I thought it would be of interest, and possibly of use, to y'all, because even if you aren't necessarily screenwriters, you are storytellers, and this topic has been under discussion quite a bit lately.

More interesting articles if you backtrack down the URL chain --
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip225.htm
http://www.scriptsecrets.net/tips/tip224.htm
etc.

However, I think it's also important to remember that in visual media, the viewer has most of the "work of imagining" done for him, along with a lot of the emoting (the actors each do it for their characters). In print, we expect the reader to create his own visuals and emotional reactions, both for themselves AND all the characters, albeit at our direction. If we intrude too far into the reader's job, it damages their ability to do it. I think that's the essence of the old "show don't tell" maxim.

And we're not constrained to an unforgiving timeframe and act format, either.

In the beginning of a story, particularly a fantasy story, the author needs to set the ground rules because every fantasy story can have its own law book. Afterwards, when the story is a stable system, the info being revealed is about pushing the story onward. That's why this info comes in tidbits; all you need to do is support the flow of the story occasionally, otherwise let it run by its own. If you build it to go smoothly in the beginning, it will go smoothly. Or you need more work on your skills but that's a different matter altogether.

There is such thing as revealing the info right in the nick of time. Something like:
"How are going to get out of this?"
"Oh, I can fly. Did I forget to mention that?"

I think we all agree that's a story killer. Sometimes revealing the info must be on purpose, sometimes it must feel like you accidentally slipping it to the reader like a note dropped midwalk. The reader will pick up that note and study it. While he/she does not know what that info means, they might remember it if they think it's important. And since you dropped it by 'accident', it probably will be important.

I just spent an hour watching the first part of the TV series Firefly. I remembered something I realized many times while watching it: not a single scene in this show is empty of information. Even the way the character frowns or hesitates means something. That's why I love that show. It's an intelligently designed show. It's never boring.

Phew! This was some brainstorm. The moment I started reading that link my brain went to work and I had to get it down before I forget it. Sadly, it happens far too many times.

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In the beginning of a story, particularly a fantasy story, the author needs to set the ground rules because every fantasy story can have its own law book.

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I'm not so sure this needs to done. I think a lot of times fantasy or scifi writers have a list in their minds of what the reader needs to know in order to understand his/her world. Many times this leads to forcing this unformation into the text which can be jaring. I think if the writer slows down and trusts to reader to put together subtle clues, the info will get to the reader when it is needed in a more natural way. It is not necessary for the reader to fully understand the world at the beginning.

I do understand if you withhold too much, you risk confusing the reader which is never good. You need to strike a balance which I think is one of the biggest challenges in writing Scifi and fantasy.

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There is such thing as revealing the info right in the nick of time. Something like:
"How are going to get out of this?"
"Oh, I can fly. Did I forget to mention that?"

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Well, the article talked about planting the sleeper agents. You can't have the guy suddenly fly unless that idea is planted before hand.

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In the beginning of a story, particularly a fantasy story, the author needs to set the ground rules because every fantasy story can have its own law book.

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