Field Guide to Infodumps

An infodump is the literary term for a moment where information is “dumped” on the reader in one big block. Infodumps are a mark of an amateur writer, who either doesn’t know of any better ways to impart information, or has done too much worldbuilding for his own good and is itching to share his detailed descriptions of his world’s economics, religions, cultures, governments, and geography.

There are many species of infodump, each with their own habitat and personality. Some are more dangerous than others, and all are safest to approach when small.

Infodumpus worldbuildicus: “Just because you can imagine it, doesn’t mean anyone else cares.” – my mother.

Let’s say you’re super proud of all the worldbuilding you’ve done. You’ve mapped out everything—the culture, the economy, the government, all the way down to the ocean currents around Chiptooth Bay to the intricacies of the inheritance system.

Just remember. Your story is not going to need all of it. If inheritance has nothing to do with the story, you won't need to explain the inheritance system. You may feel compelled to include it all to show the world all you've done, but all it will do is annoy most readers. Useless details like that just bog down the story and disrupt the flow.

Why should you harp on about how the far-off country of Ilneri is a major exporter of the metal elemite, if no one ever visits Ilneri, there are no characters from Ilneri, and elemite never plays a role in the story? While you can certainly mention it (maybe one character is a sailor who went to Ilneri once and has a story to tell about it), don't spend too much time on it, and don't expect the readers to remember it 100 pages later.

Infodumpus asyunobobicus: You may have heard the phrase, “As you know, Bob…” before in relation to writing. An AYKB moment is when two characters (usually either the viewpoint character and one other or two other characters that the viewpoint character eavesdrops on) talk about something that they both already know, so as to impart the information to the viewpoint character and/or the reader. Think of another way to tell the reader what the character’s title means. If it’s first person, have the character just plain out say it. If it isn’t, show us what his title means. If it has something to do with magic, have him demonstrate his powers. If it’s a title of rank, show him commanding those below him.

In the case of the conversation that the viewpoint character eavesdrops on, have a good reason as to why one would be telling the other something that he or she already knows (or telling them at all), especially if it is sensitive information. Wouldn’t they search the room before talking?

Infodumpus beginnus: These guys show up near the beginning of stories, and often explain backstory, most of which is really not relevant to the story at the present. Try to slip in the information only as it becomes relevant.

And the most dreaded of all… infodumpus prologuicus: The most feared and dangerous infodump of all. Even the hardiest readers struggle to survive such an encounter (and by “survive such an encounter”, I mean “not throw the book out the window in disgust”). These infodumps take the form of a prologue with no action, and very little (if any) dialogue and character development. Like I. beginnus, their more benign cousin, they often explain backstory, often having to do with how the Dark Lord rose to power and how some illiterate farmboy is the one some ancient piece of rhyming words says can defeat him.

Sometimes, infodumps are necessary evils, and when they are, tread carefully. Keep them short and sweet. If possible, spread the information out and drop more exciting bits in between. Don’t loose one starving and rabid on your readers.