df118

Hi ya’ll. Can anyone give a first time poster some advice?

I’m about two thirds through writing a fantasy novel in which a character finds himself in a strange world without any idea who he is or how he got there. Soon in the story he meets another character, who also suffers a similar amnesia. She explains to the protagonist her back story in flashback.
My problem is that after surfing the internet for about half an hour I’ve found out that this is frowned upon in a big way, by pretty much everyone who ever picked up a pen.
It’s a picaresque fantasy and my character has walked right into the middle of a situation that is already unfolding, so I guess my question is this:
Does anyone think the use of flashbacks is justified here?
I’m 70,000 words in and looking back there’s a mega amount of flash back. It just seems that my situations are so out there that they wouldn’t make much sense without the device. And I’m trying to frame them as mini stories to better give an understanding of the overall plot and the world in which it takes place. Still-
Pls help thankyou!

gohn67

I was told that by my Film Teacher. SHe said don't use flash backs, dream sequences, and ellipses.

But my Fiction I teacher didn't seem to have a problem with it. Everyone seemed to be using flahsbacks in their stories.

For me I don't care, if you do it well, it doesn't matter.

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mswietek

I don't have a big problem with flashbacks, you just have to be aware of the risks. You're main story is going to be on hold while the flashback is being told, so you need to work harder to make it worth reading. A couple of things to keep in mind.

1) You say there is a mega amount of flashback. Look back over it and try to decide how much of the information the reader HAS to know for th estory to make sense. Can the "mega" be reduced to "somewhat mega"?

2) Does it really need to be done all at once? Can the characters reveal the past through conversations gradually, pieces at a time? Does it have to be a giant block?

3) Are there pieces of information that can be explained through narrative rather than through a scene? Narrative tends to move much more quickly. I know the mantra to show not tell, but telling can be warranted in situations like these.

So go ahead and flashback (even flash forward, if you want).

Harlequin

I agree with them. The only reason I don't use flashbacks is that 1) I haven't had the need yet and 2) I don't know how to do it well. A bad flashback is almost as bad as bad grammer and spelling, but a good flashback can work wonders.

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Anarkos

Do you want one big flashback or lots of shorter ones?

Look at how movies tend to handle amnesia. The character tends to have short flashes triggered by events.

That way, rather than putting the main story on hold for a longish time, you can swap between the present and past stories.

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df118

Well alright. Thanks for the advice. What I've done is I've changed the chronological order of the story a little, so the plot runs smoother now that some of the flashbacks have changed to action scenes.
I think. I’m new at this.

Ralizah

First off, stop worrying about the fact that 'the others frown on it.' If you want to use it, use it. You're the author.

As far as flashbacks, the only problem with them is that some stories use them as the crutch of the whole narrative, with the main plotline being completely dull. Be sure to make essential parts for the story. If all of your story is in flashbacks, then the main plot stops being the concern of the reader. Who cares about characters who are just dithering around while flashbacks give you all of the info? Just be sure to balance them. Well-done flashbacks can really enhance a story, but likewise, badly-done ones can bring down the story with them.

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lisajane

I use flashbacks. While the flashbacks generally hold the basis to the plot, I don't deliver mega flashback in one scoup. I have little tiny intevals of flashback threaded in with the present story.

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demon_

I don't care if a story has a flash back or not, just, like everybody says, to make it almost perfect because it can ruin the readers direction in the story.

But stories like Rats Of Nimh have great flash backs!

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Lord Raiden

Using flashbacks really depends on what you're talking about. General rule of thumb is that if you can avoid them, avoid them. In the novel I'm working on getting published right now I actually use a fair number of them. But there's a reason why. I start out by opening in the present with the main charecter in a rather tenuous situation, then drop back to various flashbacks that tell a history. So they serve a good purpose in that respect. It allows me to tell the story in the present while getting the user up to speed in the simplest way possible and to allow them to grow with the charecter and slowly get to know them over the course of the book. My last 1/4 of the book ends those flashbacks since all needed info has already been given to get the user up to speed and at that point I race right into the climax, final battle, and finale. hehe. Most other books I almost never use them simply because they don't work. But in this case it worked beautifully.

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