Avoiding Too Much Backstory
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I started my writing career as a technical writer for software and processes, and everything had to be explained in detail like a recipe. That was a habit I had to break when I started writing fiction. I put in way too much description, especially about how to do mundane things.
Readers needed to know your characters, but they have don’t have to experience every moment or hear about decades of history.
Here’s what I’ve learned about backstory through the years.
Sprinkle it in your story. Reveal bits of characterization through dialog and what your protagonist experiences.
Avoid sounding like a travel brochure or a marketing campaign when you’re describing something.
When you’re talking about characters or setting, don’t stop the action or the momentum of the story.
Avoid describing something in minute detail unless it’s important to the story later.
I do a lot of research ahead of my writing, and I have to fight the urge to add every little detail. Research is important, and you learn so many neat things. Don’t waste what you found. Figure out a way to use it in a newsletter article or a blog post. Readers like to know about behind the scenes things or how you research your work.
I have to know my main characters before I write. I always create almost a biography for them. I keep it in my character list, so I can refer to it later when I need it. It has things like eye/hair color, birthdate, graduation year, friends, pets, and favorites. There is way more information in there than ever makes it to the book. This helps if you write a series that has reoccurring characters.
