The Importance of Backstory Pt. 2 - Do you need it?
So does a writer really need to have backstory? Yes.
Even if you are writing a short story, whether you realize it or not you know at least a little bit of how your character got to be there. That’s backstory.
In a novel, backstory expands even further. How did your world come into being? How did the city you’re writing about get to where it is now (financial ruin, prosperity)?
Basically, how did your world get to where it is at the point you type/write your first word?
If you’re anything like me, the backstory comes as the story comes. A new character gets a little character sketch to be filed away with the others. A new town or village gets added to the map and a little description is added in the locations section.
Why do you need backstory?
Imagine going to two lectures at a university. In one, the speaker knows exactly what he’s talking about. The way he speaks with confidence about his subject makes you feel comfortable so you can focus on what he’s saying rather than him.
Now you go to the next lecture and the speaker seems to be talking about something he’s just come across five minutes before. Instead of being able to focus on the message, you can’t help but focus on the speaker. You become uncomfortable for him for a while until your mind drifts off to other things.
While a novel isn’t quite a live speaker, the basics still apply. You want your reader to lose him/herself in the story, not be distracted by oddities that don’t make sense or a lack of confidence in your words.
You may or may not reveal parts or all of your backstory, but even if you don’t, it still lends a confidence to your words - a confidence that is a key part of writing with a strong voice.
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