tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post7466253619404913802..comments2023-12-08T13:21:54.131-08:00Comments on Dangerous With a Pen: Pace and Backstory (Or... An Area in Which I Have Issues)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-81304568814597243992010-10-20T15:29:23.353-07:002010-10-20T15:29:23.353-07:00I think it's like trying to tap into your char...I think it's like trying to tap into your character's thought process. We are constantly thinking about things in our past when we see things that remind us of it. We just have to find a way for our characters to do this naturally. Ugh. I'm going to have a ton of this in my nano book. I hope I succeed. Or at least fail humorously. :DHannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915603693944523761noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-77791515117941068772010-10-20T07:56:00.767-07:002010-10-20T07:56:00.767-07:00Well, at least I'm not the only one, lol. It ...Well, at least I'm not the only one, lol. It sounds like some of you have some different ways of dealing with backstory. I do agree that the reader may not need to know all that I know, so I guess it's a matter of just dropping in what is key to understanding the current part of the story (for example, in The Hunger Games, we don't find out what the deal is with District 13 until the end of the 2nd book). <br /><br />For me, the backstory that is pressing in the beginning can be shown in one scene, which I had originally written as a prologue. The problem for me is that that "prologue" ended up more chapter-length than teaser-length. Hrmmm. Ahh, revision!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16418440256681984621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-18307304799891388282010-10-20T07:05:53.156-07:002010-10-20T07:05:53.156-07:00i guess for me i typically write a prologue during...i guess for me i typically write a prologue during the first draft. And then i delete it during revisions. It typically turns out OKSarah Ahiershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795455714801965956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-8093895786694247982010-10-20T05:52:57.907-07:002010-10-20T05:52:57.907-07:00As a reader, it seems to me that backstory works w...As a reader, it seems to me that backstory works well when I've "hungered" for it--hints in the text that foreshadow the backstory. That way when it appears, it's the tasty morsel that I've has been craving.Connie Kellerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774616533630985219noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-91256164443261309172010-10-20T02:26:59.599-07:002010-10-20T02:26:59.599-07:00Oh Dangerous with a Pen!!!! When I started editing...Oh Dangerous with a Pen!!!! When I started editing my current WIP I realised just how much backstory I had - every chapter had one!! And while for me it made sense I was so aware of it but was loathe to cut them out. I sort of compromised and edited to the bare minimum any backstory - and to this day I still think it works but who knows - I might be completely blinkered!! LOL!!<br /><br />Anyway! I hope you do re-visit your ms asap and give your muse a rude awakening!! GOOD LUCK!!!<br /><br />Take care<br />xOld Kittyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13185547869183611159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-79845095606281689952010-10-19T20:31:55.449-07:002010-10-19T20:31:55.449-07:00Ah yes, pace. It can be so hard to work in all tha...Ah yes, pace. It can be so hard to work in all that backstory and to bring your world (in fantasy, anyway) to life without breaking the action. <br /><br />Sometimes I'm afraid to start giving backstory. How will I know when to stop? I love my world, and I know I could go on about it for a long, long time. <br /><br />That, however, doesn't mean I should, or that the reader wants me to.Claudie A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10726598163986994132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-40046115214595402522010-10-19T20:24:01.018-07:002010-10-19T20:24:01.018-07:00THE HUNGER GAMES is a great book to study. I learn...THE HUNGER GAMES is a great book to study. I learned a lot from just the way Suzanne Collins transitions between scenes.<br /><br />And yes, she slips that backstory in piece by piece that you don't even realize you're reading backstory.<br /><br />Good luck on your revisions! ;)Karen Stronghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08697785820907711723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-58391429984624083392010-10-19T19:21:36.761-07:002010-10-19T19:21:36.761-07:00Pace can be hard! I'm currently in a rewrite t...Pace can be hard! I'm currently in a rewrite trying to fix mine! Good luck :)Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2940470221686681297.post-73921059276846865932010-10-19T18:33:57.651-07:002010-10-19T18:33:57.651-07:00heehee.. LOVE the note from your pen!
pacing was...heehee.. LOVE the note from your pen! <br />pacing was a big problem in my wip- one of the main reasons i decided on a nearly complete rewrite. <br />as i've been studying writing and been reading more, i've found that i enjoy a faster pace than i ever realized. <br />backstory- how much is absolutely necessary for the novel to make sense? how much is intersting? you could employ several different techniques to trickle the backstory in. also, remember that just because you as the author need to know all the backstory for your characters and settings and world, the reader doesn't necessarily need to know everything at the get go. learning about the story's past gradually can keep the mystery and interest going... it's like dating- you don't tell the guy about all your baggage on the first date- just the important stuff. the more the reader gets along in the story, the more baggage they'll want to know. at least that's kinda where i was going wrong.<br />have fun!vic caswell https://www.blogger.com/profile/01218698236837610704noreply@blogger.com