tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post8612138699958384269..comments2023-08-10T03:35:55.682-07:00Comments on The Prosers: The Key to Characterization: B is for BackstorySheena Boekweghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-32998888627725540372013-04-06T13:04:41.603-07:002013-04-06T13:04:41.603-07:00Yeah, you can go overboard in backstory, and get l...Yeah, you can go overboard in backstory, and get lost in it, just like worldbuilding. I've also created backstory which started seeming more interesting than the story I was writing. That is always fun. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-78296154403780366552013-04-05T19:50:08.077-07:002013-04-05T19:50:08.077-07:00Backstory is so hard for me. Not because I can...Backstory is so hard for me. Not because I can't come up with anything, but because I tend to get hung up in the details. I don't put it into the story, but I spend too many hours trying to figure out every little piece of each character's lives. It's maddening! lolAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07572122401159709175noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-42278415257280543902013-04-03T19:01:41.253-07:002013-04-03T19:01:41.253-07:00Same here. It's like a little mystery. I hav...Same here. It's like a little mystery. I have a hard time pulling it off when I write thought. It definitely takes some skill.<br />MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-58019155953415564722013-04-03T18:59:23.449-07:002013-04-03T18:59:23.449-07:00Glad it was helpful! :)
Those links do have some...Glad it was helpful! :)<br /><br />Those links do have some great info. MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-53439749108186279382013-04-03T15:50:02.369-07:002013-04-03T15:50:02.369-07:00I like it when I discover a character's backst...I like it when I discover a character's backstory as the plot unfolds, as opposed to info. dumping. Backstory can also be a great foreshadowing device.Jay Noelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04757777693161610861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-56052565060609110922013-04-03T12:06:35.523-07:002013-04-03T12:06:35.523-07:00Great topic! I have been worried about the lack o...Great topic! I have been worried about the lack of back story in my current project and trying to come up with ways to fix it. This post was very timely. Oh, and thanks for the links :)Simply Sarahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11562206323308418937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-37829473290375814682013-04-03T08:16:22.437-07:002013-04-03T08:16:22.437-07:00Absolutely, I also think that line varies in diffe...Absolutely, I also think that line varies in different genres and is very dependent on the type of story you are trying to tell. Some require much more backstory than others.MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-12112597905736569022013-04-03T08:15:02.035-07:002013-04-03T08:15:02.035-07:00Me too. I don't know why, but I do love creat...Me too. I don't know why, but I do love creating backstory. I think it has something to do with how I like to try to figure people out in real life. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-59932309305978150622013-04-03T08:13:46.244-07:002013-04-03T08:13:46.244-07:00I'm glad it was useful. I always struggle wit...I'm glad it was useful. I always struggle with where to start. I hope a little digging into your characters' pasts will help. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-45274108884491345872013-04-03T08:10:20.148-07:002013-04-03T08:10:20.148-07:00Same here. It almost feels mystical. :)Same here. It almost feels mystical. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-3930882039046597262013-04-03T08:09:46.522-07:002013-04-03T08:09:46.522-07:00Totally agree. For some reason I need backstories...Totally agree. For some reason I need backstories to keep my characters consistent. Glad the links were helpful.MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-88927516713408457952013-04-03T08:00:50.178-07:002013-04-03T08:00:50.178-07:00Oh definitely. I think you should sprinkle it in ...Oh definitely. I think you should sprinkle it in when it is relevant so you don't do the dreaded info dump. :)MaryAnn Popehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08618345950149423623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-29340697828661337132013-04-02T19:56:08.852-07:002013-04-02T19:56:08.852-07:00This one definitely trips up a lot of us writers. ...This one definitely trips up a lot of us writers. Good topic. I think the too much/not enough line varies with the individual too.Jeff Hargetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14198367021884647821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-67938606949963852772013-04-02T18:58:30.670-07:002013-04-02T18:58:30.670-07:00I think backstory is one of my favorite things to ...I think backstory is one of my favorite things to do. I love writing out detailed life histories for my characters. I also like your idea of thinking about how you get to know someone - good to think about.Sabrina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06218305456791199409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-34944168689280893632013-04-02T18:51:44.728-07:002013-04-02T18:51:44.728-07:00I think backstory is something that would help me ...I think backstory is something that would help me more on my current work in progress. I'm a bit stuck on how to start, and i think it's because I don't know enough about my characters to trust them to talk like a human yet. Great post, MaryAnn, really helpful.Sheena Boekweghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08227547053651725634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-58261158579382631572013-04-02T15:51:31.658-07:002013-04-02T15:51:31.658-07:00Ooo, I love backstory.
When I'm writing and ...Ooo, I love backstory. <br /><br />When I'm writing and I'm stymied with what a character needs to say or do, I often find that it's because there's something in their backstory that I don't know. Once I figure it out, the story flows again. Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-37830095844925611742013-04-02T15:30:57.590-07:002013-04-02T15:30:57.590-07:00Excellent! To me, a strong backstory keeps my char...Excellent! To me, a strong backstory keeps my characters consistent. Like you said, until I have insight into their past, I can't predict or write their actions realistically in the story. Great stuff to keep in mind, and excellent links!Susan Buttarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14456005411871122298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4561827139818452407.post-32383225428110581552013-04-02T14:59:16.041-07:002013-04-02T14:59:16.041-07:00Oooh, great word for B day. I've found that pu...Oooh, great word for B day. I've found that putting in a bit of character back story as sort of beats between the action really helps me figure out the characters I'm dealing with. Wonderful post!<br /><br /><a href="http://fromsarahwithjoy.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Sarah Allen<br />(From Sarah, With Joy)</a>Sarah Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01185278849400551014noreply@blogger.com