tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post7839287603004700102..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Who Cares What Happened Before? A Look at Backstory Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-17067153054150143782014-12-03T16:51:37.838-07:002014-12-03T16:51:37.838-07:00Thanks, Linda. It's so tempting to just dump, ...Thanks, Linda. It's so tempting to just dump, instead of letting readers guess.Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-32329244573212938672014-12-03T16:51:06.586-07:002014-12-03T16:51:06.586-07:00Clint does have a way with words!Clint does have a way with words!Morgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-90180307252708112092014-12-02T11:38:25.922-07:002014-12-02T11:38:25.922-07:00Great ways to work bits of backstory seamlessly in...Great ways to work bits of backstory seamlessly in without infringing on the present or creating an information dump. Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45409199556677223952014-12-02T08:44:18.943-07:002014-12-02T08:44:18.943-07:00A great example of a spare backstory (my idea of b...A great example of a spare backstory (my idea of backstory, btw) is demonstrated in the movie 'Pale Rider'. At the end of the movie Clint Eastwood's character, Preacher confronts John Russell's character, Marshall Stockton. Stockton obviously recognizes Preacher, but all he says is, 'You!' The viewer is left to guess at their relationship ... love it.Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-16528799890039018692008-09-03T10:28:00.000-06:002008-09-03T10:28:00.000-06:00I guess you should think of backstory as a spice.....I guess you should think of backstory as a spice..too much and it ruins the soup...too little and there's no flavor.<BR/><BR/>thanks for the great post, Morgan.Nancy J. Parrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10107417252662717576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-18543124634935449082008-09-03T08:55:00.000-06:002008-09-03T08:55:00.000-06:00Dear Morgan,Thank you for answering my question. W...Dear Morgan,<BR/>Thank you for answering my question. With Book three I only recapped if it clarified the situation that the characters were involved with at the moment. Since my tale begins shortly after the Korean war I try to parcel out background sparingly to avoid redundancy. <BR/>thank you again<BR/>billAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-73953216413617408342008-09-02T22:10:00.000-06:002008-09-02T22:10:00.000-06:00This is SO very important. I'm editing a novel no...This is SO very important. I'm editing a novel now that is absolutely laced throughout with backstory that the reader never needs to know. In the end, the WRITER should know all things - the reader should know what he/she needs to know to get through the story AND enjoy it!Shonell Baconhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04827197354857197637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-26123554963489675772008-09-02T18:48:00.000-06:002008-09-02T18:48:00.000-06:00Morgan, you're absolutely right about not loading ...Morgan, you're absolutely right about not loading the story down with backstory. Most of it can be cut. I think reading a mystery novel is a good exercise in realizing what can be cut, what needs to stay.<BR/><BR/>Usually, as you said, less is more.<BR/><BR/>A very pertinent writing tip!Lindsay Longfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12826979960010109022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-78825403976859519742008-09-02T18:42:00.000-06:002008-09-02T18:42:00.000-06:00The "show not tell" concept of writing. Love it. A...The "show not tell" concept of writing. Love it. And, it is so much fun to teach this to aspiring writers when they ask for an edit. I end up tutoring and doing part of the rewrite just to ensure that good writing prevails as the author continues to wield the mighty pen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15528955027208100034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88917207571667394022008-09-02T13:18:00.000-06:002008-09-02T13:18:00.000-06:00Stopping by on the way home from vacation.Thanks f...Stopping by on the way home from vacation.<BR/>Thanks for all who have commented so far.<BR/>Elliott - I'd apply backstory on a need to know<BR/>basis for each novel in a trilogy.<BR/>Don't include everything if it doesn't move the plot forward.<BR/>MorganMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-49348507707992879302008-09-02T12:04:00.000-06:002008-09-02T12:04:00.000-06:00And then there's the backstory the author is sure ...And then there's the backstory the author is sure everyone needs to know immediately--aka the prologue. On the other side, there's the backstory the author holds out from us teasing us throughout the whole novel with some BIG secret that she refuses to reveal until the end. Backstory's always a tricky thing to get just right.<BR/><BR/>Hugs!<BR/>Sara Daniel<BR/>www.saradaniel.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05001627476288087268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61343810607299592292008-09-02T10:54:00.000-06:002008-09-02T10:54:00.000-06:00Good post Morgan. Must go Twitter about back stor...Good post Morgan. Must go Twitter about back story now. LOL.<BR/><BR/>Dani<BR/>http://twitter.com/blogbooktoursDanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-61820711603011602632008-09-02T10:47:00.000-06:002008-09-02T10:47:00.000-06:00I see your point about how to present information....I see your point about how to present information. How much recapping of character development should be done with a trilogy? Is it better to add different tidbits in each book or present the same knowledge in different ways?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-44021814169260823632008-09-02T06:59:00.000-06:002008-09-02T06:59:00.000-06:00Ah backstory. What is too much? What is too little...Ah backstory. What is too much? What is too little? Walking the tightrope to find this balance is tricky at times. Sometimes I try to sneak it in through another character's POV. Thanks for the post, Morgan. A good reminder.Debra St. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07154130275058459169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72858209619399647882008-09-02T06:23:00.000-06:002008-09-02T06:23:00.000-06:00You're so right about backstory. It needs to be se...You're so right about backstory. It needs to be served in morsels. If you try to get the reader to eat huge chunks, they'll gag and be pulled out of the story.<BR/>Helen GingerHelen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com