“Show and Tell: The Power of Exposition and Interiority” with Stacy Swann

There can be great power in vivid exposition, in delving into a character’s interiority; these are the things that can set fiction apart from other narrative art forms.

When it comes to writing fiction, the phrase “show don’t tell” is so common, most writers have internalized it. We live in a culture dominated by film and TV, and those mediums are defined by showing. (Who loves a voice over? No one!) But as in so many things, this type of black and white thinking has drawbacks.

There can be great power in vivid exposition, in delving into a character’s interiority; these are the things that can set fiction apart from other narrative art forms. Those craft elements can bring us inside the characters, showing their complex, subjective selves rather than keeping us outside, as passive viewers.

In this class, we will explore the ways that exposition and interiority can heighten the impact of our scenes and allow deeper access to voice. Students will come away with new techniques to explore and integrate into their own work.

TAKE THIS CLASS IF: 

You’d like to bring more interiority to your characters without sacrificing pacing.
You want to deepen your narrative voice.
You worry exposition is always boring.

The deadline to register for this class is Friday, September 22 at 5:00 PM CDT.