tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post2133097637241936904..comments2023-09-17T07:46:57.550-05:00Comments on Charity's Writing Journey: Story Problem #1: Too Much Back Story Opening NovelCharity Bradfordhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-33360911407770174842012-09-18T12:17:45.097-05:002012-09-18T12:17:45.097-05:00THIS is why I struggle! I love those kinds of begi...THIS is why I struggle! I love those kinds of beginnings too, even with science fiction. Sometimes it's just better to get to know your world and characters before jumping off the cliff with them. Unfortuantely, I gave in a long time ago because all I wanted was to be published. I even rewrote my first chapter because I was told that although my prologue is one of the best my editor has seen in a long time, most people skip them. So sad, because my prologue is pretty darn amazing.<br /><br />Maybe when I reach Stephanie Meyer's level of fame I can slow things down to my pace. ;)Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-72007635219539579712012-09-18T11:58:05.925-05:002012-09-18T11:58:05.925-05:00I think your examples are great. But I just wanted...I think your examples are great. But I just wanted to defend backstory a little in writing...particularly, epic fantasy. If you ask any non-writer (my friend James is one of them) who adores epic fantasy and reads these huge books, Charity, (I mean they are enormously thick) they will tell you that one of the things that they love is back story. And they don't like beginnings that start off in the action either. They like these slow build ups with what most young adult writers will shun away from...you know the kind, "The sun rose over the hills and filled the misty glen with shadows but already the people of the village were hard at work in the fields." I just made that up, but that's the kind of beginnings they like. Slow and boring, that soon involve these epic fantasy themes of knights and dragons and royalty, etc.<br /><br />So it's a different animal (I think) when it comes to epic fantasy. And don't even get me started on word count. Epic Fantasy has no rules as far as that goes.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-82602113958814026512012-09-18T10:20:46.470-05:002012-09-18T10:20:46.470-05:00Amen! If we know it during that first draft it can...Amen! If we know it during that first draft it can save a LOT of re-writing.Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-30916460094165268242012-09-18T10:07:42.108-05:002012-09-18T10:07:42.108-05:00I used to (and really still do) fall victim to ton...I used to (and really still do) fall victim to tons of backstory in the opening pages. The difference is, now I *know* not to include info dumps, so before anyone else reads I just start the story where the action begins. I think it's good for the author to know all of that info from the very beginning of the first draft.Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09962862566388212238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-47634792001541993832012-09-17T20:15:34.395-05:002012-09-17T20:15:34.395-05:00I think flash back are tricky too. If done right t...I think flash back are tricky too. If done right they can be the perfect way to get in a bit of back story. However, I think flashbacks are over used as an info dump tool. And more often than not, they are WAY too long. Perhaps this is the real key to back story in any form--brevity. A line, a paragraph at most here and there is really enough. Even flashbacks can be slipped in so that the reader almost misses that they went back in time.<br /><br />I don't use any flashbacks in <i>The Magic Wakes</i>, at least not that I can remember. But here is one from <i>Fade Into Me</i>:<br />(127 words)<br />"It's so beautiful." I let go of the cord and stepped carefully to the side for a better view. <br />Carter took over the heat and we lifted higher. "I knew you would enjoy this."<br />I gasped and gripped the side tighter. One moment he stood in the basket wearing his jeans and t-shirt, then everything spun until he stood at the top of a staircase. His hand was held out to me, his clothes suggestive of a renaissance fair complete with a silver circlet around his head. He was the only solid thing in a swirl of moving color. <br />"What is it Ryanne?" He let go of the cord and pulled me back to the middle of the basket and reality once more. "Are you all right?"<br /><br />I think it works because Ry doesn't even realize it <b>IS</b> a flashback. The reader knows, but she doesn't. <br /><br />And thank you for my UB topic! I won't come up again for a few weeks, but it's good to have an idea for topic before getting to it. ;)<br />Charity Bradfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01960821077619680661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7762622439282650752.post-52395514254023730472012-09-17T19:16:26.604-05:002012-09-17T19:16:26.604-05:00I really don't know the answer to that questio...I really don't know the answer to that question yet as backstory is something I struggle with. I fear info dumping so much that I don't put in enough information and that confuses the reader. At the same time my MC's past is very important to her current mental state and my climax so I have to balance telling the reader about that without "stopping my forward motion."<br /><br />How do you feel flash backs pertain to back story?<br /><br />You should really consider doing your next Unicorn Bell week over this. Your examples were quite good and, I felt, informative.Brooke R. Bussehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17147444223968856153noreply@blogger.com