I need to explain some backstory to the reader. Here's how I've planned the story so far.
1. Enar (my MC) is caught up in a heated argument between two side characters.
2. Rolf (another side character not involved in the argument) tells Enar he'll explain what happened later and to not talk about it to anyone.
3. The rest of the day passes
4. Evening comes and Rolf explains to Enar what happened.
The explanation includes the reason for the argument, but it also serves to explain something of the backstory of another character that has not yet been introduced (only glimpsed). The explanation of the backstory also includes a bit of information about another side character (Beired, Rolf's wife) and about some of the different aspects of Anfylk religion.
By putting the info dump in the form of a conversation I would also get the option to develop the characters involved in the conversation a little bit extra (Rolf, Enar and Rolf's daughter Linnea). The way I'm doing this at the moment I have Rolf tell the story and Linnea interrupts with questions or comments now and then. Enar is mainly just reacting to them arguing and taking in the information, so as far as his character development goes the section isn't really needed.
Have you done something like this before - an info dump in the form of conversation/explanation?
How did it work out? What issues did you encounter? What did you do to make it feel less like an infodump and more like an important part of the story?
Do you have an advice on what to do or insights to share?
1. Enar (my MC) is caught up in a heated argument between two side characters.
2. Rolf (another side character not involved in the argument) tells Enar he'll explain what happened later and to not talk about it to anyone.
3. The rest of the day passes
4. Evening comes and Rolf explains to Enar what happened.
The explanation includes the reason for the argument, but it also serves to explain something of the backstory of another character that has not yet been introduced (only glimpsed). The explanation of the backstory also includes a bit of information about another side character (Beired, Rolf's wife) and about some of the different aspects of Anfylk religion.
By putting the info dump in the form of a conversation I would also get the option to develop the characters involved in the conversation a little bit extra (Rolf, Enar and Rolf's daughter Linnea). The way I'm doing this at the moment I have Rolf tell the story and Linnea interrupts with questions or comments now and then. Enar is mainly just reacting to them arguing and taking in the information, so as far as his character development goes the section isn't really needed.
Have you done something like this before - an info dump in the form of conversation/explanation?
How did it work out? What issues did you encounter? What did you do to make it feel less like an infodump and more like an important part of the story?
Do you have an advice on what to do or insights to share?