Backstory 101 ~ Get a LIFE!

Everyone has one. A life, that is. It might not be a great life, but it's yours. Or maybe your life has been nearly perfect. Congrats and please consider adopting me. Most of us would say that we have experienced ups and downs throughout our lives. We have learned better who we are and what we are capable of, and, especially if you have procreated, your eyes have been opened to your weakest weaknesses. Children have a way of doing that, and it's both a gift and absolutely, positively, discouraging. Whichever end of the spectrum you claim, your experiences have made you who you are.

Backstory does the same thing for characters. It takes them from one-dimensional, to multi-faceted, well rounded, I-wanna-meet-this-person heroes and heroines.

Backstory is the backbone of your story. Without a backbone, what would the human body do? If you don't know the answer to that, research it out. You will be amazed at what we would look like without a backbone. And please remember that the same concept applies to your writing. More specifically, your characters.

We end our segment on Backstory with a Q&A. You ask the questions and I'll answer them. If no one asks a question then I'll pout.

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Backstory 101~Popping the Question (sort of)

Last weeks Barnyard Backstory 101 post gave you a visual of the reasons a writer should avoid dumping entire paragraphs into the beginning of the book. It ain't pretty.

Backstory within the first chapter slows the pacing of the story. Ideally, you should dole out backstory by raising questions. And one or two well placed questions will pique the curiosity of your reader making them want to continue reading. And isn't that what this is all about?

Since we're not in a rush here, let me give you an example of what I mean. In the first book of a new series of historical romances I'm working on, I needed to let the reader know that my hero's chosen employment as a sheepherder had not been entirely voluntary. Rather than stopping the story to explain the *backstory* that led my hero to the lonely life of sheepherding, I did this:

As always, the silence both soothed and made him restless. He loved the peace of the sheepherder, but hated the isolation. Yet it was the path he had chosen. Had been forced to choose. And he had only himself to blame for it.

What does this paragraph tell you about the man, and what question does it raise?

Person/s posting a comment that is closest to the correct answer will win a copy of my newest historical romance, or one of my two cozies--your choice. I'm all about choices!

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Barnyard Backstory 101

We interrupt the regularly scheduled lesson for a Barnyard Backstory moment. These moments are created by my friends, and meant to explain, with visual images, why backstory just ain't pretty.

"Peanut" will be your narrator. Say "hello" to Peanut!

Howdy, folks! Me and my buds are going to illustrate, as best as we know how, why that Backstory stuff ain't such a good idea.

First of all, backstory is about the hero's or heroine's (the protagonist's) journey. For the sake of this here lesson, the hero will be me. Ain't I handsome?

Now stick with me a moment while I get my helpers rounded up. Pamphyllius and Theophylus got purty names, but they're not the brightest steers. "Dumb Swiss" is what I heard the farmer call them. Me, I'm a Jersey, and that's purty smart in cow language.

Well, it looks like the dudes are getting into position, Theo on the left and Pamphyllius. . . well now, Pam just struck a beautiful pose. This exactly illustrates Back(side)story. Take a look at that, folks! The picture says it all. Backstory might as well be the backside of a cow. Any cow. No matter how you turn it, it ain't pretty.

MOO!

Now, what me and the boys are going to do here is show you how to use Backstory correctly. In one easy, visual.

Almost there.

And this is it, folks. Barnyard Backstory 101 at a glimpse. I represent the protagonist. You should see him (or her) up close and personal in that first chapter. Theo is in the middle and represents what is found out about the protagonist, not his Backstory, mind you, but little tidbits of his personality that shine through his interactions with other characters that only hint at his backstory. And Pam, there, he's the third layer and represents backstory. It's what you see the least of in this picture, and what the reader should see the least of in the book. Wasn't that fun? If it's alright with you, I'm gonna go back to eating. I'm hungry. Again. And no eating-like-a-cow-jokes either. You hear me?

Thank you, Peanut, Pam, and Theo, for illustrating Backside Story-er, Backstory. Pam, I'm sure my readers will remember that visual for a long time to come.

S. Dionne Moore is a slightly insane wife, mother, and writer. Okay, maybe more than slightly insane. I mean, who would think of using cows to illustrate Backstory? She is the author of six books, three zany cozy mysteries, of which one, Polly Dent Loses Grip, was just named a finalist in ACFW's Carol Awards. Her first historical romance, Promise of Tomorrow, released this month. Visit her at www.sdionnemoore.com. No cows are invited.

If you've read down this far and would like to be entered for a free copy of Polly Dent Loses Grip, leave a comment. Or cow humor. Whichever. :)

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