Hi fellow readers, writers, and friends!
When you're writing a manuscript, you do A LOT of research. There's research to make sure you're crafting a believable story (since mine's set under the ocean, I went deep—pun intended). There's research on following all the rules of writing so readers don't immediately clock you as a first-timer.
I had an "Oops" moment when I stumbled across the term
"info dumping."
Info dumping is when a writer throws way too much information at you in lengthy paragraphs about... well, anything. World-building, backstory, character details—you name it. These dragging passages bore readers and kill your pacing.
So what did I do? I went back to my manuscript and started reading each chapter with fresh eyes. And sure enough, my manuscript was
infested with info dumps. Time to put on my exterminator hat and get to work.
Here's how I tackled it:
1. Identify the Problem
This can be tricky for a new writer. I took a first pass through each chapter and flagged all my info dumping by highlighting it in yellow. Turns out, I had two major dumping grounds: worldbuilding and backstory. (Character descriptions, too. We'll get to that.)
2. Be Selective
Now that I'd identified the problem areas, I had to decide what was actually essential. I asked myself:
- Is this critical to the plot right now?
- Is it setting up something that's coming later?
- Is it an Easter egg? (I love sprinkling clues for detective-minded readers to pick up on.)
I couldn't keep it all. So I had to ruthlessly cut what didn't serve the story in that moment.
3. Blend It In
This is where the magic happens. You don't have to give up information—you just have to weave it in naturally. Instead of dumping a massive chunk of exposition on the page, sprinkle details throughout the book. Readers are smart. They'll figure it out and use their imagination to fill in the gaps.
Here's how I blended:
Example 1: Character Descriptions
I thought I had to describe my protagonist all up front. Big newbie mistake. (A trap so many of us fall into.) I had to cut it all from the beginning.
Instead, I flagged areas where it felt natural to layer in descriptive elements throughout the first five chapters. And I did it through Vander's
actions and
dialogue—not just a static paragraph listing his hair color and build. That way, readers get bits and pieces and can start building his image in their minds as the story unfolds.
Example 2: World-building
Since my world is underwater, I built A LOT. And explained A LOT. I wanted it to feel believable and magical. But it slowed the pacing and felt jarring.
I realized I was treating my readers like children who needed everything spelled out. But my audience is new adults—they'll figure it out and appreciate the journey as it all comes together. I don't need to explain every single detail about why this world works. I just need to give them enough to build a mental picture and let their imagination do the rest.
This was probably my heaviest revision area. (I'm sure my developmental editor will find more.)
I worked on blending world-building into the story as characters travel, fight, talk, and interact. Sometimes a character shares information through dialogue (if it's important!). Most of the time, the world interacts with the characters. Like if they're swimming through a coral reef, I'll sprinkle in marine life reacting to their approach—or have the fish actually interact with the character instead of just sitting in Vander's head while he describes everything he sees.
Example 3: Backstory
In one of
my earlier posts, I mentioned that my beta readers asked for more backstory. Boy, did I give it to them. Way too much. All at once. Especially in my prologue.
Backstory is essential for setting the stage—helping readers understand "how we got here." But it can bog down the story and feel out of place if dumped all at once.
So again, I blended backstory throughout the book using the same techniques I used for world-building and character descriptions. Take Vander, for instance. Rather than dumping a lengthy explanation about how he became an addict, I created a whole chapter where the reader is trapped in his night terror. It's an action-packed dream sequence that reveals a pivotal moment in his life—the tipping point that pushed him to numb his feelings with Nullex.
Other techniques for blending backstory:
- Dialogue (as long as it feels natural, not forced... and not lengthy)
- Memories (a character has a daydream or something triggers a flashback)
- World-building (Instead of just telling readers "after The Undoing, the ice caps melted and flooded the coastal land," I modified a chapter where the characters explore a drowned city. This created rich world-building, and readers can put two and two together to figure that the sea level rose.)
Disclaimer: I'm not recommending you add chapters to fix info dumping. Only add a chapter if it helps the story's plot and pacing. I was always going to have that drowned city chapter—I just modified the worldbuilding elements within it. The last thing I want is for a reader to think,
Well, that was a useless chapter.
My story now reads at the pace I want—fast and action-packed. Now it's time to bring in a developmental editor to catch what I missed. (I'm way too close to it at this point.)
Stay creative, stay hyped, and don't take a dump (in writing!).
Morgan
