In our writing group last night, we discussed exposition and the need to weave it into the scenes seamlessly. It’s every writer’s challenge. How do you give background information so that it naturally flows out of what is happening to your characters?
My Baba (grandmother), whose story I am now telling, raised her family during wartime. The political upheaval that forced her to make some difficult decisions in order to save her family is part of the story. It was suggested that I get that information across through dialogue. That is the best way, the most active way to connect with the reader. However, it’s not always possible.
In his third book of a trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest, Stieg Larsson drops great gobs of technical information about the inner workings of various secret service groups in Sweden’s government. It’s at these paragraphs that my eyes glaze over and I skip forward anxious to read on about the characters instead. Which goes to show, not even best sellers get it right. But since his story is so compelling, the reader forgives him for his indulgences. But since I’m no Stieg Larsson, I’ll have to get it right and weave that extraneous but oh so important information seamlessly into my story. Even if it feels near nigh impossible.
