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Feb 19, 2024 · There are several different techniques you can use to convey backstory. Last year, I did a three-part series about backstory techniques. 1. Sharing Backstory With the Backstory Drip. The main one is the one you’re going to want to use in pretty much any story, even if you do choose to use some of the other techniques.
- Tom Bromley
- Know who your character is in the present. The way your character behaves in the present moment says a lot about their backstory. Often, there is a reason why they act or react to situations the way they do, making a reader wonder about their past.
- Remember that people change. With a firm grip on who your characters are now, you can start to explore who they used to be. While there should be continuity between their past and current selves, having some differences can show they’ve evolved over time.
- Create a turning point. Sometimes, a character’s backstory includes a catalyst that completely alters the course of their life. This event can often provide the key to understanding their actions.
- Reveal information in a strategic way. Maintaining some mystery around your character and who they are can be a great way to build intrigue. Drip feeding them the backstory throughout the book — or even series of books — will keep your audience engaged and speculating about the possibilities.
Use setting to improve your backstory. One way to improve your backstory is to use setting to help bring the character to life. First, let’s review for a moment what elements usually make up setting: Location: This could be broad, like a region or city, or specific, such as a house or a room. Time: This could be the time period, like in ...
4 days ago · A good backstory for a character is one that is believable and provides context for the character’s motivation in the main narrative. As noted in this post, a backstory should be specific enough about the character’s life and background to feel real, but not so detailed that it bogs down the story. It should also be relevant to the ...
Jan 9, 2024 · A character backstory is the history or background created for a story’s character, explaining their life leading up to the events in the current narrative. It includes vital details like their character origin , family, upbringing, education, and key experiences that shaped them, providing a solid narrative foundation that contributes to their personality and behavior within the story.
Jun 6, 2013 · A good storyteller has no trouble thinking up rich histories for his characters. But a good novelist holds these details back, revealing them only at the time that best serves the story. “Rushing the backstory is a terrible waste,” says Garth Stein, New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain. “Many writers try to ...
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1. Only insert backstory where it’s relevant. Backstory should always be triggered by something that’s happening in the story present. Think about how your memories pop up in your own life. They are usually triggered by something you see, hear, feel, etc. For example, say you see a car that reminds you of the one your mom used to drive.
