infodump
Overwhelming information delivery
An infodump is a large quantity of background information delivered all at once, especially in fiction where exposition interrupts narrative flow: The second chapter was just an infodump about the planet's history.
The term is usually critical—good storytelling weaves information in gradually rather than dumping it.
Also used outside fiction for any overwhelming delivery of facts or context.
Character's past narrative
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- explanationStatement making something clear
- monologueUninterrupted solo address
narration · exposition · context · setup · prologue · flashback · voiceover · aside
Verifiable pieces of truth
- detailsSpecific pieces of information
- dataFacts for analysis
- statisticsCollected numerical information
- specificationsStated requirements and parameters
terminology · jargon · lore · history · mechanics · rules · technicalities · minutiae
Violent rushing flow
- delugeSevere overflow of water
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- avalancheRapid mountain snow collapse
- barrageSustained, overwhelming attack
firehose · onslaught · bombardment · saturation · glut · overload · inundation · profusion
Intensely excessive in force
- verboseMore words than necessary
- unloadingRemoving contents from carrier
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- overexplainingProviding unnecessary detail
longwinded · tedious · exhausting · relentless · droning · lecturing · unsolicited · unprompted
backstory
Character's past narrative
- worldbuildingConstructing imaginary universes for fiction
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
- explanationStatement making something clear
monologue · narration · exposition · context · setup · prologue · flashback · voiceover · aside · telling
facts
Verifiable pieces of truth
- detailsSpecific pieces of information
- dataFacts for analysis
- statisticsCollected numerical information
specifications · terminology · jargon · lore · history · mechanics · rules · technicalities · minutiae · trivia
torrent
Violent rushing flow
barrage · firehose · onslaught · bombardment · saturation · glut · overload · inundation · profusion · spew
overwhelming
Intensely excessive in force
- verboseMore words than necessary
- unloadingRemoving contents from carrier
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
overexplaining · longwinded · tedious · exhausting · relentless · droning · lecturing · unsolicited · unprompted · gratuitous
writing
Recorded language on surface
- storytellingRecounting events aloud
- pacingRate of movement
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
craft · revision · editing · critique · manuscript · draft · prose · scene · chapter · novel
- writingwriting, drafting, authors, author, books
- Neurodiversityautism spectrum, ASD, neurodivergence, neurotypical, spectrum
infodumpshow don't tell
Writing principle favoring demonstration
dramatization · drip-feed · implication · inference · subtext
infodumprestraint
Control over impulses
minimalism · withholding · understatement · ellipsis · implication
info, dump, information, inform, informant, informer, informed, informing, informative