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Q&A How much should I reveal of how the world functions in fiction?

I am currently working on a fiction novel. The way the world (magic, technology, government, species etc) works is extremely complicated. Basically, the idea is to reveal the mechanics bit by bit...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Invader Zim‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:33:46Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/6550
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Invader Zim‭ · 2019-12-08T02:33:46Z (about 5 years ago)
I am currently working on a fiction novel. The way the world (magic, technology, government, species etc) works is extremely complicated.

Basically, the idea is to reveal the mechanics bit by bit . The problem is how much should I reveal? If I reveal too much the tension would be gone and there wouldn't be the unknown factor. On the other hand if I reveal too little no one would understand what is happening.

I am scared of not revealing enough, because I know how it works and it would seem to me that a given portion of information is enough although it isn't.

I am sorry for any mistakes in the question, English is not my mother tongue, if any clarifications are needed, pleas say so. [:

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2012-10-26T09:28:59Z (about 12 years ago)
Original score: 6