tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post7148435617298426118..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: 6 Places Infodumps Like to Hide in Your NovelJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80542511173349353592021-03-17T15:43:20.719-04:002021-03-17T15:43:20.719-04:00Well, not necessarily. "She wore the red cock...Well, not necessarily. "She wore the red cocktail dress like a suit of armor" says a lot. But typically, yes, dumps of what they wore details can be problematic. But there are also genres (such as cozies) where that's normal and expected from readers. <br /><br />It's a red flag in most cases though. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-31296085491438487612021-03-17T15:40:42.467-04:002021-03-17T15:40:42.467-04:00Same here. It's allowed in first drafts :) Eve...Same here. It's allowed in first drafts :) Even second drafts. I do the same thing. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-27165339659773605132021-03-17T15:38:55.159-04:002021-03-17T15:38:55.159-04:00Thanks! With historical fiction, infodumps are mor...Thanks! With historical fiction, infodumps are more acceptable, because the history is a big part of why readers buy those books. You have a little more leeway there :) But the same "how to sneak it in" tricks apply.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-52933273325122056062021-03-17T10:53:54.406-04:002021-03-17T10:53:54.406-04:00Unless it's 'He wore their resolve down...Unless it's 'He wore their resolve down' etc. :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05595647256954321107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-41222816132894845132021-03-17T08:19:57.291-04:002021-03-17T08:19:57.291-04:00Two little words that scream amateur: "He wor...Two little words that scream amateur: "He wore..."Denise Channinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04072968845160514534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-4935124325340574602021-03-16T11:36:35.391-04:002021-03-16T11:36:35.391-04:00LINDSEY RUSSELL
This is why (with a few exceptio...LINDSEY RUSSELL<br /> <br />This is why (with a few exceptions) I don't like 'literary' novels. Too much description, too much navel contemplation, too much 'the main character thinks this way and so should you reader'. :)<br />Excellent post as usual. I'm knowingly guilty of this in the first draft because I need to know. Then hopefully all the OTT gets chopped out and character details get added to their bio file, place descriptions get sliced and diced to appear as a 'garnish' not an indigestible lump, :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05595647256954321107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61129857869056045462021-03-04T06:18:36.447-05:002021-03-04T06:18:36.447-05:00Most welcome! Most welcome! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20847982775787720722021-03-03T11:11:39.328-05:002021-03-03T11:11:39.328-05:00Thank you for this excellent help!! :)Thank you for this excellent help!! :)Amre Cortadinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09091553812011279485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12756426742491938482020-03-05T23:12:12.928-05:002020-03-05T23:12:12.928-05:00This is useful information, Janice. I write histor...This is useful information, Janice. I write historical fiction and info dumps are difficult to avoid, but I am getting better at them. robbiesinspirationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14223922032120195222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-18742078699232161242017-10-26T12:46:12.953-04:002017-10-26T12:46:12.953-04:00There's nothing wrong with having it in a firs...There's nothing wrong with having it in a first draft. It's just your brain working it all out on the page :) If you need to toss it in to figure it out and figure out the best place for that info to appear, that's totally okay. Just revise in a later draft :)<br /><br />I keep my backstory notes in a separate file (I use One Note), but I have a friend who often writes short stories about her characrer's backstories. Whatever works for you! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70914721538256919932017-10-17T20:59:32.953-04:002017-10-17T20:59:32.953-04:00I found myself guilty as charged, especially on th...I found myself guilty as charged, especially on the backstory stuff. I am finding it helpful if I keep bringing it up, perhaps I need to write the backstory as its own story or write out the info dump in its own file as an expanded note (just for myself to review) and get it out of my system.MJIhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10754651353282666431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-65663204300108081952015-03-06T11:12:37.066-05:002015-03-06T11:12:37.066-05:00Glad they're helping :) Good luck on your nove...Glad they're helping :) Good luck on your novel! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-14941413295907437432015-03-06T01:06:10.713-05:002015-03-06T01:06:10.713-05:00Thank you so much for all of these articles. I am ...Thank you so much for all of these articles. I am working on my first novel ever and this is wonderful!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-59242127386090395752014-07-17T13:41:21.242-04:002014-07-17T13:41:21.242-04:00Oh no, I'm so sorry. You should be able to jus...Oh no, I'm so sorry. You should be able to just comment without signing on. Not sure what happened there. I try to make it as easy as possible for folks to comment. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-63414462120462992362014-07-12T02:15:15.588-04:002014-07-12T02:15:15.588-04:00Argh, Janice! I just typed a comment and lost it d...Argh, Janice! I just typed a comment and lost it during the sign-on phase. Don't let people comment if they are going to lose what they type when they are stopped to sign on. So frustrating. Just lost everything I typed. *Sigh*Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14752361332288260099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20764262931820374772012-02-22T07:33:35.061-05:002012-02-22T07:33:35.061-05:00Chris, "I don't mind infodumps if they ar...Chris, "I don't mind infodumps if they are interesting" is totally the key to them. You nailed it. Sounds like you handle them well.<br /><br />L.B., that's so true. Time away really does allow you to gain perspective. <br /><br />Laura, lol no worries, we all do it :) That's what revisions are for.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39054652720188633552012-02-21T18:37:45.408-05:002012-02-21T18:37:45.408-05:00Oh no, I am so guilty of all of these...groan!!!Oh no, I am so guilty of all of these...groan!!!Laura W.http://lauraplusthevoices.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-74784121758622180632012-02-20T22:21:20.695-05:002012-02-20T22:21:20.695-05:00Embracing the InfoDump in a draft is great advice....Embracing the InfoDump in a draft is great advice. Writing whatever seems relevant at the moment during a draft is key, but more important is putting the draft away for a good long time before revising so you can see exactly what is and isn't relevant when revising.L.B. Galehttp://lbgale.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-70072640559595379632012-02-16T09:38:25.105-05:002012-02-16T09:38:25.105-05:00I try to work in bits and pieces of info dump into...I try to work in bits and pieces of info dump into a scene, if I feel it's necessary (like the back story of former lovers who meet at a later date). For example, when two exes meet after many years, the POV character might contrast what he/she looks like now compared to when they first met, or recall that first meeting, what was said, done, etc., then maybe recall the breakup scene and how he/she felt about that.<br /><br />All this would be sprinkled through the scene in one- or two- sentence thoughts or comments.<br /><br />But sometimes the best way to get necessary info into the story is to put it all into one paragraph and try to slide it into the most logical, unobtrusive place in the story. I don't mind info dumps if they are interesting, add to a character's development, and play some essential part in the why/what/how of the plot and the characters' reactions to the plot twists.Chrishttp://chitrader.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-79779624069072901422012-02-16T07:30:14.006-05:002012-02-16T07:30:14.006-05:00Natalie, fantasy has got to be the worst genre for...Natalie, fantasy has got to be the worst genre for this. There's just so much to get across.<br /><br />DavidNevin, sometimes you do write it for yourself, and that's okay for an early draft. A lot of times I'm not sure how something works until I figure it out on paper.<br /><br />Irishoma, crit groups are so handy to have :) I don't think anyone can spot everything in their own work. I know I can't!<br /><br />Matthew, one thing that helps me with that, is to look for those great hook lines at the end of a scene. They often make great breaks, and you then look for the next good line to start with and pick up the scene from there. And now you've given me an idea for a post about scene breaks, so thanks!<br /><br />Amelia, ooo rough, sorry to hear that. It really is hard to find that balance. Did your friend give you any specifics on what felt info-dumpy? That could help you figure out where to trim back and what needs to stay. You might also try looking at every spot where you did more than one or two lines of information. <br /><br />Angela, thanks!<br /><br />Sabrina, that's one of the problems with a "sectional" crit group. Though I think anything that slows the pacing down will likely show up regardless of how many pages you read at a time. If it belongs there it'll feel like it fits. (even if it's the word context! hehe)<br /><br />MK, good example. I also think first person is easier to slip info in since you're so close to the POV. <br /><br />Angela, hehe, dump hunting. I like that! Good luck :)<br /><br />Julie, anytime ;)<br /><br />Nancy, most welcome. This blog is a great reminder for myself, too. I pay so much more attention to what I do now than I did before I started blogging.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-14918033787412106852012-02-15T22:38:29.210-05:002012-02-15T22:38:29.210-05:00Great post, and always good to be reminded!Great post, and always good to be reminded!Nancy Lauzonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18394369257154940270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-55174175151015108532012-02-15T17:48:53.570-05:002012-02-15T17:48:53.570-05:00I've been SO guilty of doing this! Thanks for ...I've been SO guilty of doing this! Thanks for the tips :DJulie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-51783896096964887042012-02-15T16:00:03.084-05:002012-02-15T16:00:03.084-05:00Infodumps can be pretty sneaky. Thanks for this po...Infodumps can be pretty sneaky. Thanks for this post. Definitely going back to my WiP to do some "dump hunting".Angela Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324366495151363782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39116041343188726802012-02-15T13:47:50.113-05:002012-02-15T13:47:50.113-05:00Great post. I think The Hunger Games does this es...Great post. I think The Hunger Games does this especially well. Katniss tells us stuff about how the world works all the time, but it never feels like an infodump because it's critical to the plot at the moment, and we also get her emotions/opinions about it, so the infodump's multitasking. They're also brief and woven in.<br /><br />I usually end up on the "not enough info" side of things, so this is something I've been analyzing when I read.MKHutchinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07715686902529938959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-21282806706886228942012-02-15T12:19:42.603-05:002012-02-15T12:19:42.603-05:00And using "context" three times within t...And using "context" three times within two paragraphs is a good example of what critique groups are best at spotting, lol!Sabrina Alexandernoreply@blogger.com