How to Write Backstory Effectively

Backstory is all the history and past events that shape a character’s current motivations, fears, and desires. To write a character backstory well can deepen the narrative and create a character that the reader can connect with, a poorly crafted backstory risks bogging down your narrative or, worse, boring your reader with unnecessary detail.

As an author of 28 books, I know I made some truly sloppy mistakes at the onset of my career. In The Legacy, for example, I committed the cardinal sin of the ‘info dump’. I began with chapters of backstory rather than diving right into the action and weaving the backstory artfully (and in bite-sized, manageable chunks) through the book. As part of my writing guide, I thought it would be a good idea to show you how to write character backstory effectively to enhance your storytelling so you don’t have to make that mistake.

First, however, you need to know how to introduce backstory in your novel:

How to Introduce Character Backstory

1. Through Dialogue (for eg: the main character might reveal trauma through a heartfelt conversation with a friend, or a session with a therapist)
2. Through character thoughts (internal monologue):
3. Through interactions with other characters, or secondary characters observations

Keeping these three methods in mind, it’s time to learn how to write character backstory effectively.

1. Make Backstory Relevant

The whole purpose of the backstory is to explain the motivation for your character’s actions in the present. It needs to be relevant to the current plot and character behavior. Ask yourself if the piece of history you are providing affects your character’s decisions, relationships, and conflicts. The backstory being divulged should influence your characters’ interactions and growth throughout the book.

2. Integrate Backstory Gradually

Don’t do what I did in The Legacy and bombard your reader with an info dump. Avoid large chunks of backstory. The best example I can give of how to do this perfectly comes from the Harry Potter series. Think of how much you know about the history of Hogwarts and the characters. At no point did J.K Rowling word-vomit the entire backstory. Instead, she weaved it masterfully throughout the series, giving us backstory in delightful snippets as and when they were necessary to understand the plot.

This gradual approach helps to maintain momentum and keep the reader engaged without overwhelming them.

3. Show Don’t Tell

Rather than just telling the reader your backstory, try to show them through the actions and reactions of the characters. For example, instead of writing ‘John was afraid of water since he had almost drowned as a child’, you could say something like: ‘John’s legs trembled as he approached the edge of the pool, his gaze fixed on the water as though it might reach out of the pool and smother him’.

4. Use Flashbacks Sparingly

Flashbacks are a powerful tool but they should never be overused. If not used sparingly, flashbacks can disrupt the flow of the narrative and confuse the reader. In The Clock Keeper, I had to use multiple flashbacks as the book was set in two different time periods, so I had to ensure that the transitions were clear and that there was never any confusion for the reader. It’s a very tricky balance!

The best advice I can offer, based on my own experience, is to only incorporate a flashback if it is absolutely crucial to understanding the scene. Whether to justify a character’s behavior or reveal a pivotal plot point, your flashbacks should always have a clear purpose.

5. Write Compelling Backstory

A compelling backstory is complex and evokes emotion in the reader. The backstory elements should not just contribute to character growth and story progression, but should also be interesting in and of themselves.

6. Balance Backstory and Present Action

Be careful that your backstory does not overshadow your present plot. The primary focus should always be on the current events, and the backstory should serve only to support those events and plot. Finding a balance can be tricky, but it is imperative to maintain momentum and keep readers invested in the unfolding story rather than getting lost in past events.

7. Consider Your Character’s Perspective

The backstory should always be perceived through the character’s lens. Try to ground yourself in how your character perceives their past events, rather than how you perceive them. The character’s perception can significantly affect their current behavior, thought process, and emotional state. A character who views their past hardships as a learning experience, for example, will approach new challenges differently than a character who sees those same events as setbacks.

8. Write Backstory to Build Tension

Backstory can ratchet tension and build conflict, giving us authors a lot of material to work with. Unresolved issues or hidden secrets from the character’s past, for example, can drive the plot and create suspense, all of which keeps readers intrigued.

9. Ensure Consistency

We’ve all heard the old adage that consistency is key, and this holds true when incorporating backstory into your novel. Make sure that the details you provide in the backstory align with the current plot. Discrepancy or loss of logic can confuse the reader and undermine the credibility of your narrative.

10. Refine and Rewrite Backstory through Reader Feedback

Keep refining your backstory through feedback from editors and beta readers. They can provide valuable insight and strengthen your plot by letting you know whether the backstory enhances or detracts from your story. Don’t be afraid to cull any backstory that is not serving your story!

In closing, it is important to remember that backstory is not just a backdrop, but a vital part of your narrative. Knowing how to write backstory effectively will drives and shape your characters and their growth throughout your book. Do it justice, and your story will be richer for it.