Writing Guidelines (The Do's and Dont's)

Topic #3: Backstories

Every single character in this world has a backstory. Every single one.

Seriously, every single character you can think of has some sort of story about them that's either mentioned or discussed in the story. Novel-wise I mean. Percy Jackson had a backstory. Harry Potter had a backstory. Katniss Everdeen had a backstory. Heck! Even Bella Swan had SOME sort of backstory.

A backstory is a series of events that have happened to a character before the events in the story have taken place. The character, regardless who it is, has had a life before the events take place. Unless they were literally born seconds before the book events take place.

Backstories don't have to be fully plannrd out from the day the character was born. It would depend on the age of the character in that case.

Still, don't be lazy. Develope a life for the character; go back a couple of weeks or months or even years, and just think about how they lived. Did they go to church on Sunday's? Did they go to the club on the weekends? What's their relationship with the people around them? Do they have loved ones?

Again, the list goes on an on and on.

And it doesn't just have to look at lifestyle. Think about the character's mental design. Why are they like the way they are? For example, if they have difficulties trusting others, give a little story as to why. Maybe they've been hurt too many times by those they trusted. Or maybe they just never learned how to trust because of the way they grew up?

Why? Why? Why? Why? This is the question you need to ask yourself when you look at your character and their backstory.

That's all I have for this topic! Any specific questions? Comment and/or PM it to me!

Next topic: Conflict

Stay positive and keep writing!

-Jasmine