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Oh, I see…. oof!
I find that I hit a wall when I try to write things I don’t want to. So tbh, I don’t write them (Or I change it to something I will enjoy) ! If something isn’t fun for me to write, I simply don’t write it. Usually that’s because it isn’t creative enough for me to find it fun. I would try to think about why you don’t feel like writing Novembers backstory? It should be fun. I would say the most common culprits for me is I’ve been thinking about it for too long and it lost it’s freshness, I can’t figure out one aspect of it, or there are too many scenes.
If I need to move forwards without writing a scene (totally fine imo, wait till you feel like writing it) I do something like this:
So let’s say I have a paragraph here:
skjdhfjshfjahfukyEUHDHAGSUCH
Then I hit the point of writing something I don’t feel like writing, I just leave a note with everything important I don’t want to forget. That might look like this:
Novembers backstory: make sure he says “blablabla” make sure his dad says “blablabla” make sure to show Novembers reactions by doing blablabla
I think it’s most important to have the emotional scene’s weight and what causes the weight figured out first. You don’t have to have it all planned, but I would say you should know the things that made him who he is now.
Hope that help! I would totally wright out of order if I were you, but that’s just me. When I don’t feel like writing or treat it like a chore, it doesn’t come out well. For me, when I’m not enjoying writing, I change it. Because it should be fun, and we’re writing for what we want to write and will enjoy, not what other people want to see. 💗
"And so I left this world just as I had entered it. Confused."
Ohh XD I’ve been struggling with the same thing for my spider-man fanfiction…
also anything past this is spoilers for that but honestly I don’t think anyone cares about spoilers hereThere’s this POV character that I haven’t really talked about on here before, his name is Gilbert.
he’s my favorite and I’m very biased towards him XDHe’s the son of one of villains in the story and he’s also a point of contention between both villains…but anyways I’m bringing this up cause I have to figure out backstory for him and the villain and their relationship before the story starts…or else I think the villain’s motivation won’t be understandable, if that makes sense.
All that to say: You’re not alone! =) Backstories are hard. 😅Anyways. How I usually go about making backstories is asking questions about big things in their pasts like:
- What was Gilbert’s family like before his mom died?
- How did Esten (villain/father) change since her death?
- When did the accident happen?
- Did Iris (the mother) die in the same accident that Gilbert got paralyzed in?
- Etc.
Then I take one of the questions and start doing something like this:
What was Gilbert’s family like before his mom died?
HMMMM
Well I know that Gilbert was a happy child and things were peaceful then. I also know that Esten cared for her deeply and was devastated at her death…
So maybe (insert continued speculation)I’d put more examples but I haven’t worked on this character’s backstory so I’d take awhile and my answer wouldn’t be relevant by the time I’d sent it to youAnd then I keep doing that until I know all that I need to know.
Now I’m not sure if you’re asking about how to write it out as a scene…I haven’t really done that yet. I don’t typical write scenes that aren’t going to show up…
HOWEVER. I did do one for Gilbert once and learned a lot from it, it was basically him monologuing to the MC about why he thinks he’s fine the way he is. While it wasn’t in character at all and it’s not something I’d include in the story, it did help me think about why he thinks the way he does and the motivation he has.Also pray about the backstories. Asking God for help and ideas does actually help if He wants you to do them. So…yeah. Prayer is good.
I hope that helped! I’ll be praying for you, and also specifically about you writing backstories. =)
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19@freedomwriter76
*frantically sticks more duct tape around heart before it breaks again*
*it stays* *sigh of relief*
In all seriousness though, great job! *eagerly awaits the fates of all your characters*
"...I did not say to the seed of Jacob, 'Seek Me in vain..."
(Part of) Isaiah 45:19@godlyfantasy12 It’s ok, in my view, to write out of order. It’s only a first draft.
It’s especially obvious in fanfics–I’ve had to change my timeline to keep up with new infomation a couple times–but it’s probably also a thing in original ideas, where you sometimes have to go back to your draft and think “Oh, this is wrong because I changed it in the earlier book.”
Where'd I get ya this time? The liver? The kidney? I'm runnin' outta places to put holes in ya.
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I COMPLETELY understand and commiserate with your aversion to skipping around because my perfectionist self is the exact. same. way. It just will not let me. That said, I have skipped around a very few amount of times while writing WFR, despite much inner kicking and screaming. I had to do it, though, because I had a deadline and didn’t want to be stuck on the same part forever. I guess, suffice to say, don’t feel you have to skip around if you don’t want to.
And I would agree with @freedomwriter76 that the best way is probably to write something brief yet concise, getting all the necessary and most crucial details in there (the details that ultimately shape your characters to be who they are at the time your story takes place), rather than trying to figure out every single detail like their parents’ names and what happened in their normal daily lives and whatnot. It’s also important to note that you probably won’t be able to figure out all that stuff until you do some more writing, since spending time in our characters’ heads is how we get to know them (going off on that vein, this means that free-writing or journaling from your characters’ POVs might also help you), and if you do figure everything out, some of it may still change. Whether major or minor changes, so just roll with it.
You could also try making a list of all the backstory details that are necessary for the draft you’re writing. Or interview your characters.
I found this Go Teen Writers article that may be helpful: https://goteenwriters.com/2014/07/30/creating-compelling-characters-backstory-goals-and-motivations/
I DID IT!!!! THANK YALL FOR THE ADVICE!!!! It’s a little all over the place but I don’t really care XD!!!
ahh but I could use a bit of help in one thing in one of the backstories??
So this is something I’ve had in my head for a while now…
a lot of you know I’m sure that Arabella gets bitten by a snake when she is a child, and this is her Emotional Wound.
Well, I really want November, because of his misbelief (that he’s a mistake, a failure) to somehow believe it’s his fault. He tends to take things onto himself even when he has nothing to do with it.
I wasn’t entirely sure how to do this tho! But I think I’ve figured it out…
So the Story is this:
Arabella and November are eight years old. At this point in time, Pre snakebite, Arabella is an extremely adventurous, wants to explore the world, fun, follows her emotions and heart kinda girl. She’s not afraid to stand up for what she believes but sometimes her heart and emotions can get her into trouble.
November is November (but a kid so he’s shy and tags along with her. He’s adorable)
Anyway, they go on another one of Ara’s “adventures.”
What it is isn’t really important rn, I don’t think but if y’all have any ideas let me know! It has to be within her homeland of A’Grend.
Anyway.
This adventure ends up nearly getting them seriously hurt, and because of this, Arabella gets scolded. November goes home (and presumably is scolded cuz we all know Riven 😤)
But Ara is upset afterwards. She’s a kid, so she pouts/stalks off to the garden to sulk. That’s when she meets the serpent.
It beguiles her into believing that it can give her the life of adventure she craves.
so yea.
As for November believing it’s his fault?
Well, Ara is November’s best (and only really 😭) friend. And he has an adorable crush on her too lol. But he is devastated after he hears the news that she could DIE because of this snake bite.
And then, come to find out it happened because she got upset after being scolded for their adventure…?
AND THEN GUESS WHAT….
daddy dearest steps in 😑
And I’m thinking he says something, and that’s why November actually feels he’s to blame for it. (RIVEN!!! *shakes fist*)
Anyway what I’ve got is something along the lines of him just casually standing, kinda shaking his head, and then says something like, “Such a shame. This all could’ve been avoided had you-“
But I’m not sure what to have him say…?
any ideas?
Riven is very manipulative and cunning. He appears the very model of a gentleman so he doesn’t come out and just say “WOW THAT WAS DUMB” XD but he cuts deep with backhanded comments.
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@godlyfantasy12 AHHH, GIRL, I’M SO GLAD!!!!! ❤️
*slowly raises hand* Uhmmm…first…uhm…do I have your permission to go after Riven??? 😂
Now, for suggestions for what he could say: (time to get into Riven, Franz, and Frida’s heads…those kinds of people, y’know… 😐😭)
- “Such a shame. This all could’ve been avoided had you not let her go on an adventure.”
- “Such a shame. This all could’ve been avoided had you stopped her from being with the snake.” (something along those lines, not exact wording, lol!)
- “Such a shame. This all could’ve been avoided had you been a better friend to her.”
- “Such a shame. This all could’ve been avoided had you listened to me.”
Anyways…those are my ideas. 😅
@freedomwriter76 I like those thank you!!! And yes, permission granted XD
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@godlyfantasy12. Yw!!!! ❤️❤️❤️
*bows* Thank you for your permission to go forward with the very important and dire mission
XD
Heyo, just listening in. I can tell you’re definitely going for the ‘Garden of Eden’ scenario, which is always cool to see in the classics, like Chronicles of Narnia. Essentially Riven is November’s snake (metaphorically of course), and that’s a great piece of symbolism. I was wondering, do you have someone in this backstory who kinda represents God? Not, like, the perfect actual God – but a positive fatherly influence? Because that would really add another layer (in my opinion of course, don’t need to add it if you don’t want to!).
Also, I dunno if anyone else on here watches Ninjago, but this backstory reminds me sooooooo much of Wu and Garmadon’s backstory, what with a snake biting Garmadon when he was a kid. It’s kinda hilarious to me rn XD
“Everything is a mountain”
@whalekeeper YEA THAT IS WHAT I WAS GOING FOR *turns and writes that down….*
XD XD in all seriousness I WAS going for that vibe with Ara’s backstory, but that is so true with Novemver and Riven too!!! 😱
So God actually is in the story, He’s called the Light/The Light One
And a good fatherly figure too is Ara’s Father, Emyr, as well as her grandfather.
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Glad you like it! XD
Yes!! 😆
You’re fine, girl!!! I do it all the time! 😆
XD Thanks!! Haha, yeah.
Thanks!!! ❤️ Lol, I get that. XD I’m sure you’ll come up with something soon enough! 🙂
You’re so welcome!! ❤️❤️ Thank you! Yeah, hopefully 🙂
Haha…you and me both…🤐🤐🤐
😨😬🤐
You’re welcome!!!! ❤️❤️❤️ Aww, that’s amazing!!!! Me and my siblings do things like “telling stories” all the time, where we talk/act out characters and stuff, lol! XD It gets WILD! (aww, that’s great!!! 😍)
❤️❤️❤️ Yeah!! Aww yess!! It’s so much fun isn’t it?! And it does!! XD (Yeah!! ❤️❤️)
Awww, he’s very welcome!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ (he’s your brother that loves Leo, right? That makes me so happy. 🥰🥰🥰)
❤️❤️❤️ And yep, that’s him! My sweet, adorable, crazy ten year old brother! ❤️❤️ (Aww yeah he does! Aww, good! I’m glad.)
And THAT SCENE!!!!!!! AHHH LEON!!! And RIKER!!! 😭😭😭 Ughh your sweet boys. Great job, as always! I love this sentence:
Riker slicked back his dark brown wavy hair and rolled up his white shirtsleeves to his elbows, eyes focused on the paperwork.
It just makes me see him so clearly at his desk and he’s just so depressed and so sad and ugh 😭😭😭#HugRikerSquad
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XD Thanks!! Haha, yeah.
Yw!!! ❤️❤️❤️
You’re so welcome!! ❤️❤️ Thank you! Yeah, hopefully 🙂
🤍🤍🤍 Yw!!!! Yeah, you’ve got this! 😀
❤️❤️❤️ Yeah!! Aww yess!! It’s so much fun isn’t it?! And it does!! XD (Yeah!! ❤️❤️)
It is a lot of fun! XD Yes, very, VERY wild!!! 😂 (especially when you’re our crazy selves and combine Mario Brothers, Sonic The Hedgehog, Minecraft, The Avengers, and the occasional appearances of my book characters, the Justice League, and the Guardians Of The Galaxy! XDXDXD)
❤️❤️❤️ And yep, that’s him! My sweet, adorable, crazy ten year old brother! ❤️❤️ (Aww yeah he does! Aww, good! I’m glad.)
Awww, so sweet!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
And THAT SCENE!!!!!!! AHHH LEON!!! And RIKER!!! 😭😭😭 Ughh your sweet boys. Great job, as always! I love this sentence:
Riker slicked back his dark brown wavy hair and rolled up his white shirtsleeves to his elbows, eyes focused on the paperwork.
It just makes me see him so clearly at his desk and he’s just so depressed and so sad and ugh 😭😭😭AHHH, THANKS, GIRL!!!!! 😭❤️❤️❤️❤️
Ohhh…yeah…glad you like that sentence…but…I mean…MY BABY!!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭
Sorry I wasn’t here to help you with the back story!! We weeded our flowerbed yesterday! It looks so much better now 😅.
But great job pushing through and writing it!! I love November and Ara’s sweet relationship ❤️❤️❤️
But NOVEMBER!!! Ahh he thinks it’s his fault?! NOOOO
RIVEN 😡😤😡😤
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