Thread: Short Story Question

How important is it in a short story to know lots of back story of the MC - like does she/he have a job, friends etc? Does it matter if it has no impact on the immediate story?

How much back story in information needs to be included? How much can be left to imagination?

A well-written short story might well include such things as "job friends etc" as part of the story. Back story becomes irrevalent, oops irrelevant.

A short story is primarily short, that means it focuses on the essential and if background is not important ... It might be important however to explain people's actions and reactions, not merely important to the direct plot line.

Thanks Michael and Olly.

I just use what is important to the story. For example, introducing my character through his or her job if it has a tie to the subject matter. Ask yourself, if I took this piece of information out of the story, would it still make any sense and prove my point effectively? Everything has its purpose in a story. However, extra research is nice if you want to causally mention something. I view this strictly as tid-bits of entertainment and just to dazzle the reader's curiosity, i.e., to educate the reader in some way for the sake of it. Keeping that sort of thing short and simple is best in a short story. It might be that you need to give readers the broader picture, create atmosphere, or an understanding of your story's background (i.e., how setting became more destructive or utopian, or how a character comes to act the way he does). I usually share what readers need to know and make it short enough to make its point. Everything is tight. A novel isn't all that much different, only that it might be the macrocosm to the short story, meaning you have more "room" to be detailed and flesh things out. I hope this helps.

Shadows,

With only 4000-5000 words to tell the story (at least that is the upper range of most short story markets), there isn't room for extensive backstory. If it's relevant to the plot and advances it in some way, include it. Limited use of direct characterization, for example, can convey what the reader needs to know more efficiently (in fewer words) than indirect characterization can. However, direct is less engaging than indirect, so there's a balance that must be struck.

In the end, it depends on the story to be told as to how many words it will take complete the telling. If a long and extensive backstory is required, then it may not be material appropriate for a short story length piece.