info dumping character?

[Remedian]

where do you draw the line of info dumping for a character whose main characteristics is info dumping

 

[pmmg]

I try not to infodump ever. What do you mean its his main characteristic?

 

[Remedian]

I try not to infodump ever. What do you mean its his main characteristic?

errm like hes a know it all type thing and just loves yapping. i should just kill this guy i think

 

[pmmg]

If thats the character then write him true. Kill them if the story calls for it and there is a meaningful reason to do so. Milk him for all the value he can give.

 

[Prince of Spires]

As with everything writing, all the lines I draw are in the sand... There's always an exception or a situation where stuff is different. Like Goldie, I'd say to just write him true. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.

sorry, couldn't resist...

There are plenty of characters who know everything. They're the typical mentor figure. Important to note about them is that they tend to follow 2 patterns. The first is that they tend to be secretive and are almost never a viewpoint character. Gandalf may know everything, but he's not telling it unless there's no other way round it. They're very secretive. And we never see the world through his eyes. And the second is that they tend to not be present at the climax of the story (they have an unfortunate habbit of dying before they get there...). See Obi-Wan Kenobi.

 

[skip.knox]

I have a character who is not a know-it-all, but he is a knows-much. He's voluble, tends to wander a bit, falls readily into lecture mode. I also have at least a couple of characters who are pragmatic, get-it-done types, and they regularly cut this fellow off and tell him to get to the point. The thing is, the stuff he knows is or can be invaluable to the group, so they don't dump him. But they do have to put up with him. Tolerate but moderate, is Val's (MC) approach.

I have also made this character unexpectedly brave. Always be on the lookout for reasonable ways to surprise the reader with your characters.

As a postscript, I have to say that characterizing a character as "info dumping character" feels very unfair to the character. It's not how I would ... er, characterize ... a ... um, character that I cared about. This isn't a character it's just a placeholder or an initial idea of a character. I would encourage you to engage more with this character and see if you cannot find ways to care about him.

 

[AlexS]

where do you draw the line of info dumping for a character whose main characteristics is info dumping

I don't like creating characters whose main purpose is to GIVE information, but I like to create characters whose main purpose is to RECEIVE information. For example, if a group of experienced soldiers goes on a mission, I like to add one rookie to the team. In addition to creating experienced-vs-inexperienced conflict, you can have the experienced soldiers explain stuff to the rookie, naturally and in character.

 

[pmmg]

I feel it should be mentioned that characters (or ppl) who know it all may not actually know it all. But that wont stop them from talking.

Hmmm… should i mention one of my sisters…

 

[Prince of Spires]

I don't like creating characters whose main purpose is to GIVE information, but I like to create characters whose main purpose is to RECEIVE information. For example, if a group of experienced soldiers goes on a mission, I like to add one rookie to the team. In addition to creating experienced-vs-inexperienced conflict, you can have the experienced soldiers explain stuff to the rookie, naturally and in character.

Harry Potter actually is this. A character who knows nothing of the wizarding world and constantly has everything explained to him (for 7 whole book, the kid doesn't learn anything)...

It's an easy way to explain stuff to the reader in a way that feels natural.

 

[Kassandra]

If this is how their personality is, then simply stay true to that character and portray them as is. You can, of course, have other characters cut them off because they already know X and Y and can't keep up with listening to a broken record.

 

[PinkerPunk]

errm like hes a know it all type thing and just loves yapping. i should just kill this guy i think

I think info-dumping characters can be fun to have in a book, especially if they ARE right but the other characters are so annoyed with them they stop listening (cut them off or interrupt the monologue). If you don't want humor in the story, though, you'd need to execute it in a way that's not funny.