You wouldn't deny the fact that stories are the most powerful weapon when it comes to alleviating human sentiments at the top-most level this world has ever imagined. You can cross the threshold and take your imagination beyond the horizon. The sky is the limit. A writer pushes, pulls, and goes through all sorts of emotional turbulence to yield a plethora of intense emotions out of readers. According to the Sanskrit mantra from Chandyogya Upanishads, Aham Brahmasmi (अहं ब्रह्मास्मि) meaning,
"You're a complete universe within yourself"
All you need to learn is how to use the resources at your expense to create a masterpiece that can move people. Give your readers something to bite on. They say that you read stories to escape reality but I disagree. It's not about escaping reality but understanding reality better from different perspectives. In a story, I always found character backstories to be fascinating because without a backdrop your characters are a mere tool of nameless soul. After the hit-and-trial method, I have finally jotted down the top 5 game-changing secrets for crafting character backstories. Without any further ado, let's get started-
Connect It to the present
Many writers frequently create character backstories that are disconnected from the current plot, leading to confusion between defining the character’s traits and their background. This mistake might be unintentional, but it can give the impression of amateur writing, suggesting a lack of direction or understanding of the craft. Professionalism requires a seamless integration of backstory and plot, ensuring that every detail serves the story's overall purpose.
Personally, my thoughts now and then always delve into the past.
So, when it comes to crafting a character's backstory, I find it amusing since it involves the commingling of research, facts and emotions. A perfect cocktail for novelists.
It's quintessential to connect the backstory to the present. A character's history should have a direct-forward influence on their present actions, beliefs, and inspirations. This connection not only makes the character more relatable, relevant and realistic but also enriches the whole narration by adding layers of depth and complexity.
By integrating the backstory into the present, you ensure that the character's past experiences are not just isolated events but integral parts of their development. For instance, a character who experienced betrayal in the past by a narcissistic partner may struggle with trust issues in the present with people who exhibit the same personality. This creates a sense of continuity and allows the reader to understand the character's behavior on a deeper level. It also helps them resonate with the character's emotions, making the entire reading experience more compelling.
2. Unveil It with Purpose
The most significant thing to keep in mind while unveiling a character's backstory is to serve your story's purpose. You are on a mission to enhance the reader's connection with the character. There are a few ways to do so.
You can always justify actions meaning give readers a reason explaining why a character makes a certain decision or behaves in a particular way. This adds to the character's motivations.
Instead of narrating or simply writing down in a big paragraph, show it to them by weaving dialogues, actions or memories. Let the reader do the homework and use their imagination or experiences to discover the backstory through subtle hints.
Create an emotional impact by heightening the emotional stakes and deepening the reader's empathy for the character. Highlight how significant events in the character's history have emotionally affected them. This can include past traumas, successes, or failures that continue to influence their present life. It may sound hoarse but yes, play with the feelings.
Suspense is the key to a pure-dead brilliant story. You can tease the readers by bringing it to the protagonist's memory bit by bit. Create mystery, downfall, and anticipation. Give your readers enough to keep them intrigued and glued to your story. Make them turn the page.
By unveiling a character’s backstory with purpose, you not only enrich the narrative but also create a more engaging and resonant experience for your readers.
3. Show the Struggles
In a world where everyone is battling to achieve their goals, your story can stand out by introducing conflicts and character development.
By showcasing struggles in a character's backstory, you add depth and relatability, making the character more complex and authentic.
These struggles drive their motivations, enhance emotional engagement, and support their growth. Additionally, they create meaningful conflict, enriching your narrative and making the story more captivating.
4. Keep It Secondary to the Main Plot
I understand how challenging it can be to respond to a verbose writer, especially with everything else on your mind. When I first started as a creative writer, I struggled to keep my paragraphs concise, often ending up with overly long passages that veered off track and got lost in sub-plots. To avoid this, always keep your background story or subplots secondary to the main plot. Think of them as accessories to your novel, not the main focus.
5. Reveal Deeper Character Insight
The secret to making a backstory effective is to reveal hidden character insights that haven’t yet been disclosed in the current story. You need to filter events, dates, places, past storylines, and timings that will help connect the dots for readers as the character’s story unfolds. You can create a nuanced portrait in the following ways:
Uncover Hidden Motivations: Jump into the character's past life to reveal underlying reasons for their current behaviour and choices. Give your readers reasoning and space to let them form their valuable opinions that can later serve in the story profoundly.
Explore Relationships: Examine, study and research key relationships from the character's past, such as family dynamics, friendships, foes, or rivalries. These relationships can provide insight into their values, fears, strengths, and desires.
Reveal Conflicts and Resolutions: Consider, the past conflicts and how the character dealt with them. This adds gravity by showing how they handle gruesome challenges and what they've learned from them.
Integrate Symbolism and Themes: Use symbolic elements or recurring themes in the character’s past to tie their backstory to the main plot. This can help underline key aspects of their personality and journey.
Once again, I would strongly like to urge all the writers who are reading this, don't be afraid of taking risks. Don't be afraid to be experimental and playful. Avoid the same old mundane subplots and history of the character and just pour your heart out. Speak your mind and I am sure you will pass with flying colours. Keep writing.
ABOUT THE BLOGGER
RUCHI ACHARYA
Ruchi Acharya is a distinguished author based in Mumbai, India, renowned for her captivating book Off the Cliff. With a prolific presence in the literary world, Ruchi has been featured in over 100 journals globally. Her academic pursuits include a summer course in English Literature from the University of Oxford, which further fueled her passion for British classics. As the founder of Wingless Dreamer Publisher, she continues to champion emerging voices in literature. Ruchi’s writing is deeply influenced by her love for poetry, which remains her greatest strength, and she is celebrated for her insightful and evocative storytelling.
Website: https://www.ruchiacharya.com
"All worries are less with wine."
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