Quote:
Originally Posted by JDawg2.0  I don't think anyone would call the example you posted an "info-dump". If they do, then they don't really know what they are talking about. Even if it isn't your cup of tea, you can't argue the beauty of it, or the importance it has in regards to the atmosphere of the story. |
Oh, but people do call that sort of thing an info-dump, especially when it goes on the same way for 200 pages. And whether you and I think that they know what they are talking about or not, it makes it very hard for a large group of readers and writers to agree on what is essential.
I was on a panel a while back -- oddly enough, it was a panel that was supposed to be about language and style and eloquence -- with a writer who will remain nameless (anyway, she sells a lot more books than I do) who proudly stated as part of her introduction that she doesn't have
time for beautiful language. She gave me a very evil look when it was my turn to introduce myself and I said very emphatically that I
did. She then said, very condescendingly, that maybe some
writers might, but no
reader has time. I replied that she should tell that to all the people who buy books by Joyce Carol Oates and John Crowley.
It suffices to say that the conversation deteriorated from there.