Holding the Reader's Hand

IReidandWrite · May 20, 2009

I'm going to assume that, since the novel I'm writing is the first one I ever have, and is the first set in my universe (naturally), the reader is probably going to constantly be saying "OMGWTFBBQ?!". Constantly.

*nod*

But do I assume that said Dear Reader, who has had the courage to pick up my book, is going to be able to connect two-and-two together?

I mean, there are specific instances, like a war that breaks out between a 15-year time jump. Do I need to explain the war? Do I need to show scenes form the war?

Of course, yes, this is dependent solely on me, I suppose, but I feel better asking. Almost none of this is backstory. Well, kind of. I mean, they're very important events that I just can't flash back to. (Me no likey italics. Nooooo flashing back, nooooo internal thoughts (plus my characters are all loudmouths, they speak their minds). I have to show them as they're happening. Plus, it pads the novel nicely.

But yeah. Some examples, as before, like the war (ooh, that rhymed). Do we need to know why a certain daughter in one family is hated, do we need to know that the family with the favorite daughter was basically kicked out of the elite, etc. Stuff like that.

It's kind of become a sandwich. I can find the stuff to make the sandwich, except for the bread. Haha.

Toodle-oo!

I also wonder if maybe my problem writing is because I'm constantly jumping from one scene to another, when they really aren't important to the other (they happen later in the story than the other, yanno?) Maybe if I write more linearly, that'll help me write more?

Matera the Mad · May 20, 2009

Maybe it's too early to worry about it. Get all of it done, then see if things connect, and then patch it up

EFCollins · May 20, 2009

You could always make the "war" part of the historical fact. Since it is fiction, naming a war that took place in a made up universe isn't going to cause any stumbles. Reference it, but unless something very, very relevant happens to one of the characters specifically, you probably wouldn't need to write out pieces of the war to get the point across. It could be as easy as having some young child (assuming there are children of some sort in this world) talk about learning it in history class or something. Just a thought... the same goes for other things too. Someone just saying she or he is the blacksheep with some small reference of why(even if it isn't the real reason) should be fine.

Aschenbach · May 20, 2009

Don't think in terms of story + backstory = goodbook.
Backstory can be seamlessly incorporated within story, it is hard, but the best writing is seamless.

"I is chatting shit but me truths is real."
A wise man once said that to me. He said he was wise.

Dale Emery · May 20, 2009

Project nachonaco said:
I also wonder if maybe my problem writing is because I'm constantly jumping from one scene to another, when they really aren't important to the other (they happen later in the story than the other, yanno?) Maybe if I write more linearly, that'll help me write more?

Skipping around may make it more challenging to decide which bits of backstory are relevant. When you skip around, it's harder to see how each scene causes the next, how each scene is caused by the ones that went before. And it's often those linkages, and especially in how the characters react to the causes and effects, that help you to see which bits of backstory matter right now in the current story.

On the other hand, you're likely skipping around because you're following your energy. That's a reasonable way to write a first draft. Maybe when you're done, and you scan the draft for how one scene leads to the next, that's when you'll see how the backstory fits, and where.

Dale

Danjreid · May 21, 2009

I know its not a novel, but a good example would be Star Wars. Did anyne blink when Luke asked Obi-Wan if he fought in the Clone Wars? Until the prequals came along, no-one knew what the Clone Wars were.

Same could be said for Obi-Wans reference to The Dark Times. Clearly a reference to the rise of the Empire, but beyond Vader's betrayal of the Jedi, we know very little.

In fact, many people agree that the Clone Wars were FAR more interesting as an unknown, compared to us actually witnessing them in the prequals.

Danthia · May 21, 2009

Events by themselves rarely matter to a reader. How those events affect a character or a situation is what matters to them. Because that's how the story will play out and they're interested in the story.

Danjreid has a perfect example of slipping in history with the Star Wars reference.

You could try just treating the references like they were known information in your world. Don't stop to explain anything unless the characters talking would be explaining it for whatever reason. Once the story is done, you can decide how much you want to flesh out certain details for to make things clear. Some things you'll want to spend more time on, as they affect more, and others will be fine with a brief mention for color.

Crit groups and beta readers can be quite helpful here, as they'll tell you what they wanted more of to understand the story.

Kathleen42 · May 21, 2009

Danjreid said:
I know its not a novel, but a good example would be Star Wars. Did anyne blink when Luke asked Obi-Wan if he fought in the Clone Wars? Until the prequals came along, no-one knew what the Clone Wars were.

Same could be said for Obi-Wans reference to The Dark Times. Clearly a reference to the rise of the Empire, but beyond Vader's betrayal of the Jedi, we know very little.

In fact, many people agree that the Clone Wars were FAR more interesting as an unknown, compared to us actually witnessing them in the prequals.

Nice example.

I''ll add to it by throwing in the Time War from Doctor Who which is a major event only hinted at. We know it impacts the Doctor and wipes out his world but it's only ever briefly referenced. We don't really need the details. Likewise with Firefly. Though there are flashbacks throughout the series, they are brief. The war is over and gone. We don't need to see it (other than glimpses of how it impacts our MC).

I'm sure there are similar examples in genre literature as well.

Captshady · May 21, 2009

Your beta readers will be able to give you the insight you're looking for there.

ccarver30 · May 22, 2009

I hate when writers have to state the obvious or make it seem like the reader is dumb. There's a fine line if you ask me!

lexxi · May 22, 2009

ccarver30 said:
I hate when writers have to state the obvious or make it seem like the reader is dumb.

Much better to make the readers feel smart. Give us the facts we need, but in a way that doesn't feel like you're feeding us facts. Integrate them into the here and now of the story as you tell it, into the characters' knowledge about their world and their lives. A sentence here, a subordinate clause there, a significant adjective somewhere else -- all clues that we can use to piece together what we need to know to understand the story and feel clever for doing it on our own.

ccarver30 · May 22, 2009

lexxi said:
Much better to make the readers feel smart. Give us the facts we need, but in a way that doesn't feel like you're feeding us facts. Integrate them into the here and now of the story as you tell it, into the characters' knowledge about their world and their lives. A sentence here, a subordinate clause there, a significant adjective somewhere else -- all clues that we can use to piece together what we need to know to understand the story and feel clever for doing it on our own.

Exactly. Nothing is worse (for me) than a guy looking for his twin brother and seeing his refelction in a pane of glass or something OBVIOUS like that. Maybe I am a snob because I am a writer and a reader. *shrugs*

vrabinec · May 22, 2009

Nothing I hate more than a "Well, you know, Bob..." in a book. Put it in the natural way the character would talk about it or think about it, and leave it at that. Better to leave the reader wondering about the history of a character than to make the reader sit thorugh some awkward backstory.

ccarver30 · May 22, 2009

vrabinec said:
Nothing I hate more than a "Well, you know, Bob..." in a book. Put it in the natural way the character would talk about it or think about it, and leave it at that. Better to leave the reader wondering about the history of a character than to make the reader sit thorugh some awkward backstory.

Absolutely!!

Holding the Reader's Hand

IReidandWrite

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

EFCollins

World Class Rambler

Aschenbach

Moral Marjorie

Dale Emery

is way off topic

Danjreid

Danthia

Kathleen42

crushing on fictional characters

Captshady

What happened to my LIFE?!

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

lexxi

bold enough for both those XXs

ccarver30

Nicole Castro

vrabinec

Dipwad

ccarver30

Nicole Castro