Backstory & Histories - Writers Forum

Selorian · 08-29-2004, 10:58 AM

While working on my novel, I keep coming to spots where I need to reference events that took place before my story starts. I have a basic outline of some of these events, but I am continually adding to it because of having to come up with new backstory and histories as I write.

My question is how do others handle this? Should I write an elaborate backstory for my novel before going any further with it? Maybe I should just continue on and keep adding to the notes, that way I don't get bogged down outside my actual story, but still have a reference to the backstory.

Would writing an indepth backstory beforehand limit how the story develops? Is it better to let the backstory develop based off of the story as it unfolds?

I find myself conflicted over this, sometimes working more on histories and stuff that only a small part is even referenced than on my actual story.

Any advice on how others handle this would be greatly appreciated.

DawnMorningStar · 08-29-2004, 12:58 PM

In my personal opinion, I think the way you're writing it now is best. Readers tend to get bored if they're forced to read a huge chunk of history or backstory all in one go. But revealing things bit by bit throughout keeps it interesting and keeps your readers guessing.

Hope that helps!

Selorian · 08-29-2004, 02:28 PM

Thanks, I agree with you on that. What I was really referring to was backstory that I write for my own use in writing the novel. The reader will never see the entire backstory, but should I write it out complete before I work on the story or should I just let it develop as I write?

Sorry if my first post was confusing.

bobothegoat · 08-29-2004, 02:42 PM

The way I usually handle it is by getting the basic backstory (the major events) and then add the extra stuff as I go along. But that's just me.

Drusilla · 08-29-2004, 05:52 PM

I seem to get caught up in writing the back story. I don't reveal everything but I like to have a profile (pretty in depth ones too) writen before I start even if I don't reveal it all right away.

FieryHands · 08-29-2004, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drusilla

I seem to get caught up in writing the back story. I don't reveal everything but I like to have a profile (pretty in depth ones too) writen before I start even if I don't reveal it all right away.

That's probably a good thing to do, as part of the outlining and brainstorming process. That way you know what your character's backstory is so you can drop crumbs along the way without confusing yourself or the reader.

This is a bit of a problem for me, in what I'm writing because there's necessary info the reader needs to know about the history of the city but its difficult to figure out how it should unravel.

DawnMorningStar · 08-29-2004, 08:23 PM

Ohh...sorry I misunderstood you.

I would say that having as much of the backstory figured out as you can before you start writing is probably a good thing. But...if you're getting bored or stuck with it and it's keeping you from writing your story, I would suggest that you go ahead and start writing. Otherwise, you might never even get started. Plus, I find that usually when I write, new and important ideas come to me as I go.

Selorian · 08-29-2004, 10:48 PM

Thanks for all the great advice!

I just spent 4 hours working non-stop on a more elaborate (yet still not complete) backstory. I have decided that I will stop there and just work on my story now, adding tidbits to it and the backstory as needed.

There for awhile I felt like I was going to write the prequel before I even wrote the novel!

Again thanks. And Dawn, no problem about the misunderstanding, it helped remind me about large chunks of info dump; something I am awful prone to at times.

Cliff

(I'm not good at punctuation either, but at least I tried in that last sentence. Hopefully it's close to being correct.)

Wyndham · 08-30-2004, 08:09 PM

I think that your knowing the backstory before you write can help you intersperse it throughout the story. In your writing you will automatically have people say a do revealing things, rather than have to stop your story to tell readers the history.

If you don't know it ahead of time, then you will probably have to go back and put it in from the beginning.

Talia_Brie · 08-31-2004, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wyndham

I think that your knowing the backstory before you write can help you intersperse it throughout the story. In your writing you will automatically have people say a do revealing things, rather than have to stop your story to tell readers the history.

If you don't know it ahead of time, then you will probably have to go back and put it in from the beginning.

I'd agree to this 100%, and look at LOTR as an example.

Plane · 09-05-2004, 05:17 AM

Great advice everyone - I am in the same situation.

I find myself afraid to move on without things worked out in the background for fear that I will hit a point where things need to be re-written to get around the backstory - but then I wonder if I will ever get to write the story if I stay on the backend too long.

Ralizah · 09-05-2004, 05:39 AM

Hmm, well, you must understand the characters and plot enough to present it skillfully, but creating an elaborate background beforehand isn't really neccesary.

Even if you're tacking stuff on all of the time, don't worry about it, smoothing things out is the point of the revision after you complete your first draft.

Just don't confuse yourself with it all, or otherwise, you'll lose control of your own creation.

Ryushi · 09-05-2004, 06:06 AM

Personally I spend hours and hours writing background infomation on every thing I can think of. (And not enough time actually writing)

I don't think it helps the story but it helps me better understand who and what I am writing about.

Ben M

Selorian · 09-05-2004, 06:07 AM

What I have done is get the main points of the history leading up to my story, kind of a History for Dummies

thing, written down.

I have brief histories for the major characters, places, beliefs, and day-to-day life. From these I believe I can safely write my story and be able to add new interesting things to the backstory and history as they are created from my story.

This basic foundation will hopefully work the way that I want it too.

Everyone has offered really good advice. Thanks very much.

Hopefully this topic will help others besides just me.

Cliff

Verago · 09-21-2004, 02:26 PM

Yeah, i never like to read the backstory first, because then there's not really a point to exploring the characters.