Advice on when to feed in backstory.

Ambergold · Nov 11, 2008

Hello all I hope everyone’s having a good day. I’m wondering if anyone could advise on this wee problem.
I’ve always been conscious about how I handle the back story. I try, whenever possible, to feed it into the dialogue or apply it in a way that doesn’t bog down the flow. However, I’m finding, there’s one issue that keeps biting me on the behind. Here it is; my MC doesn’t refer to her mother as mother, instead she calls her Moeder, this occurs in the first chapter of the book. Now, I’m thinking the reader will wonder why a non Dutch/ South African child would refer to her mother that way. So is it best to explain this straight away? If so won't it seem a little clunky as I can't do it in the dialogue? Any ideas on how to deal with those niggling details would be gratefully welcomed. Thanks.

Mr Flibble · Nov 11, 2008

Ambergold said:
Hello all I hope everyone’s having a good day.

Better now the flooding has stopped

I’m wondering if anyone could advise on this wee problem.
I’ve always been conscious about how I handle the back story. I try, whenever possible, to feed it into the dialogue or apply it in a way that doesn’t bog down the flow. However, I’m finding, there’s one issue that keeps biting me on the behind. Here it is; my MC doesn’t refer to her mother as mother, instead she calls her Moeder, this occurs in the first chapter of the book. Now, I’m thinking the reader will wonder why a non Dutch/ South African child would refer to her mother that way. So is it best to explain this straight away? If so won't it seem a little clunky as I can't do it in the dialogue? Any ideas on how to deal with those niggling details would be gratefully welcomed. Thanks.

Well could it be explained in a sentence or two? Then you could slide it in as the MC remembering 'that holiday we had in Amsterdam, and she'd never lived it down. Even now we still called her Moeder'

A couple or three sentences isn't clunk. As long as it's a snippet it should work out fine.

dclary · Nov 11, 2008

This is why I write fantasy. you're allowed to throw backstory in whenever you can.

"Moeder," I said, but she cut me off.

"Why do you still call me that?"

I blushed. "It reminds me of that time we went to Eindhoven and stole all that hashish. It was the closest I ever felt to you."

She put her hand on mine, and whispered, "I know."

RJK · Nov 11, 2008

"How's your mom?" Mary asked.
"Moeder is well. She sent me a letter from South Africa last week."

Cybernaught · Nov 11, 2008

"I am your father."

Danthia · Nov 11, 2008

There's nothing wrong with a snippet of explination for something. I'd suggest keeping it in your POV's voice and making it more of a comment about something than a flat "here's what it is." But if that's what it takes, then do it and don't fret

Sometimes you need to do that.

Dale Emery · Nov 11, 2008

Ambergold said:
Here it is; my MC doesn’t refer to her mother as mother, instead she calls her Moeder, this occurs in the first chapter of the book. Now, I’m thinking the reader will wonder why a non Dutch/ South African child would refer to her mother that way.

Might another character in the scene ask about that?

What if you didn't explain it at all?

Dale

Prozyan · Nov 11, 2008

Ambergold said:
Here it is; my MC doesn’t refer to her mother as mother, instead she calls her Moeder, this occurs in the first chapter of the book. Now, I’m thinking the reader will wonder why a non Dutch/ South African child would refer to her mother that way. So is it best to explain this straight away?

The bolding is mine. Keep in mind, this is a VERY good thing to have in your story. The reader wondering why. Should you give the reason why right away? That depends on the situation.

Will not knowing prevent the reader from understanding some crucial plot point or create reader confusion rather than reader curiousity? If that answer is no, then there is absolutely no need to reveal the reason right away. Instead, use it to develop a bit more character depth.

If the answer is yes, then naturally you need to explain, but only enough to give the reader what they need to stay with the plot or to resolve any reader confusion.

Always remember one the prime rules: Never feel the need to explain everything to the reader.

Polenth · Nov 11, 2008

I'd notice an unusual name for her mother, but I wouldn't expect you to explain it right away. Families use all sorts of names for parents... an odd one is not that much of a big deal. It'd be weirder to have the family explain it, as families take the names they use for granted.

The most natural time is likely to be someone outside the family hearing the name. They might ask. I had this when I was young with my grandmother. I called her nana, but that's not a common term round here. So people queried it sometimes. Within my family, it was normal and no one thought anything of it.

FennelGiraffe · Nov 11, 2008

I agree that one or two sentences of explanation won't be a problem. That's precisely the size of the nuggets in which backstory should be dispensed.

However, I don't see any reason why this particular detail needs to be explained right away. As long as it's initially clear that the person she calls "Moeder" is her mother, there's no problem. It isn't all that unusual for a family to use non-standard relationship terminology.

It's a little mystery I would expect to have explained eventually, but it isn't an immediate issue. I wouldn't even know what language it was, so I wouldn't be struck by any particular incongruity.

Nateskate · Nov 11, 2008

Ambergold said:
Hello all I hope everyone’s having a good day. I’m wondering if anyone could advise on this wee problem.
I’ve always been conscious about how I handle the back story. I try, whenever possible, to feed it into the dialogue or apply it in a way that doesn’t bog down the flow. However, I’m finding, there’s one issue that keeps biting me on the behind. Here it is; my MC doesn’t refer to her mother as mother, instead she calls her Moeder, this occurs in the first chapter of the book. Now, I’m thinking the reader will wonder why a non Dutch/ South African child would refer to her mother that way. So is it best to explain this straight away? If so won't it seem a little clunky as I can't do it in the dialogue? Any ideas on how to deal with those niggling details would be gratefully welcomed. Thanks.

It's simple. Create a line before or after that clarifies the relationship. Then you can use Moeder or Da for the rest of the story without having to explain where the term was born. The reader will accept it so long as you are consistent.

"Da, I can't find my shoes."

"Why are you asking me? Go ask your Moeder."

"She says she gave me birth and she'll take my life away if I loose my shoes again. Please help me find them."

"Look under the couch," Da answered with an irritated look. "That's where you left them last time."

Ambergold · Nov 11, 2008

You guys have been excellent, thanks for all your input.
As suggested, I'll establish the mother daughter connection before fretting about who calls who what. And next time I get myself in a pickle about backstory and details, I'll remind myself its OK to make the reader wait. Like Proyan said, sometimes that's a really good thing.

dclary · Nov 11, 2008

Sometimes backstory can be saved for the sequel of the sequel....

We named the DOG Indiana!

Advice on when to feed in backstory.

Ambergold

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary

RJK

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Cybernaught

Decker

Danthia

Dale Emery

is way off topic

Prozyan

Are you one, Herbert?

Polenth

Mushroom

FennelGiraffe

It's green they say

Nateskate

Ambergold

dclary

Unabashed Mercenary