57.234+01:002011-10-14T01:38:57.234+01:00Love the tips, Moody.
"If the information en...Love the tips, Moody.<br /><br />"If the information ends up going exactly where you think it’s going, the reader will get there before you and then wonder why you’re telling them something so redundant."<br /><br />Can't assume our readers are stupid.Donna K. Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763832177263927311noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-60379970178413661832011-10-14T01:35:29.580+01:002011-10-14T01:35:29.580+01:00Unless your story is about his job at the factory ...Unless your story is about his job at the factory that seems like a lot of effort and contriving for little gain.PT Dillowayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09394481476862013009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-73323735558472614822011-10-14T00:57:27.952+01:002011-10-14T00:57:27.952+01:00Excellent post. Rubbing my hands together to see i...Excellent post. Rubbing my hands together to see if I've got some exposition that needs hiding. Retweeting for sure!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-86344270946117202382011-10-14T00:33:24.894+01:002011-10-14T00:33:24.894+01:00This was a dynamite post! Very clearly stated and ...This was a dynamite post! Very clearly stated and most helful. Retweeted.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-47048741849213207282011-10-13T21:22:02.261+01:002011-10-13T21:22:02.261+01:00Excellent tips here - and you can be sure I'll...Excellent tips here - and you can be sure I'll retweet ;-).<br /><br />One of my pet peeves is exposition naked in bad dialogue, "As you know, Bob, you've been my father since I was born." For some movies, I think we should make it a drinking game.Beverly Diehlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00392288953821757887noreply@blogger.com