Tag: Narrative Writing

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How to write backstory without infodumping

Mandy Webster

Infodumping in novel writing refers to the excessive and often clumsy presentation of background information, context, or details all at once, usually in a way that disrupts the narrative flow. This can happen when an author tries to convey too much information in one go, often through long passages of exposition or dialogue, making it feel overwhelming or tedious for the reader.

Imagine how overwhelming it would be to have all this information dumped on you at once!

Writing backstory without resorting to infodumping involves weaving the information seamlessly into the narrative. Here are some techniques to help you do that:

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What is backstory in novel writing?

Mandy Webster

Backstory in novel writing refers to the history and events that shape the characters, settings, and plot before the main narrative begins. It provides context and depth to the characters and can help explain their motivations, conflicts, and relationships.

Effective backstory is blended into the flow of the narrative, keeping the reader engaged while providing necessary context.

Here are some key aspects of backstory:

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What is exposition in fiction writing? Is it the same as “telling?”

Mandy Webster

In fiction writing, “telling” and “exposition” are related but not exactly the same thing. Telling refers to the technique of stating facts or emotions directly, rather than letting the reader infer them through actions, dialogue, or sensory details. For example, saying, “She was angry,” is telling, whereas showing might involve describing her clenched fists or sharp tone. Exposition, on the other hand, is the presentation of background information, context, or explanation necessary for the story, such as the history of a world, character backstory, or details about a situation.

Exposition can be used to describe a novel’s setting. How would you describe this setting?

Exposition can be done through either telling or showing. In short, telling is a technique, while exposition is a type of content. Exposition can sometimes involve “telling” when the writer needs to explain things quickly, but it can also be shown through more gradual revelations or interactions within the narrative.

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What’s the difference between showing and telling in novel writing? | Revise and Refine

Mandy Webster

If you’ve ever taken a creative writing course, you have probably been admonished at least once to “show, don’t tell.” But, what does that even mean? What’s the difference between showing and telling, and why does it matter?

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining: show me the glint of light on broken glass.”
–Anton Chekov

Showing and telling are two different ways of conveying information in creative writing. Telling refers to when the author simply tells the reader what is happening or what a character is feeling, without showing it through actions, dialogue, or description. For example, “Tessa was angry” is a statement that tells the reader how Tessa is feeling without showing any evidence of her anger.

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How to use dialogue tags in your novel | Revise and Refine

Mandy Webster

Dialogue tags in fiction are phrases or words used to indicate which character is speaking and how they are speaking. Although the most effective strategy for helping the reader identify who is speaking is to give each character a unique voice, using distinct vocabulary, speech patterns, and pacing, the fact is that dialogue tags cannot always be avoided. In such cases, it is important to understand what dialogue tags are and how to use them effectively to enhance reader experience.

Dialogue in novel writing is the written conversation that occurs between two or more characters in a story.

The most common dialogue tag is “said,” but tags can include other verbs like “asked,” “replied,” “whispered,” or “shouted.” These tags help clarify who is speaking and can add emotional or tonal context to the dialogue. For example:

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Why is dialogue important in novel writing? | Revise and Refine

Mandy Webster

Dialogue is a key element of novel writing. In narrative writing, dialogue refers to the written conversation between characters. It helps reveal character personalities, relationships, and emotions through their words and interactions. Dialogue also advances the plot by conveying information, conflicts, or key events in a natural way. It breaks up descriptive passages and provides a sense of realism and immediacy to the story. Well-crafted dialogue can also enhance the tone, mood, and pacing of the narrative.

Dialogue in novel writing is the written conversation that occurs between two or more characters in a story.

Dialogue typically involves two or more characters taking turns speaking to each other. It may be presented in direct speech, where the characters’ exact words are written within quotation marks, or in indirect speech, where the gist of the conversation is conveyed without the exact words being spoken. Dialogue can be used for a variety of purposes in narrative writing, which I have outline below:

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