tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3798129571242557592.post7144515345970777419..comments2023-10-17T03:57:52.371-05:00Comments on In the words of Tom: World-Building and the InfodumpTom Doolanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03451129317759266295noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3798129571242557592.post-81946533241705595832016-02-22T13:04:41.478-06:002016-02-22T13:04:41.478-06:00Some things you can potentially do. For one, those...Some things you can potentially do. For one, those really big novels have multiple characters or groups of characters, and each may see the world in a different way. As you develop the different characters you naturally develop them within the world they live in, so that expands your world building.<br /><br />Two, I think info dumps are OK as long as they are kept to short manageable lengths, 2 to 3 lines at a time, intermixed with dialogue, action etc. I think in both SF and fantasy you really have to do this to get everything in. <br /><br />Three, potentially, you can have an appendix at the end of a book which has more details and readers who are interested can look this kind of thing up as they go to enrich their experience. Readers who don't care about that stuff don't have to be troubled by it. <br /><br />Four, one way I got around it in the Talera books is by having the main character being an outsider to the world who had to have many things explained to him and asked many questions. <br />Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3798129571242557592.post-952720729447005552016-02-20T13:34:10.678-06:002016-02-20T13:34:10.678-06:00I am not a writer but I have often dreamed of bein...I am not a writer but I have often dreamed of being one. The first thing that came to mind is to give the main character a companion. Maybe not at the beginning but at some point. That companion could describe what they see or give their point of view which would allow to expand in more or other detail.<br /><br />The other thought is to have someone else tell the story based on what they saw or passed down like legend.<br /><br />Another thought is to give the main character alter ego that describes what they see or another persona that takes over and describes or explains more of what's going on. <br /><br />If your story takes place in the woods then go out into nature while writing to get inspiration. Take what you see, hear and smell and incorporate it into the story. Change it and adapt it to what is going on in your world. Go to a pub or bar and watch and observe people and adapt what you see to your world.<br /><br />Volunteer to read to children and ask them questions about the story to get inspiration from them.<br /><br />Co-write, let someone else add the fluff. <br /><br />Just some thoughts, I'm no writer but I hope it helps. - Shane<br /><br />Shane O. Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433121016750857544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3798129571242557592.post-20591819400406247962016-02-20T13:33:00.789-06:002016-02-20T13:33:00.789-06:00I am not a writer but I have often dreamed of bein...I am not a writer but I have often dreamed of being one. The first thing that came to mind is to give the main character a companion. Maybe not at the beginning but at some point. That companion could describe what they see or give their point of view which would allow to expand in more or other detail.<br /><br />The other thought is to have someone else tell the story based on what they saw or passed down like legend.<br /><br />Another thought is to give the main character alter ego that describes what they see or another persona that takes over and describes or explains more of what's going on. <br /><br />If your story takes place in the woods then go out into nature while writing to get inspiration. Take what you see, hear and smell and incorporate it into the story. Change it and adapt it to what is going on in your world. Go to a pub or bar and watch and observe people and adapt what you see to your world.<br /><br />Volunteer to read to children and ask them questions about the story to get inspiration from them.<br /><br />Co-write, let someone else add the fluff. <br /><br />Just some thoughts, I'm no writer but I hope it helps. - Shane<br /><br />Shane O. Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05433121016750857544noreply@blogger.com