tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post4459215845867007886..comments2023-10-30T09:00:07.439-05:00Comments on A Walk In My Shoes: Now that's just bad luck!Susan R. Millshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-84575977153168645332012-01-31T13:43:27.208-06:002012-01-31T13:43:27.208-06:00I actually like backstory, as long as it's wov...I actually like backstory, as long as it's woven in really well. I'm reading a book for the third time right now because I love the two main characters so much. I've been trying to analyze what it is that makes me love them--and you're right. It's not only the "coolness" of who them are now, but knowing the stories of how they became who they are now.Name: Holly Bownehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01079363337603264641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-3652072430871812152012-01-30T10:47:11.365-06:002012-01-30T10:47:11.365-06:00I like backstory. What I don't like is freeze-...I like backstory. What I don't like is freeze-framing the actual story for flashbacks so it takes 5 pages for a character to get in the front door, or swallow the sip of coffee....Lynette Eklundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17211392281993724657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-49768071589242601392012-01-30T03:52:47.372-06:002012-01-30T03:52:47.372-06:00I recently read a book with 3 pages of backstory d...I recently read a book with 3 pages of backstory dumped together .. but the timing was great - It just has to be done well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-69614366804705801732012-01-29T10:25:05.106-06:002012-01-29T10:25:05.106-06:00Hi Susan,
Nice blog you have here. I especially lo...Hi Susan,<br />Nice blog you have here. I especially love the shoes! But what woman doesn't like shoes, right? I hopped over from Lynda R. Young's BBQ. I'm a writer as well and I love to read what my fellow writers have to say ;)<br />I just joined your blog. Hope to see you around in the blogosphere.<br />Cheers!<br />Claudia<br />www.claudiadelbalso.blogspot.comClaudia Zurchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00302024950570710809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-78035493564694863372012-01-28T09:11:01.234-06:002012-01-28T09:11:01.234-06:00I love backstory, personally. The key is to feed i...I love backstory, personally. The key is to feed it to the reader so that they don't even know they're reading it :) I think it's the giant chunks of backstory that have given it a bad rap...Julie Daohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13814052162359300933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-60049264897114095002012-01-27T22:43:23.154-06:002012-01-27T22:43:23.154-06:00Great to meet you Susan - am popping over from Lyn...Great to meet you Susan - am popping over from Lynda R Young's Great Aussie BBQ:)<br /><br />I totally know what you mean by those book openings that snatch your attention.. and so true that so many break the rules. I guess once someone is published, they can be more lenient with the rules.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-86469285626992755812012-01-27T17:21:49.482-06:002012-01-27T17:21:49.482-06:00Ah, Susan, I'm so glad you brought this up. Th...Ah, Susan, I'm so glad you brought this up. The last writing workshop I took was led by a professor who <em>hated</em> backstory. She'd slash it to bits. Everything had to be written in current action.<br />But, how can you love a character if you don't know their story. <br /><br />How does Jonathan Franzen get away with writing a 500+ page book (Freedom) that almost ALL backstory, and receive accolades. And I wasn't even really crazy about any of the characters. Aaaahhh!Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06694559900539722616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-81225322550622180792012-01-27T04:50:12.474-06:002012-01-27T04:50:12.474-06:00I agree with others. Backstory is okay in bits and...I agree with others. Backstory is okay in bits and pieces, throughout the story. I wouldn't want a massive infodump, especially not in the beginning chapters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-19723981889436251352012-01-26T23:41:15.575-06:002012-01-26T23:41:15.575-06:00I think the trick with backstory is to look at it ...I think the trick with backstory is to look at it as .<br />'hooks'. Dole out tiny bits that get the reader asking more questions and make them intrigued enough to keep reading.<br /><br />Backstory also has to tie into the current action. For example, the backstory event in my books opening is that the mc recently had a drowning accident. How can I get this info out without a ton of pace killing telling? Make her first scene in a bathroom with her little brother, attending a toilet send off for his beloved fish. The dead fish in the water is a natural trigger for her to relive what happened to her, and so when it comes out, it isn't dumpy, but hooks the reader along to find out what exactly happened. <br /><br />I think The Writers Resource has a whole section on backstory...just run a search for the blog and it will be a topic in the sidebar.Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-52247028780724862582012-01-26T23:41:14.385-06:002012-01-26T23:41:14.385-06:00I think the trick with backstory is to look at it ...I think the trick with backstory is to look at it as .<br />'hooks'. Dole out tiny bits that get the reader asking more questions and make them intrigued enough to keep reading.<br /><br />Backstory also has to tie into the current action. For example, the backstory event in my books opening is that the mc recently had a drowning accident. How can I get this info out without a ton of pace killing telling? Make her first scene in a bathroom with her little brother, attending a toilet send off for his beloved fish. The dead fish in the water is a natural trigger for her to relive what happened to her, and so when it comes out, it isn't dumpy, but hooks the reader along to find out what exactly happened. <br /><br />I think The Writers Resource has a whole section on backstory...just run a search for the blog and it will be a topic in the sidebar.Angela Ackermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808259088625142389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-81304401920108488422012-01-26T22:41:39.228-06:002012-01-26T22:41:39.228-06:00I, too, have been thinking about backstory in firs...I, too, have been thinking about backstory in first chapters. I think a little can be fine, but backstory can be done in such a way that it feels like a manuscript is starting in the wrong place or it can make a book drag if it's an info dump. The answer? I'm not sure--which is why I've been thinking about it lately! ;) Nice post!Dawn Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05667675689038435581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-25774842890499766112012-01-26T20:38:17.146-06:002012-01-26T20:38:17.146-06:00Interesting...
I don't mind a little backstory...Interesting...<br />I don't mind a little backstory as long as it's woven through the story rather than a big block of it. Often backstories are presented as info dumps that stop the flow of the story.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-90739749801555508262012-01-26T19:30:29.602-06:002012-01-26T19:30:29.602-06:00I agree you need to have backstory - just not a hu...I agree you need to have backstory - just not a huge amount at first. When it's sprinkled in throughout the story, it makes things more interesting (at least for me). Great post!Melissa Hursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15530652829980250261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-25305230475624519672012-01-25T23:24:00.172-06:002012-01-25T23:24:00.172-06:00I've had the same problem with my MC, I think ...I've had the same problem with my MC, I think it's finally fixed now. I think the art of weaving backstory into the beginning is delicate. I'm not sure I have the right blend, but you're right, we need to know about the MC before we give a crap what she/he is going through! But I do like it to move at a fast pace, so... yeah. I guess we just work what we can in the small time we have!<br /><br />Great post ;o)erica m. chapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14773306703153110737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-84014068236758486292012-01-25T10:16:01.432-06:002012-01-25T10:16:01.432-06:00Uggh, the rules!! The rules!!
Backstory is so nec...Uggh, the rules!! The rules!!<br /><br />Backstory is so necessary--especially in small doses. I'm with you--no backstory? Yawn. Unless the plot makes up for it with fast-paced action? Hmm...Jill Kemererhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07865493609868329393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-87774670014864729212012-01-24T15:05:15.365-06:002012-01-24T15:05:15.365-06:00I like backstory. Yet I cut 30,000 words of it fro...I like backstory. Yet I cut 30,000 words of it from my manuscript. Editors told me to move the story forward, and I did. With some interesting backstory moments thrown in. I really enjoyed this post!Roxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09787088898112141579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-31940551237032556882012-01-24T12:16:36.166-06:002012-01-24T12:16:36.166-06:00My wife gets the same thing with her shoes;) It...My wife gets the same thing with her shoes;) It's the little details that make up a character.Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-28940007235236502062012-01-24T09:59:31.258-06:002012-01-24T09:59:31.258-06:00I agree, back story has a bad rap. But I think (or...I agree, back story has a bad rap. But I think (or maybe I just made this up) they frown on it when it isn't done well in the beginning. Like the big CHUNK of crap that happened way back to these people who you donno and donno why any of it matters kind of back story swamp. But like you said, with the shoe for example. If you opened a book to a woman who just broke her heel in a hurry (for instance) ((action)) and she's in tears over it because the heel saved her life and she's on the way to put that man in prison for life, the reader goes..."Huh...I wonder how she used a shoe to survive. I wonder what that man did exactly and where she was when it happened and whos been affected etc etc" You just get this boulder rolling of questions the reader needs to know. It's only a sentence or two of back story, but you've sucked them in with it. <br /><br />Love the thought provoking post!Colene Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086195075690893194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-72130949111272946512012-01-24T07:26:17.902-06:002012-01-24T07:26:17.902-06:00First of all: i love the new look of the blog!
I...First of all: i love the new look of the blog! <br /><br />I like knowing a little backstory, sometimes it gives me a better understanding of the character and to some weird extent, gives me something to look forward to like if there was a major change, no change in the character's situation. My humble opinion as a reader, not writer :)KChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13170652181615060057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-57120428299957615532012-01-24T06:13:58.845-06:002012-01-24T06:13:58.845-06:00What an interesting observation! I never noticed t...What an interesting observation! I never noticed that before. I think what makes me really love a character is if the author shows what hardships he's been through or how he's been treated badly - like Harry Potter and the Dursleys for example.Susan Fieldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02433408456603462774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-80873980381118424622012-01-24T00:57:30.485-06:002012-01-24T00:57:30.485-06:00I think you are right, you have to do what is righ...I think you are right, you have to do what is right for YOUR story. Whether is is backstory upfront or a prologue.... For some books they really work. If it works for your ms, keep it.Sharon K. Mayhewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07799235347319851345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-75400313504431781802012-01-23T22:29:21.886-06:002012-01-23T22:29:21.886-06:00These are great comments! I just got some feedback...These are great comments! I just got some feedback on a story I wrote and there was a lot of advocating for more back story. You're right about it making us care more for the characters. And if we can weave it in just right, even on the first page, I definitely think it will help more than hurt the story.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-54374158678850219462012-01-23T18:40:17.369-06:002012-01-23T18:40:17.369-06:00I skipped on the back story in the first chapter o...I skipped on the back story in the first chapter of the book I'm now querying. My CP made me add some in. So I added in a short paragraph and it made a huge difference. Of course every time I sent it to a beta reader, I was positive someone would tell me to remove it. No one ever did, because it made sense having it there. :DStinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-26902762246799169472012-01-23T18:30:28.561-06:002012-01-23T18:30:28.561-06:00I am adding in bits of pieces of backstory and I ...I am adding in bits of pieces of backstory and I love reading some of it in books---not tons-but just enough.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8515903861204137058.post-44082510100922577422012-01-23T18:01:36.719-06:002012-01-23T18:01:36.719-06:00As long as the author lets the back story trickle ...As long as the author lets the back story trickle down, I want to read it. Bit by bit. But when it is dumped on me, I feel a little overwhelmed and I close the book.<br /><br />Waving to my pal, Susan! (((Hugs)))Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.com