Do you want to write stories that have unforgettable characters? Crafting a captivating backstory for your characters is a great way to make them come to life. The back story is an integral part of any character and can greatly influence their actions and motivations throughout the story. In this blog post, we’ll explore seven different ways to write riveting back stories for your characters and make them truly unique. Whether you’re writing a novel or a screenplay, these tips will help you craft an engaging and compelling back story.
Introduce the character early on
When writing characters, one of the most important things to do is make sure that you introduce them early on in your story. This gives the reader a chance to get to know them and get invested in the character’s journey. Doing this helps to make your stories more engaging and riveting as the reader follows along on the character’s path.
It is important to start the story off with an introduction to the character and provide some background information about them. This should include who they are, what they look like, what their goals are, and how they ended up in the situation they are in. It should also provide enough information to draw the reader in and make them want to find out more. Once you have established your main character, you can start to develop the rest of your story.
Give them a goal to strive for
One of the most important aspects of making stories and writing characters is to give them a goal to strive for. Every character should have an ultimate goal that they are working towards, whether it’s something physical (such as a quest) or something emotional (such as redemption).
Having this goal in place will help to make the story more compelling and give the character a sense of direction. It will also provide them with the motivation to move forward and keep striving toward that end. A strong, relatable goal can give readers an understanding of the character’s plight and encourage them to root for their success. Make sure to think carefully about what your character wants and how this will drive them throughout the story
Make the stakes high
In order to make a character’s backstory truly riveting, it’s important to make the stakes high for them. For example, if your character is trying to find a cure for a terminal illness, their life and the lives of others depend on their success. This makes readers more invested in the character, as their fate could be determined by their success or failure. You can also make the stakes emotional or psychological, such as when a character is trying to overcome a deep trauma in their past. Whatever the stakes are, make sure they are high enough that readers are compelled to follow your character’s journey.
Incorporate flashbacks
Flashbacks are a great way to tell your character’s backstory and provide more insight into their motivations and psychology. It’s a technique that can be used to delve into a character’s past and show how it has shaped them in the present. This can help the reader better understand your character’s decisions and motivations, which can make for a more interesting story.
When incorporating flashbacks, make sure to use them strategically. It can be easy to get carried away and overload the story with too much backstory. Be sure to only include important details that add something meaningful to the story. Start off slowly by introducing the flashback through dialogue or a brief dream sequence that piques the reader’s interest. As the story progresses, it gradually reveals more information about the character’s past until it becomes clear why they are making the choices they are making.
A good way to balance your story is by alternating between the present and the past. This will keep the reader engaged and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed or bored with too much backstory. Additionally, it’s important to stay consistent with the details you introduce in the flashback. Make sure they fit with the timeline of the story and that they don’t contradict any details you have previously revealed.
Flashbacks can be a powerful tool for crafting a compelling character backstory, but it’s important to use them judiciously. Follow these tips to make sure your flashbacks add something meaningful to your story and help build an engaging, three-dimensional character.
Reveal their flaws
A great way to make your characters feel real is by giving them flaws. This will allow the reader to relate to them, as well as understand their motivations better. A flaw could be anything from a physical disability to a deep-seated fear or insecurity. It doesn’t have to be obvious right away, either; you can slowly reveal more about your character’s flaws as the story progresses. It’s a great way to add depth and complexity to your character, as well as add tension to the story. When done correctly, having your characters reveal their flaws can make your story more riveting, allowing the reader to understand why the character is making certain decisions and ultimately investing in their journey.
Let the reader get to know them
When it comes to writing a back story for your character, it’s important to let the reader get to know them. Give them some depth and backstory that will help the reader connect with the character. Describe the character’s motivations, interests, hobbies, strengths, and weaknesses. Talk about their family background or any unique experiences they’ve had.
These details can help make the character feel more real and three-dimensional and will give the reader more insight into their motivations and behavior. Showing how the character interacts with the people around them can also help bring them to life. When readers can relate to a character, it makes it easier for them to stay engaged with the story.