Comments on: Delivering World Backstory http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/ Infinite Possibilities Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:10:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: textiplication.com » Backstory http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/comment-page-1/#comment-449 textiplication.com » Backstory Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:20:23 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/#comment-449 [...] Quantum Storytelling has a great post debating  how to deliver backstory for an unfamiliar world without doing an infodump.   Subscribed. [...] [...] Quantum Storytelling has a great post debating  how to deliver backstory for an unfamiliar world without doing an infodump.   Subscribed. [...]

]]> By: Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Linktopia, Jeffersons Edition http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Writer Unboxed » Blog Archive » Linktopia, Jeffersons Edition Tue, 12 Sep 2006 02:55:23 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/#comment-435 [...] The discovery of another new blog, I Should be Writing (h/t Memetherapy). I like this author’s fatalism. It neatly parallels my own . . . also check out Indexed. This blog is hilarious . . . Nienke’s blog is also sporting a new look . . . . the new writer’s horoscopes are up at Publisher’s Marketplace. Something about an eclipse and sacrific and loss. Good thing my forecast never comes true . . . . Eric wrestles with the writer’s eternal dilemma–how to get the backstory across without an info dump . . . there’s a contest over at Crime Fiction Dossier to win Gregg Hurwitz’s latest release, LAST SHOT . . . [...] [...] The discovery of another new blog, I Should be Writing (h/t Memetherapy). I like this author’s fatalism. It neatly parallels my own . . . also check out Indexed. This blog is hilarious . . . Nienke’s blog is also sporting a new look . . . . the new writer’s horoscopes are up at Publisher’s Marketplace. Something about an eclipse and sacrific and loss. Good thing my forecast never comes true . . . . Eric wrestles with the writer’s eternal dilemma–how to get the backstory across without an info dump . . . there’s a contest over at Crime Fiction Dossier to win Gregg Hurwitz’s latest release, LAST SHOT . . . [...]

]]> By: Eric http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/comment-page-1/#comment-409 Eric Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:13:42 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/#comment-409 Some interesting comments here. Thanks! I think one aspect that's made this difficult for me is I'm still very much working in story/plot refinement mode, and this 'subtle blending' of micro infodumps throughout the story occurs more at the language level... or where the writing actually takes place. I'm getting very close to that point, but not quite there yet. Glad I asked this before I had already rewritten the thing. Some interesting comments here. Thanks!

I think one aspect that’s made this difficult for me is I’m still very much working in story/plot refinement mode, and this ‘subtle blending’ of micro infodumps throughout the story occurs more at the language level… or where the writing actually takes place.

I’m getting very close to that point, but not quite there yet. Glad I asked this before I had already rewritten the thing.

]]> By: Eliza http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/comment-page-1/#comment-387 Eliza Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:55:03 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/#comment-387 I understand this struggle a lot. I think SF/F and historicals have a lot in common because of this. I usually read stories set somewhere between 1700 and now, and when I pick up something that's pre-French Revolution (the exception being Colonial American) I feel entirely out of my element. The world has to be built, and I have to be educated, or else I'm just sifting through, looking for character and plot. Although my WIP is historical, it has a lot of background--so much that the background will probably be another book entirely. Still, this background is central to the plot of the story. I've chosen to weave. Yeah, I'm no help here--I'm afraid it's just trial and error. Here's hoping we write good enough stories and an agent'll be happy, even if he wants that changes. ;-) I understand this struggle a lot. I think SF/F and historicals have a lot in common because of this. I usually read stories set somewhere between 1700 and now, and when I pick up something that’s pre-French Revolution (the exception being Colonial American) I feel entirely out of my element. The world has to be built, and I have to be educated, or else I’m just sifting through, looking for character and plot.

Although my WIP is historical, it has a lot of background–so much that the background will probably be another book entirely. Still, this background is central to the plot of the story. I’ve chosen to weave.

Yeah, I’m no help here–I’m afraid it’s just trial and error. Here’s hoping we write good enough stories and an agent’ll be happy, even if he wants that changes. ;-)

]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Kathleen Bolton Wed, 06 Sep 2006 22:26:12 +0000 http://www.redchurch.com/quantum/2006/09/01/delivering-world-backstory/#comment-378 Dribble it in. It's harder, but even a dialogue info dump is still an info dump. That's why I like to write in first person. The narrator can get the info across and I can still build the character. Also, I've learned only to give the most crucial info in the beginning, just enough to keep the reader grounded. The rest can wait until you're done setting up the stakes and giving the reader a handle on the main protagonist. Aren't you glad you asked? :-) Dribble it in. It’s harder, but even a dialogue info dump is still an info dump. That’s why I like to write in first person. The narrator can get the info across and I can still build the character. Also, I’ve learned only to give the most crucial info in the beginning, just enough to keep the reader grounded. The rest can wait until you’re done setting up the stakes and giving the reader a handle on the main protagonist.

Aren’t you glad you asked? :-)

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