This week we’re going to be talking about back story. What is back story, you ask?
It’s the history of your characters. Past events, family, career, friendships, you name it. Anything that happened before “today.”
One problem writers face, especially new writers, is weaving in back story so the reader and story is not overwhelmed.
Back story, as you will learn this week, slows down the action. It jerks the reader from “now” and lures them to the past where they most likely forget the “current action.”
The same is true for real life back story. We need to learn how to deal with our past, our history.
Paul writes to the Philippians in chapter 3 verses 13 – 14 “… but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Our past cannot be changed. Wounding and hurts can only be healed by Jesus as we offer forgiveness to those who wronged us.
Failures must be put behind us. We are called to ONE THING, forgetting the past and pressing forward toward Jesus!
Now, in our stories, back story can provide tremendous motivation. It can explain our character’s flaws and weaknesses.
And sometimes, back story just needs to be deleted and forgotten. Especially in real life.
Don’t let your back story bog down your “forward action” as you go for your destiny.
Forget what lies behind, good or bad, and press forward to what lies ahead, the upward call of God. There’s no better place to be!
Comments 2
I’m struggling with this in my second chapter because my character does something that is so strange and unexpected that my crit partners felt it needed some explanation. So I have her reliving the moment at her parent’s funeral. The action is still going forward, but she’s in more of a panic attack mode. I put it in italics (not sure if it’s right) but I’m not sure if it’s really considered backstory and if will turn off an agent or at least put up a red flag!
Any thoughts?
Gina,
First, make sure what your character does is really what you want in the story. Does it makes sense in the long haul.
Second, reflecting back to an incident works fine to bring the readers up-to-date. Or, have your protagonist talk to someone about the incident – perhaps the only person who knows about this problem.
From what you wrote, I think your plan will work.
Back story dumps are often pages of details about where the protagonist grew up and how he liked his corn flakes. 😉
Setting the stage is necessary. Just make sure you keep the flash back focused and as brief as possible.
Rachel