How to Write Backstory Without Slowing Your Pace
Delivering character backstory is sometimes necessary to explain why a character holds certain motivations or mindsets. However, learning how to weave in backstory without bogging your narrative down in constant flashbacks is crucial. Here are some techniques that I hope will help you.
The 5 w’s of story – where, what, why, who and when – can all change to create variety and interest. None of these elements must change. The characters in your novel or your setting could remain fairly constant. Yet change opens up possibilities for new developments and intriguing new scenarios. These keep your novel exciting and interesting. To avoid your story stagnating in a single location, shift somewhere new – another town or country, from the city to the countryside or vice versa. Make sure any change of setting makes sense in relation to the story.
"If the middle of your story feels sluggish, don't be afraid to trim it."
This is only the first part of a series on writing and developing backstory. I'll be happy to share more tips in future articles. Don't forget to leave a comment telling me what topics you'd like me to cover next!
Edward
It’s great that you share these tips with young and aspiring writers. Even though they may not be writing novels, I believe it will be very useful for them to learn something new from a really skilled writer like you. I’d be glad to hear some recommendations on how a writer can develop the plot without cutting down chapters (I often see it in the books of young writers). Anyway, thank you for this post, it is very informative!
Nina
I completely agree with your last point, but I also think finding the right way to develop relationships between main characters would be great. That would be really interesting.