Comments on: Putting Storyworld Information Into Your Novel http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/ America's Mad Professor of Fiction Writing Mon, 21 May 2012 04:11:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Seth http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17107 Seth Thu, 24 Feb 2011 02:31:56 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17107 Thanks for the post Randy! I've been wanting to ask this very same question for a long time. I always feel like it's really obvious when I try to put backstory into dialogue. I guess I just have to get used to it. Lately I've been trying to avoid doing any backstory at all because I find that no matter how I do it it comes across as interrupting the story too much. It's nice to know that holding off on the backstory is not only ok, but often the better way to go. Thanks for the post Randy!

I’ve been wanting to ask this very same question for a long time. I always feel like it’s really obvious when I try to put backstory into dialogue. I guess I just have to get used to it.

Lately I’ve been trying to avoid doing any backstory at all because I find that no matter how I do it it comes across as interrupting the story too much.
It’s nice to know that holding off on the backstory is not only ok, but often the better way to go.

]]> By: Jules Andre http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17110 Jules Andre Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:18:25 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17110 Seth, if you don't mind me replying to your point there, I think it probably feels obvious to you because one of the characters involved in the dialogue has no reason to discuss/know what you're saying, and you can feel that (even if subconsciously). One use of backstory I've found is to "show" a passage of time. If a character is on a journey, for example, some backstory in between a period of a few story days will help the reader "feel" a passage of time (since it slows down the narrative). Frankly I only ever put in backstory if I need to slow things down a bit, like after a lot of dialogue (or in between) or action. Assuming of course, we need to know the stuff in the first place! Pardon for that, it's just nice to be able to share some stuff I've learned the hard way. Seth, if you don’t mind me replying to your point there, I think it probably feels obvious to you because one of the characters involved in the dialogue has no reason to discuss/know what you’re saying, and you can feel that (even if subconsciously).

One use of backstory I’ve found is to “show” a passage of time. If a character is on a journey, for example, some backstory in between a period of a few story days will help the reader “feel” a passage of time (since it slows down the narrative). Frankly I only ever put in backstory if I need to slow things down a bit, like after a lot of dialogue (or in between) or action. Assuming of course, we need to know the stuff in the first place!

Pardon for that, it’s just nice to be able to share some stuff I’ve learned the hard way.

]]> By: Kerry Meacham http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17117 Kerry Meacham Thu, 24 Feb 2011 11:16:07 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17117 Great advice that is the most difficult for new novel writers to comprehend. I know, I'm a novel newbie. Thanks for the tips Randy. Great advice that is the most difficult for new novel writers to comprehend. I know, I’m a novel newbie. Thanks for the tips Randy.

]]> By: James Thayer http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17121 James Thayer Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:57:59 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17121 Literary agent Donald Maass said, “The number one mistake I see in manuscript submissions is a failure to put the main conflict in place quickly enough. In fact, it is the primary reason I reject over 90 percent of the material I receive.” A chief culprit: backstory. Too much backstory too early is a manuscript prospect-killer. Nothing contained later in a manuscript can overcome backstory delivered too early because agents and editors won’t read beyond the backstory. This is such a difficult notion for many writers. They want to set up everything with lots of explanations of what has happened before putting the story in motion. If our novel begins on August 1, save everything that happened before August 1 for well into the story, and then make it brief. In my editing and teaching, this is one of the most important lessons for writers. <strong>Randy adds a comment</strong>: Good point, James. I agree with Donald on this one. This is the biggest problem I see when I read manuscripts at conferences. It's the biggest problem in my critique group (you know who you are, critique buddies!). It's the biggest problem every agent and editor sees. A lot of professional writers have a rule that they won't put in any backstory in the first fifty pages. But they almost always violate the rule because they think that a little backstory won't hurt. Then they give their work to their critique buddies and get their butts kicked. Yes, this happens to me. It happens to everybody. Literary agent Donald Maass said, “The number one mistake I see in manuscript submissions is a failure to put the main conflict in place quickly enough. In fact, it is the primary reason I reject over 90 percent of the material I receive.” A chief culprit: backstory. Too much backstory too early is a manuscript prospect-killer. Nothing contained later in a manuscript can overcome backstory delivered too early because agents and editors won’t read beyond the backstory. This is such a difficult notion for many writers. They want to set up everything with lots of explanations of what has happened before putting the story in motion. If our novel begins on August 1, save everything that happened before August 1 for well into the story, and then make it brief. In my editing and teaching, this is one of the most important lessons for writers.

Randy adds a comment: Good point, James. I agree with Donald on this one. This is the biggest problem I see when I read manuscripts at conferences. It’s the biggest problem in my critique group (you know who you are, critique buddies!). It’s the biggest problem every agent and editor sees. A lot of professional writers have a rule that they won’t put in any backstory in the first fifty pages. But they almost always violate the rule because they think that a little backstory won’t hurt. Then they give their work to their critique buddies and get their butts kicked. Yes, this happens to me. It happens to everybody.

]]> By: Dre http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17124 Dre Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:24:15 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17124 Thanks Randy&Jules, for this simple but unobvious advice. It'll definitely help. Thanks Randy&Jules, for this simple but unobvious advice. It’ll definitely help.

]]> By: Geoff Breitling http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17127 Geoff Breitling Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:44:46 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17127 Fantastic advice Randy and posters! I am definitely guilty of dumping backstory on the front end. My challenge is to find the balance that works within specific scenes. Thanks! Fantastic advice Randy and posters! I am definitely guilty of dumping backstory on the front end. My challenge is to find the balance that works within specific scenes. Thanks!

]]> By: Obinna Ozoigbo http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17292 Obinna Ozoigbo Wed, 02 Mar 2011 19:01:51 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17292 Oh, my! I did my first published book with a lot of backstory! In fact, I began with backstory! A lot! Little wonder, I suffered so many rejections before I quickly decided to self-publish it. What shall I do, Randy? Call it up for some kind of post-production modifications/corrections? Oh, my! I did my first published book with a lot of backstory! In fact, I began with backstory! A lot! Little wonder, I suffered so many rejections before I quickly decided to self-publish it. What shall I do, Randy? Call it up for some kind of post-production modifications/corrections?

]]> By: Russ J. http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17422 Russ J. Sun, 06 Mar 2011 01:47:14 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17422 Backstory is like the bread in a sandwich -- it's best if the slices I use are fresh, made of natural grains, and just thick enough to hold the main ingredients together. Thanks for the reminder Randy. Backstory is like the bread in a sandwich — it’s best if the slices I use are fresh, made of natural grains, and just thick enough to hold the main ingredients together. Thanks for the reminder Randy.

]]> By: Melissa Prado http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17883 Melissa Prado Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:33:42 +0000 http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2011/02/23/putting-storyworld-information-into-your-novel/#comment-17883 My favorite metaphor about backstory is that it's like eating an elephant - you can't just dump it on someone and expect them to eat it all up; it must be served one bite at a time. :) Nobody cares about the mindblowingly original and complex storyworld you've created until they care about the characters in the story, so give your readers some action and introduce the characters first, then sprinkle the storyworld information throughout in small bites. My favorite metaphor about backstory is that it’s like eating an elephant - you can’t just dump it on someone and expect them to eat it all up; it must be served one bite at a time. :) Nobody cares about the mindblowingly original and complex storyworld you’ve created until they care about the characters in the story, so give your readers some action and introduce the characters first, then sprinkle the storyworld information throughout in small bites.

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