|
|
|
|
|
| SFReader Forums > SFReader > Ask The Expert > Info Dump? | Forum Quick Jump
|
| 
Bill Ward
Biblioholic
      
Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 1718
| Posted 12/31/2007 11:48 PM (GMT -5) |   | I just think its how you handle it. Main thing is if I'm not interested in either the action of the story or the character yet, then I don't want infodump, ie. extended blocks of background narrative. When a reader is immersed in the events of the story, or cares about the character, interspersed background information goes smoothly and becomes interesting because they already have a hook into the story.
What I'd recommend is concentrate early on building an effective opening scene, and only add background information after all the elements you need to make that scene work are in place. Of course, some of the information for that scene might itself be considered 'background,' in which case put it in only if its essential.
When you think about the first part of your story in scene terms, rather than just something that leads up to the rest of your story or a place to park background info, then you can determine what is essential and unessential information. Once a reader forms a mental picture of an event in your story, a character, or world, he'll start to care about what happened off-camera--but until he has that picture he won't be interested in a history lesson.
Also, avoid whole paragraphs of background material. Such material can be snaked throughout the action of the story; ie.The protag walks down the street, sees something that triggers a thought, and reflects on a bit of background 'A.' Next para he meets someone, dialog is exchanged, and background 'B' is eluded to, and remark 'C' is tossed in that foreshadows its revelation later in the story. The protag walks off, internal monologue further elaborates point 'B,' next paragraph rain forces him to shelter in an architectural marvel that gives the writer a chance to stick in a mention of background 'A' again, in just one line, and all the while protag is still mulling over point 'B' in his mind with another few lines of internal monologue. So, you have plot, character, and action in a scene that also gives background information in easily digested and natural bits.
Too many writers want to give you their background like an encyclopedia entry in paragraph 2--but nobody picks up a story to read an encyclopedia.
As far as 'telling vs showing' goes ignore it unless you know something about the editor giving you that advice, it means everything from exactly what you think it means to 'I don't like the story and don't know what to say,' and too many editors get 'woods for the trees' sickness when they start fine-combing a piece and think they see a TvsS problem where one doesn't really exist. Just work on scene building, and the exact proportions of TvsS don't matter when the ed becomes legitimately interested enough in the story you are telling to forget to get out his microscope.
Oh yea, and mods, how 'bout popping this in the writing forum?
billwardwriter.com | | Back to Top | | |
 | 27 posts in this thread.
Viewing Page : 1 2 |
| Forum Information | Currently it is Friday, November 21, 2008 1:53 AM (GMT -5)
There are a total of 84,603 posts in 6,892 threads.
In the last 3 days there were 14 new threads and 212 reply posts. View Active Threads
| | Who's Online | This forum has 1307 registered members. Please welcome our newest member, David Cohen.
10 Guest(s), 0 Registered Member(s) are currently online. Details
|
Forum powered by dotNetBB v2.42EC SP2
dotNetBB © 2000-2008
(c) SFReader |
|
|
|