TECH: To backstory or not...
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writercises Original Posting May 16, 2018
Over here,
https://writingexcuses.com/2018/05/13/13-19-backstories/
The Writing Excuses crew talks about character backstory. You know, what happened to the character before the story? Now, some folks tell you to fill out this three page list of biographical questions, including the character’s childhood invisible friend and other vital info, before you dare to write a word about that character! And that’s for the bit parts! But, the Writing Excuses folks mostly seem to advise starting out with a much simpler broad picture of your character, and then discovering things as you need while writing. Or maybe not? Maurice, at least, seems to prefer more detailed backstory on his characters (3000 words for a 6000 words story?). And even Mary admits that you should have an idea about what their heritage is, what culture they live in now, what they aspire to, and what they think their culture is.
They also talk a bit about where and how to slip backstory in. In the backwash of action scenes, around the edges of an interaction, or maybe in dialogue? And then there’s flashbacks, good and bad?
I was kind of amused that no one mentioned the advice I’ve gotten about backstory which is pretty simple. Remember that it is a story first! In other words, a flashback, background information, whatever you are adding, remember to make it a story! Characters, plot, setting, just like the mainline story.
Anyway, I thought I’d ask, how do you handle backstory? Do you do a whole in-depth background for your characters, or just kind of wing it? This is almost part of the ongoing argument about outliner versus discovery writers, but focusing on how you develop your characters, and especially the parts of their lives that are outside the story.
I’ll admit, I tend to do a very sketchy background, if anything, and make up what I need as I write. But...
Which way do you lean? What tools do you use?
Over here,
https://writingexcuses.com/2018/05/13/13-19-backstories/
The Writing Excuses crew talks about character backstory. You know, what happened to the character before the story? Now, some folks tell you to fill out this three page list of biographical questions, including the character’s childhood invisible friend and other vital info, before you dare to write a word about that character! And that’s for the bit parts! But, the Writing Excuses folks mostly seem to advise starting out with a much simpler broad picture of your character, and then discovering things as you need while writing. Or maybe not? Maurice, at least, seems to prefer more detailed backstory on his characters (3000 words for a 6000 words story?). And even Mary admits that you should have an idea about what their heritage is, what culture they live in now, what they aspire to, and what they think their culture is.
They also talk a bit about where and how to slip backstory in. In the backwash of action scenes, around the edges of an interaction, or maybe in dialogue? And then there’s flashbacks, good and bad?
I was kind of amused that no one mentioned the advice I’ve gotten about backstory which is pretty simple. Remember that it is a story first! In other words, a flashback, background information, whatever you are adding, remember to make it a story! Characters, plot, setting, just like the mainline story.
Anyway, I thought I’d ask, how do you handle backstory? Do you do a whole in-depth background for your characters, or just kind of wing it? This is almost part of the ongoing argument about outliner versus discovery writers, but focusing on how you develop your characters, and especially the parts of their lives that are outside the story.
I’ll admit, I tend to do a very sketchy background, if anything, and make up what I need as I write. But...
Which way do you lean? What tools do you use?