Comments on: Writing Your Character’s History http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/ Adventure, Mystery, Passion: Aspen Mountain Press eBook Publisher Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:20:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Publisher http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-32 Publisher Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:51:51 +0000 http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-32 Like Dara mentioned, backstory is only good in drips and dribbles. I imagine writing the backstory on a large piece of plate glass and then shattering the glass, slipping tiny shards between the pages. Nine times out of ten, it is a killer in a prolgue. An information dump revealing the character's full history is boring. Knowing backstory and using bits and pieces of it isn't bad, it is when the reader gets it in a big lump, usually all up front. Backstory events can be pivotal changes that occur in a character's life because a secret is revealed. Think of the original Star Wars movies (4,5,6). What is THE BIGGEST secret to be revealed...<insert heavy breathing>"Luke, I'm your father." Wow. Backstory, but used in a hugely significant way, a tiny shard that had the audience gasp in shock. Recently, I noticed this in 3:10 to Yuma. Dan Evans (Christian Bale) spends a lot of the time in the movie trying to be a moral hero by doing the right thing according to his world view. It's not until the VERY END that we find out why...he's been trying to make his son see him as a hero, when Dan himself does not. At the very end we find out the reason he is a cripple, and the reason is not very heroic and has helped shape Dan into the man he is. The impact would have been totally lost if we knew in the beginning, if we knew Dan's history. Like Dara mentioned, backstory is only good in drips and dribbles. I imagine writing the backstory on a large piece of plate glass and then shattering the glass, slipping tiny shards between the pages. Nine times out of ten, it is a killer in a prolgue.

An information dump revealing the character’s full history is boring. Knowing backstory and using bits and pieces of it isn’t bad, it is when the reader gets it in a big lump, usually all up front. Backstory events can be pivotal changes that occur in a character’s life because a secret is revealed. Think of the original Star Wars movies (4,5,6). What is THE BIGGEST secret to be revealed…“Luke, I’m your father.”

Wow. Backstory, but used in a hugely significant way, a tiny shard that had the audience gasp in shock.

Recently, I noticed this in 3:10 to Yuma. Dan Evans (Christian Bale) spends a lot of the time in the movie trying to be a moral hero by doing the right thing according to his world view. It’s not until the VERY END that we find out why…he’s been trying to make his son see him as a hero, when Dan himself does not. At the very end we find out the reason he is a cripple, and the reason is not very heroic and has helped shape Dan into the man he is. The impact would have been totally lost if we knew in the beginning, if we knew Dan’s history.

]]> By: Raine Delight http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-30 Raine Delight Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:28:15 +0000 http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-30 I agree though there is a time and aplace for it if the story warrants it. I know my book I just sent out for consideration had to have the backstroy in it as it gives the conflict between the two main characters. It made it more emotional and heart wrenching. :) Raine Delight I agree though there is a time and aplace for it if the story warrants it. I know my book I just sent out for consideration had to have the backstroy in it as it gives the conflict between the two main characters. It made it more emotional and heart wrenching. :)

Raine Delight

]]> By: Dara Edmondson http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-29 Dara Edmondson Thu, 24 Jan 2008 14:20:18 +0000 http://aspenmountainpress.com/blog/2008/01/24/writing-your-characters-history/#comment-29 It is tempting to throw all the backstory right up front, but it works better as a slow drip IV - little bits and pieces sprinkled in as needed. It is tempting to throw all the backstory right up front, but it works better as a slow drip IV - little bits and pieces sprinkled in as needed.

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