InfoDump
What is infodump?
If you read about my previous post about exposition, I mentioned about infodump. Infodump according to dictionary, means:
Dictionary.com
“A large quantity of backstory, or background information, supplied at once, often as a narrative at the beginning of a story, film, etc.:The first eight pages are heavy with an infodump about Harry’s childhood in Iceland.“
The trap which a lot of new writers fell into. And even experienced writers (occasionally) as writers worried that not enough information are given to readers for them to connect the dots. It will cause:
Reader Disengagement: Overwhelming readers with excessive information can lead to boredom and detachment from your story.Pacing Interruption: Infodumps disrupt the flow, stalling the narrative’s natural rhythm and momentum.Show vs. Tell Loss: By spoon-feeding details, you rob readers of the joy of discovering information through character actions and interactions.Emotional Disconnect: Readers may struggle to connect emotionally with characters and events if buried under an avalanche of facts.Lost Intrigue: Info overload can prematurely reveal plot twists or mysteries, robbing the story of its captivating allure.Difficulty Retaining: A surplus of details makes it harder for readers to remember and appreciate the story’s vital elements.I know that, infodumping is a hard habit to break, but if it’s not corrected in time, it will make your writing uninteresting to read and slowly readers will dwindle and leave.
Compare below.
Example, long paragraphs explaining about how the character wakes up and began his day; padding into the bathroom, he reached for his toothbrush and squeezed minty toothpaste onto its bristles. The rhythmic swish of water filled the room as he brushed away the remnants of sleep, using XX brand of hair gel to fix his hair. He then proceed to choose a yellow shirt to start his day.
Does it sounds boring?
Without meaning then it will become something of an infodump. Thus, instead of describing what he does, it would be better to give meaning into his actions.
How he selects color of this clothes – his personality through his choice of clothing. Eg. he wears yellow or bright colors all the time, to showcase his cheerful character or he wears a badge that represent his perfect attendance at school, always fixing his collar – show that he neat, tidy or a control freak and etc. Input some character history, background into the mix, e.g. he likes to part his hair to the side, like how his deceased mother used to do it for him. Then it wouldn’t be so bland while giving sufficient information of how the characters starts his day while still keeping it interesting.
Use different expositions to relay information more naturally without giving away too much.
Flag out length episodes. You know something is wrong when your paragraphs are too long.
Use show instead of tell and those exposition methods to try to reduce infodumping.
Ask questions whether;
Is this necessary for the plot/character progression?Will the readers able to understand without this?Is this information essential at this moment?Is this too long? Should you cut it down into smaller portions?Will it disrupt the pace?Source:
https://thewritepractice.com/what-is-infodumping-and-how-can-you-avoid-it/
