Delving into a character’s past can be a complicated, tricky endeavor. Spreading details throughout the story keeps it interesting and keeps the reader reading.
A method to tell the past of my characters which worked well for me is using the backstory.
I was inspired to use this method by the television series Once Upon A Time. The show is very adept at using the backstory of fairy tale characters to present them in a more realistic and imaginative light.
In Sword of Tilk Book One: Worlds Apart and Book Two: Strange Land I used the backstory told by Jean, grandmother of the twin Queens. The events related in her narratives were relevant to situations currently faced by the characters. Both narratives were a story within the story.
In Book Three: At Sword’s End, I used the memories of evil witch Desdemona to enlighten the reader about the backstory. Desdemona also used “earth memories” which she could conjure at will.
In Nero’s Fiddle, Captain Beverly Mossberg had nightmares due to PTSD. Her nightmares reflected an incident which occurred during her tour in the Gulf War. A little of the incident was revealed with each nightmare; some nightmares were more horrific than what actually happened. The nightmares provided the backstory as well as a little insight into Beverly’s psyche.
In the Sword of Tilk Trilogy, including the backstories was instrumental to the story itself. The Tilk family history was an essential part of the story illustrating how those past events affect current events. It also displayed the characters at a different point in their lives and explained the people they became.
In Nero’s Fiddle, the nightmares not only provided backstory, they also served as one of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Creating a backstory in each and every novel isn’t necessary. It can add a layer of intrigue to your characters as well as your plot. But use it wisely. If it enhances the characters, moves the story along or affects an important plot point, include it.
The backstory can help you as a writer to better understand your characters or the central point of your novel. It can also enhance the reader’s experience and give her or him a more in-depth understanding of your characters.
It can also be fun, delving into the character’s past and/or psyche.
If it’s fun for you, it will be fun for the reader.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle – a fictitious account of an EMP attack – can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.
A method to tell the past of my characters which worked well for me is using the backstory.
I was inspired to use this method by the television series Once Upon A Time. The show is very adept at using the backstory of fairy tale characters to present them in a more realistic and imaginative light.
In Sword of Tilk Book One: Worlds Apart and Book Two: Strange Land I used the backstory told by Jean, grandmother of the twin Queens. The events related in her narratives were relevant to situations currently faced by the characters. Both narratives were a story within the story.
In Book Three: At Sword’s End, I used the memories of evil witch Desdemona to enlighten the reader about the backstory. Desdemona also used “earth memories” which she could conjure at will.
In Nero’s Fiddle, Captain Beverly Mossberg had nightmares due to PTSD. Her nightmares reflected an incident which occurred during her tour in the Gulf War. A little of the incident was revealed with each nightmare; some nightmares were more horrific than what actually happened. The nightmares provided the backstory as well as a little insight into Beverly’s psyche.
In the Sword of Tilk Trilogy, including the backstories was instrumental to the story itself. The Tilk family history was an essential part of the story illustrating how those past events affect current events. It also displayed the characters at a different point in their lives and explained the people they became.
In Nero’s Fiddle, the nightmares not only provided backstory, they also served as one of the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Creating a backstory in each and every novel isn’t necessary. It can add a layer of intrigue to your characters as well as your plot. But use it wisely. If it enhances the characters, moves the story along or affects an important plot point, include it.
The backstory can help you as a writer to better understand your characters or the central point of your novel. It can also enhance the reader’s experience and give her or him a more in-depth understanding of your characters.
It can also be fun, delving into the character’s past and/or psyche.
If it’s fun for you, it will be fun for the reader.
Pen has self-published 20 titles in print and ebook formats. Her latest endeavor, Nero’s Fiddle – a fictitious account of an EMP attack – can be found here: http://bit.ly/1rsEQFX Follow her on Twitter @penspen, visit her website at www.penspen.info or follow her blog www.mytuppence.weebly.com Contact her at mytuppenceblog at yahoo.com to inquire about proofreading, editing and formatting services.