Backstory

Definition

In fiction writing, backstory refers to the history, experiences, and events that have shaped a character’s past before the main events of the narrative. It provides context and depth to the character by revealing their motivations, beliefs, fears, and relationships. Backstory often includes significant life events, childhood experiences, family dynamics, personal traumas, or formative moments that influence the character’s actions and decisions. By incorporating backstory, writers add complexity and realism to their characters, enhancing the readers’ understanding and emotional connection with them.

Importance

Backstory holds significant importance and relevance in fiction writing for the following reasons:

• Character Development: The backstory is crucial for developing well-rounded and three-dimensional characters. By revealing the character’s past experiences, motivations, and struggles, writers create depth and complexity, making the characters more relatable and believable.
• Understanding Character Behavior: Backstory helps readers understand why characters behave, think, and react in specific ways. By providing insights into their past, including formative experiences or traumas, readers gain a deeper understanding of the character’s thought processes and emotional responses.
• Plot Development: The backstory can drive the plot forward by introducing past events or conflicts that directly impact the main story. Characters’ actions in the present can be motivated by their past experiences, creating tension, conflict, or providing opportunities for growth and transformation.
• Creating Empathy: The backstory allows readers to empathize with the characters’ struggles and challenges. When readers learn about a character’s past traumas, fears, or vulnerabilities, they become emotionally invested in their journey, rooting for their success and growth.

Tips and Best Practices

• Reveal Backstory Gradually: Introduce backstory in a controlled and gradual manner throughout the narrative. Avoid lengthy info-dumps or overwhelming readers with excessive information upfront. Instead, reveal the backstory organically as the plot progresses and becomes relevant to the present events.
• Focus on Significant Events: Select key events or experiences from the character’s past that directly impact their present circumstances or decisions. Prioritize events that shape the character’s personality, beliefs, relationships, or goals.
• Use Flashbacks or Dialogue: Incorporate flashbacks or dialogue between characters to reveal the backstory effectively. Show scenes or engage characters in conversations that naturally explore the character’s past without interrupting the flow of the main story.
• Balance Backstory and Forward Momentum: While backstory adds depth, ensure it doesn’t overshadow the main narrative. Maintain a balance between revealing the backstory and moving the story forward to keep readers engaged and invested in the present events.
• Relevance to the Plot: Connect the character’s backstory to the main plot in a meaningful way. Ensure that the revelations from the backstory contribute to character development, motivations, conflicts, or resolutions in the present storyline.
• Consider Point of View: Choose the appropriate point of view to reveal the backstory. Whether through the character’s internal monologue, the observations of other characters, or through narration, select the perspective that best suits the narrative and enhances the readers’ understanding of the character.
• Use Backstory for Conflict and Tension: Explore the conflicts, secrets, or unresolved issues from the character’s past to create tension and suspense in the present. Unveiling hidden aspects of the backstory can drive the narrative and add intrigue.
• Revision and Editing: Continuously refine and revise the backstory during the editing process. Ensure its relevance, coherence, and seamless integration with the main narrative. Eliminate unnecessary details or events that do not contribute significantly to the character’s development or the plot.

Related Terms

Character Development
Plot
Motivation
Conflict
Internal Monologue
Flashback
Dialogue
Exposition