Backstory or Awkward Info Dump?: Writing Workshop

Backstory of Info Dump?

Description: Exposition provides essential background information about a character, creating context to increase a reader's emotional engagement. But writers can struggle between including necessary background information and keeping readers engaged in the present action of the storyline. Too little context and readers become lost. Too much backstory—inserted clumsily or at the wrong time—can lead to the dreaded info dump, an unnatural passage that breaks the flow of the story.

Join Developmental Editor Christine Pinto for a discussion of  how to integrate necessary backstory seamlessly at the exact moment that readers need it while keeping them deeply engaged in the overall story. We’ll discuss what readers really need to know and when, how to handle flashbacks, and how character development, world building, and summaries can be used to keep readers informed. 

Christine Pinto:As a developmental editor, Christine draws on her experience as a fiction writer and writing instructor. She is the author of Klahowya: A Fort Nisqually Book in Chinook Wawa and English and holds a Certificate in Writing for Children and a Certificate in Editing from the University of Washington. Over a decade of experience teaching writing to children and adults, she has gained a deep understanding of the craft of writing and strong communication skills for sharing that knowledge with writers. Christine’s own journey as a writer informs her editing work with deep empathy for writers preparing a manuscript for publication. Her interests include historical and contemporary fiction, memoir, romance, fantasy, nonfiction, technical writing, business writing, and writing for children.

Accessibility: Live, auto-transcription will be available. For ASL interpretation or other accommodation requests, please email andrea@allegoryediting.com

This event will be recorded.