So, how do you write sci-fi or fantasy without info dumping and still build a rich, believable world? Buckle up, buttercup! Have I got some tips for you!

What is Info Dumping?

First, let’s call it out: Info dumping is when you shove a big chunk of background information at your reader all at once. It’s typically a long paragraph, awkward dialogue, or an opening prologue that feels more like a lecture than a hook. It’s the fastest way to lose your audience’s interest and cheat yourself out of that coveted five-star review.

Sprinkle, Don’t Pour

Think of your world-building like seasoning soup. Pour in the whole saltshaker and you’re going to ruin it! Sprinkle in just enough. Chef’s kiss! Reveal your world’s rules, history, and magic system naturally through action, dialogue, and character interactions. Show the king’s tyrannical rule through a rebellion in progress. Reveal alien tech by letting your hero use it. If you want to write sci-fi or fantasy that keeps readers turning pages, drip-feed your world-building.

Make Your Characters Curious

Use your characters as stand-ins for your readers. New recruit or rookie wizard? Perfect! Let them ask questions and get just enough answers to keep the plot moving. The reader learns alongside them, without needing a lecture from your omniscient narrator. This is my favorite method and one I used in my own book Crisis Evolution. This is what inspired me to have him wake up with no idea what was going on at the beginning of the book. Instead of the first chapter being nothing but dumping information at my readers, I had Alex wake up completely clueless as to what had taken place over the last thirty years.

Trust Your Reader

Your readers are clever. They don’t need to know every festival on your fictional planet or how the magical postal system works, unless it matters to the plot. Let them infer some details. If you keep them engaged, they’ll fill in the blanks with their imagination, and they’ll thank you for it.

Hide the Backstory in Plain Sight

Work your exposition into conflict, tension, and stakes. A barroom brawl reveals an ancient rivalry. A forbidden spell hints at a dark history. A spaceship’s design flaw triggers a disaster, revealing your tech level without needing pages of specs.

Edit, Edit, Edit, and Then Edit Some More

Info dumps love to sneak in on the first draft. They seem to feel safe there. They’re your notes to yourself, but they don’t all belong in your book. Be ruthless with your revisions. If it’s not moving the story forward or deepening character motivation, cut it. Or you can break it up and scatter it like breadcrumbs.

Good Sci-Fi and Fantasy Writing with No Dumping Allowed

Skipping out on the info dump doesn’t mean you skimp on the juicy details of your world. It just means you serve them in the right order, at the right time. Your world stays mysterious yet immersive, your pacing stays sharp, and your readers stay hungry for more.

Ready to Polish Your World-building?

Well, you’re in luck! I help sci-fi and fantasy authors craft stories that show, not tell, and keep readers spellbound from page one. Do you need an extra pair of eyes to hunt down those sneaky info dumps? Let’s chat! Your future readers will thank you!

Work with me!

Later Storytellers,
Summer, the Syntax Sorceress