Incluing/Infodumping
The following is an example of infodumping : For ten years the two planets had been at war. Thousands had died in battles to control the trade routes between the stars. The following is an example of incluing : “Just how old is this?” the Starship Captain asked, biting into the ration. “At least ten years. I had it before we went to war.” “You would think one of these cargo ships we’re protecting would carry some decent food.” In info dumping we quickly get to the point and give the reader the information she needs. In incluing we take that same information and spread it out across several pages or even chapters with the goal of giving the reader the information without telling the reader we’re giving him background information. Both approaches have their place, but incluing is typically a better approach. Readers tend to skip infodumps unless they are very short and they don’t take the time to remember the details we would like for them to remember. The reader is much more likely t...