Recently, I started reading a new mystery novel, but finally had to put it down. The author started off with the promise of an exciting mystery to solve, but then segued into a recitation of the backstory on all her main characters: who they were, who they were named after, what they studied in college, how they all knew each other, etc., etc. I kept asking myself, “where is the mystery story?”
Backstory is defined as the personal history an author creates for the characters in a narrative. Writers draw on these back stories to help their readers understand the character’s emotions, motivation and actions.
Backstory should be used carefully and revealed as needed. At times, a writer falls in love with the backstory and dumps it into the narrative in a large chunk at the point where the character first enters the plot. This forces the readers off on a tangent, making them wade through paragraphs (and sometime pages) detailing this character’s entire life history.
I’ve had people tell me their motive was to make sure the readers knew every detail possible about their characters before the story began. This is not a good idea as it not only slows down the action, but also delivers unnecessary details that clutter the story and confuse the readers.
Another way backstory can also take over your narrative is through intentional dialogue – instead of moving the plot forward, the dialogue becomes stilted because it is designed to fill the reader in about background details that are often not necessary or are blatantly obvious or mundane.
The key to working with backstory is to bring elements into the story as they relate to the plot’s progression.
When you first introduce a character, give the readers enough information to explain that character’s role. Decide what the readers really need to know at that particular point in the action.
For example:
- When Paul first enters the scene, if you tell the readers he has a confident air as a result of his years in military service, then the readers are not surprised later on to discover Paul has special “skills.”
- When Paul executes the daring rescue of his girlfriend who was kidnapped by a biker gang, this military backstory makes his actions believable.
- Telling readers the name of Paul’s favourite stuffed bear when he was three or that he is afraid of spiders is irrelevant in this instance, however, and can dilute the image you want to create of him as the strong hero type.
Pertinent backstory details can be woven into the story using dialogue. Other characters mention a pertinent detail about the hero and his backstory or speculate about his abilities. Characters can also talk about their own backstory details at an appropriate point in the action.
For example:
The clue to finding a treasure is contained in a Latin text. Everyone is stumped until Linda remembers her sister studied Latin as part of her Medieval Studies degree. The clue is then translated and the hunt for the treasure can move forward.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind on when to use backstory and when to lose it.
Use it:
- To give information about personal experiences which explain a character’s emotions;
- To reveal personal passions that drive the character’s actions; and
- To explain the source of special skills the character can use to “save the day” or “solve the mystery.”
Lose it:
- When it disrupts the narrative and stops the action;
- When it provides unnecessary details that clutter the narrative; and
- When it detracts from the image of the character you are trying to create.
