21.27: The Expository Throttle

from Writing Excuses · host Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

How can exposition be used as a pacing tool, and not just a way to convey information? We attempt to answer this question on today’s episode! Our hosts discuss how exposition naturally slows a story down, creating space for readers to process events, build tension, and deepen their understanding of the world. We give specific examples for successful exposition (i.e. that won’t bore your reader). We also give you practical tools to add to your exposition toolkit– such as emotional context and POV—which can help your expository writing feel engaging instead of interruptive. Homework:Find a complicated recipe and write an expository description of preparing it. Use the exposition deliberately to frustrate or annoy the reader, paying attention to how pacing and information delivery create that emotional effect.WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here!Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.Join Our Writing Community! Writing RetreatsNewsletterPatreonInstagramThreadsBlueskyTikTokYouTubeFacebookOur Sponsors:* Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com* Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com* Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 5, 2026

What this episode covers

How can exposition be used as a pacing tool, and not just a way to convey information? We attempt to answer this question on today’s episode! Our hosts discuss how exposition naturally slows a story down, creating space for readers to process events, build tension, and deepen their understanding of the world. We give specific examples for successful exposition (i.e. that won’t bore your reader). We also give you practical tools to add to your exposition toolkit– such as emotional context and POV—which can help your expository writing feel engaging instead of interruptive. Homework: Find a complicated recipe and write an expository description of preparing it. Use the exposition deliberately to frustrate or annoy the reader, paying attention to how pacing and information delivery create that emotional effect. WAITLIST for our Final WXR Cruise! Our final WXR cruise is sold out, but you can join our waitlist here! Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Erin Roberts. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson. Join Our Writing Community! Writing Retreats Newsletter Patreon Instagram Threads Bluesky TikTok YouTube Facebook Our Sponsors: * Check out HomeServe and use my code homeserve.com/excuses for a great deal: https://www.homeserve.com * Check out MasterClass and use my code masterclass.com/EXCUSES for a great deal: https://MasterClass.com * Check out Talkiatry and use my code Talkiatry.com/WX for a great deal: https://www.talkiatry.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/writing-excuses2130/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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