Infodumping, and other SFF writer's lingo ?

[Sir Vivor]

Hi, as a newcomer I came across some terms in the forum that I'm not familiar with. Things like "infodumping".. can someone point me to a handy place where such terms are defined? BTW, Wikipedia doesn't have an entry for "infodumping"..

 

[Brian G Turner]

Infodumping = the author stopping the story a moment to explain something.

A few lines can be fine, but when it starts to run into multiple continuous pages - or even chapters! - then there's probably a problem.

 

[goldhawk]

Here is a glossary from SFWA.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

The Toolbox

The toolbox. Start at page one...

 

[Ursa major]

Start at page one...

Or even at Page one....

 

[Overread]

Info dumping is a bit like salt for flavouring in food. A little here and there in the right place is great, often essential. Poured all over the place spoils the experience.

So any book is going to have some degree of info dumping; fantasy and scifi often have a lot more than contemporary novels since the world itself has to be built up. Done right it fits into the story and feeds the readers inquisitive need to understand more about he story and the world and what is going on.

 

[tinkerdan]

Info-Dumping - Fiction Writer's Mentor

 

[millymollymo]

I didn't think infodumping was specific to SFF, having heard crime , historical and romance talk of it. Literary prefers the term "exposition".

 

[night_wrtr]

Here is a glossary from SFWA.

"Info dump. Another accurate term for an expository lump."

I've never heard it called an expository lump!

 

[Phyrebrat]

I've never heard it called an expository lump!

I think i had one of them removed in 1988.

Nasty things.

pH

 

[Overread]

I didn't think infodumping was specific to SFF, having heard crime , historical and romance talk of it. Literary prefers the term "exposition".

Any book will require info to be imparted to the reader through the story; and the more complex and detailed the story the more information it will have to convey to the reader. Thing is contemporary stories have the advantage of having more generally understood terminology and events. Fantasy and sci-fi however, often have many elements that require the reader to be informed above; even the most basic things like major religions are a huge unknown factor.
I think this is why it often comes up a bit more in writing that is more removed from modern life and influences. But its also why we get things like elves and dwarves being re-used over and over as generic races (esp in fantasy - sci fi tends to be a bit more open in race selection/design).

 

[Sir Vivor]

Thanks for your.. (gentle) infodumping.. on infodumping ;-)

 

[Venusian Broon]

BTW, Wikipedia doesn't have an entry for "infodumping"..

It does if you type 'info-dump', but the page is officially called 'Exposition (narrative)'. It is actually quite concise, short and to the point - something info-dumping tends not to be