Noting I’m an aspiring author, not published, and started writing for myself at the age of 13, but I want to share it now. This is going to be an infodump in itself for background and details… Virtually all writing guides say to avoid info-dumping and most say the same thing about how to fix it if not avoid, but I’m struggling and just want to talk it out here… A bit of background on the books- I’ve been working on a set of scifi novels for over a decade (with breaks due to life) and it’s quite a busy story- lots of happenings among multiple races of people with the expected tech, but with heavy emphasis on immersive characters with deep development and relationships, all in a fleshed-out galaxy with factions, governments, and struggles of such. Pretty standard scifi stuff- that’s all defined before I run into my troubles…
At one point around 400 pages, tramatic events happen to group A: the 6 or so people the audience has come to know. After events, group A is “saved” by new characters in group B. These two groups have never met (one side knew of the other) but their situations in the prior 400 pages heavily impact each other. The reader doesn’t know group B exists either.
I now have 24 [Libre office doc] pages of 14 people sitting around a table, talking- is this an “info dump”, or is it just a really long spot of dialogue (that I still need to trim/move parts of regardless)? They discuss: -coming to terms with a character’s past -group A inquiring on the motives of group B with suspicion -group A learning that group B was the reason why events happened the way they did before this( this is quite a few pages by itself, somewhat suspensful with personal connections) -Group B formally and dramatically asking for group A’s help -group A breaking to talk shortly amongst themselves and agree to trust and work with group B -Group B asking for information they know group A has; they decide to share limited info -a check on the next objective that group A had planned out since page 100 -a tiny bit of planning for next objective -technical jargon (1 page max)
I’m questioning if this is an info dump or not because it doesn’t seem to tick the boxes: It’s 90% dialogue that is all relevent to the plot and characters: it explains or adds on to things that the audience saw happen, but didn’t understand why it did (and they and group A wouldn’t be able to know if not told) and heavily impacted or explained the story prior (coincidences), character interactions and a bit of development… it’s not worldbuilding, backstory, or inner or outer monologues (I’ve completely avoided “as you know, Bob”).
Why I’m on the fence: A lot happens in the 400 pages prior but I have no other deep info dumps. It’s just 14 people bascially getting to know and understand each other, and get up to speed on how they’re going to work together to save the galaxy (this is what makes me think it IS an infodump; it explains what has already happened but from a different POV, and will help the reader understand a little better as we move on- conspiracy stuff yay).
I still feel 24 pages is just too long for a meeting and it’s a dump no matter, but what do you all feel I might be able to cut from the above list? Any general thoughts on info dumps or dialogue? Any feedback in general? I really like writing and need critiques since I’m becoming adamant to publish.
I’m not exactly an expert writer, so please take this with a huge grain of salt, but I think the “no info-dump” rule applies more in the “show, don’t tell” sense more than in the “all action, no dialogue” sense.
Having said that, 14 pages of all talking sounds like a lot if there’s nothing happening. If the plot is still progressing, dialogue can still be quite engaging (see Community’s “Cooperative Polygraphy” for a great example of an all-dialogue episode that is engaging and keeps the plot moving).
Without reading the whole book, it’s hard for Internet strangers to give good advice on this, so all I can suggest you stay objective and really look at if your 14-page conversation is still engaging and keeps everything moving.
I would also advise checking with the Writing community on Beehaw ([email protected]) for more advice.
I really unloaded so I apprciate your time. I’m still real new to Beehaw too, so on to your links and finding if there’s a good way to link this over to !writing, ha.