Questions tagged [backstory]
Should be used for questions about a history or background created for a fictional character in a piece of writing.
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What are the dos and don'ts of using flashbacks, memories, dreams, and stories within a longer narrative?
There are many different ways for a writer to provide information about a character's backstory, for example:
Flashbacks: The reader reads the scene as if transported back through time.
Memories: The ...
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Can I write a character that does not technically exist? They are an alter identity(?) of another character
I’m currently planning my characters, and wanted to grab some opinions.
I’m planning to have three main-ish characters, where the third character is more of an alternate identity of the second ...
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Should someone offering a mass-murdering quest be humanized with a backstory?
From my understanding, violence or sex doesn't really matter in videogames; it's all about tone.
For example:
A game where you snipe people for no reason, simply portraying you as a maniac, would be ...
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Can you help me find the balance where the prologue character's ending remains ambiguous w/o making the reader think they're a main character?
I'm currently working on an epic fantasy book, and I've run into a bit of a dilemma regarding the prologue and the introduction of my main character's backstory.
In my prologue, I've introduced a ...
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How do I handle a backstory for a surprise revealed at the climactic scene?
I am writing a story, which involves the main character springing a big and dramatic surprise on their adversary in court.
A large part of the story involves the explanation/backstory of how he came ...
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How to find or create a mantra or guiding quote for a character?
I'm in the process of developing a character for a story right now, and I want to come up with some sort of mantra or repeatable quote the character can repeat to themselves over the course of the ...
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What factors can be used to make a villain more relatable to readers?
In situations where a character is an irredeemable and unrepentant villain (pedophile) but is just a regular everyman character in every other respect (he looks, acts, and speaking in an unremarkable ...
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Stuck on villain's motivation and backstory [closed]
My villain is an animal-human chimera who was raised by a human. She will later hate humanity and want it extinct, but I'm unsure what would cause her to want to destroy the entire human race.
She ...
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How to write a monologue that reveals a backstory?
My short story is from a third person POV, but I wanted to write a chapter in which the protagonist is doing a monologue that will tell details of her traumatic past, being kidnapped by a pedophile, ...
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When, and how should I bring in my character's backstory?
I am about halfway through my story, and I realized I haven't brought in very much of my character's backstory. Any tips on where to bring that in, and how?
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How to find the right starting point for your story?
I have my story plotted out, but as I’ve been writing, I’ve realized that my main character’s backstory is swimming with potential. I’ve been weaving it in, slowly revealing details and flashbacks ...
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I want to write a scenario where the main culprit is controlling someone to commit crimes
I want to write a story where the main culprit is controlling someone to commit crimes. Is there any way like medicine or psychology to control someone?
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When do you reveal a backstory of a character?
Many characters have a backstory and it is usually sad. However I do wonder, when is it that you have to reveal a character's backstory. I've watched some videos of writers explaining how to reveal a ...
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Best way to clue reader into a character's backstory?
I'm currently making a draft for my next writing project, and I'm not sure if one of my ideas is something I should do.
Is it a good idea to only give snippets of backstory, through the actions of the ...
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Would this be considered racist?
I am a young author writing a fantasy series. I’m re-reading the manuscript of my first book and noticed something about sun elves. I know this question is a little long but bear with me.
Sun elves ...
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