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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.
- Don’t relate more than the briefest backstory in the first chapter because you need to create momentum, and backstory will stop progress dead. Too much too early can halt the main plot.
- Do avoid dropping a block of backstory as introspection, where the protagonist is deep in thought. Consider dribbling in backstory, drop-by-drop, like a drip coffee maker.
- Don’t forget that introspection is only one way to introduce backstory. Other options are dialogue and action.
- Do use actions to present core beliefs forged in the past. Does your character repeatedly check the front door lock as they recall a traumatic experience with a home invasion?
- Things to Consider When Writing A Backstory
- The Do’s and Don’ts of Revealing A Character’S Backstory
- Why Revealing Character Backstories Carefully Is Important
First and foremost, before you get started, your character needs to actually have a backstory. Maybe you’re not like the example above, and you haven’t actually given the backstory much thought. Well, you’re in luck, because I already have an article on the topic: How to Create Compelling Character Backstories. Check that out first and come back to...
There are a lot of ways you can mess up revealing a character’s backstory, so you should take care to avoid some common mistakes. It’s easy to get carried away, but with a little mindful planning, you can keep your story on the right track. To be clear, this isn’t intended to control what you create or how you tell your stories. This advice details...
A character’s backstory is an important part of who they are, and being able to share that with your readers is really valuable if the situation is right. A good and carefully revealed backstory can: 1. Make readers empathize with your characters 2. Invest readers in the storyline 3. Fuel conflict, both within the character and with others 4. Keep ...
Jun 6, 2013 · Backstory refers to the characters’ history and other story elements that underlie the situation at the start of the book. Backstory helps to establish the setting and makes the reader care about what happens to the characters. But as authors, we need to be careful: Backstory by definition takes the story backward.
Here are my top three tips for delivering backstory effectively in your novel. Keep this information in mind as you work through the beginning of your story, and when you write each of your scenes. 1. Only insert backstory where it’s relevant. Backstory should always be triggered by something that’s happening in the story present.
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 historical fiction, time of day, time of the ...
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Jan 16, 2023 · Backstory is a character’s history or origin story. By filling in a character’s backstory, the author provides them with greater depth, though not everything may be known by the reader. It can also be useful in revealing important elements of a character’s past for storytelling purposes. Everyone has a backstory, from the hero to the ...
