Info-Dumps in Fiction Writing

Two weeks ago, my friend sent me a book, saying she loved how the author constructed an immersive world rife with class conflict. Grateful for the recommendation, I started reading and was quickly surprised by the author’s choice to rely heavily on info-dumps.

What are info-dumps?

Info-dumps are one way to give a reader information in a story, such as a description of a place or a character, to tell a backstory, or to explain some lore. They occur in large chunks, taking up several paragraphs or even pages at a time. And despite their length, info-dumps are often quicker than other methods for revealing complex information. 

Stereotypically, authors info-dump at the beginning of a story or a scene to set it up, but it can be added anywhere. 

They’re known as info-dumps because a lot of information is explained to the reader all at once, kind of like a dump truck pulled up and dropped it all on you. For example, an author could start their novel by using the first several pages to explain the class structure of a dystopian society and how it works. They could immediately delve into the intricacies of their world’s magic system or provide a lengthy description of their world’s layout. Regardless of what they say, the point is that the author is telling the reader information instead of showing their character engaging in some sort of action.

Examples of info-dumps

A well-known example from pop culture would be the intros in the Star Wars movies. A lot of information comes to the audience before any action takes place. Another one happens in Jurassic Park when the scientists watch a video explaining how dinosaurs were created. Both examples show breaks where no action is taking place, and instead, a lot of information is being given to the viewer.

Let’s look at another quick example.

I knew it was him the instant he came around the corner. Pierre looked regal, like his father had before Lord Drafon’s rise.

Drafon always hated King Parli, even when we were boys. Back then, Drafon’s family were merchants, trading in goods from across the western seas, mostly spices and fine fabrics. They had a fleet of ships at their disposal and contracts with a few privateers. Drafon’s family had wealth, but not the prestige that came with a title…

This example is rather short as far as info-dumps go. (Remember, they can go on for pages.) But hopefully, it helps get the point across. The first two sentences aren't part of the info-dump. Action is happening. But then, the tone shifts, and the author begins a history lesson on Drafon’s family. The information could be important for the story, but adding it into this scene might not be the best place because it interrupts the action. And if in the end, Drafon’s rise has nothing to do with his hatred for King Parli, then it could be unnecessary. 

Are info-dumps bad?

If you ask the writing community, they’ll largely say yes. They call them lazy, disruptive to the story’s pacing and accessibility. Some say it’s an easy way to lose your reader’s attention (or never capture it in the first place).

That being said, it’s a choice, one of many we make as we craft our stories. 

From the pop culture examples, you might think they sound fine, and they can be. Numerous works use them to their advantage, explaining aspects of fictional worlds in great detail. Descriptions can be engaging, even beautiful, but they can also be giant chunks of superfluous information that interfere with, rather than enhance the story.

At the beginning of this post, I told you my friend sent me a book she loved that was also full of info-dumps. I asked her about them, and she honestly didn’t find them distracting. She liked the side stories and extra details. The book in question has a 4-star rating on Goodreads, and it received a reader’s choice award nomination.

So, are info-dumps bad? I guess it depends on who you ask.

Personally, I don’t hate all info-dumps. The Lord of the Rings and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy both contain lots of them, and I still cherish those stories. They were written by some of the most beloved fantasy authors of all time.

But what about the rest of us? Can regular writers pull off info-dumps?

I think a few info-dumps across an entire novel are fine, but the one I’m reading has several every single chapter. Their length, combined with their frequency, ends up very distracting for me. Many of the details included are unnecessary. And worst of all, they make the story feel bogged down, messy, and slow.

One second, the main character is running to fight someone, and the next, the author explains some obscure facet of the setting, then we’re running to the fight until we stop again. The connection between ideas is tangential at best. And in many cases, the most important details could easily be woven into the story at other points more naturally.

Wait. So, some info-dumps are bad, but others are good. YES! Most stories come to moments where an info-dump enhances the story, be it a detailed description of the princess’s dream ball gown or the intricacies of a particular magic system. The trick is to find those places and use info-dumps to add depth and richness to your novel without going overboard. As you write, be aware of how frequently you’re using them and only describe things that truly benefit from the extra attention. Make sure your big blocks of explanation are engaging and don’t occur in the middle of the action. At the same time, don’t overuse them. Like all writing rules, there aren’t absolutes. You don’t need to ban the info-dump, but you should pay attention to how you use them, taking care to construct and deploy them thoughtfully.

And in the end, remember writing is art. You don’t have to play by anyone else’s rules. Trust yourself and do what feels right to you.