#14- 3 Elements of Your Backstory

We all have a backstory.

Our backstory is the story that has led us up to this point in our lives.  This is the exciting element of meeting someone new: you get to hear their backstory.  I've chosen to take a snippet from my book on writing to help you get a better idea of how powerful backstory is.

"O.K, so lets say the main character of your story is Backwoods Bob. Where did he come from? What has led him up to this point in the story you are about to begin. Did he rob a bank in Toledo, to donate to a benevolent charity. A charity he felt passionate about but otherwise could not contribute to. Maybe a girl broke his heart and he left his job with UPS and used his savings to buy a one way ticket to Fairbanks Alaska. 

Until you’ve thought about your backstory you are not ready to write. Period. 

Bob. Backwoods Bob that is. His real name might be Robert Livingston. Well, he has a history. He has baggage. There’s a reason he lives in isolation. You can go back even further. Maybe in first grade his best friend died of cancer. Wait, not just any friend, Petey Ricker. He met Petey the first day of Kindergarten when Petey stuck up for him on the bus when Tom Tanks, the village bully, was threatening to punch Bob in the nose. Petey hit Tom Tanks over the head with his brown bag lunch and the rest is history."

So what's your backstory?  Take some time to reflect and you may be surprised.  Beautiful overtones in your story will arise when you take time to know your backstory.  Consider the fact that we all are a bundle of strengths and weaknesses and the story gets even better.

Here are three important elements of backstory.

1) Place: Nothing tells us more about a person than the places they've lived and their influences.

2) People: We're able to piece the puzzle together even more when we're introduced to the people who have impacted a character's life.

3) Poetry: Good backstory doesn't tell, it shows.  For example, instead of writing "Joe grew during those months", tell us how he grew.  For example, "Joe began spending extra time in the gym and taking frequent walks by the river after dinner."

In the days and weeks that come, I pray that you will begin to see the beauty in your own story and the lives of others.  What better time of year to go someplace quiet and think back on your amazing journey as you begin to think about the future.  

Merry Christmas!  I'd love to hear what your thoughts are on this subject.  Feel free to comment below.