Backstory question

I've come upon something while writing just now I thought I'd ask for some advice on to get a feel for what others would/have done. One of my POV characters has returned to his base of operations (keep in mind this is a future history book set in the US), an island and is returning to his home to rest before going out again (he's a guerrilla leader) and in his thoughts he's thinking about his home, the island, etc. Now as I was writing this I thought if I was a reader I'd want some backstory how they captured it, somewhat to give a clue since it's in enemy territory. Problem is I don't want to infodump, I don't like it much as a reader and know its reputation as far as writing is concerned. Now what would you do? I wasn't planning on a big flashback at all, but maybe a paragraph that'd give a reader insight into how him and his team captured it.

onesecondglance said:

This is an excellent point. You need to lead into it naturally. We had to completely gut and renovate our house - occasionally I'll see a spot of the weird blue gloss paint that had been there before and it'll remind me of the whole thing. You have to give the character a legit reason to be thinking about that stuff, otherwise like Buffysquirrel points out, it's going to jar.

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This is a good point and makes me glad I came here. Here is the intro into what I discussed. I think it gives a good idea, or lead in to the topic being discussed, but I could be wrong. Tell me what you think:

Walking through the door Hobbes could smell an aroma that said only one thing, home. When was the last time they were here he thought, too long. So much of his time, their time, was spent traipsing throughout the Midwest, defying death at every turn, paying off corrupt CRA and UN soldiers, surviving. Little time was spent on Arsenal Island much less in their home resting. If they rested it was in a safe house for a night, if that, letting go and then getting up the next day and continuing the fight. This home was nice though, strategically placed on this island, it allowed them easy access to anywhere in the region. How they captured the island, was a bloody victory.

sknox said:

The example you gave doesn't tell us much. It reads more like it was written for you.

Backstory can give us insight into a character. Here is where he suffered a childhood trauma. Here is where he met his current love. Here is where Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen were killed.

Backstory sometimes can advance the plot, though this is harder to do.

But unless your passage does some work, and is vividly written, it's best to take it out. As the author, though, you have a wonderful option. Go ahead and write it. Write a huge backstory. Write and write.

Then cut it and save it in your Backstory.doc file. If you ever need any specific bit, you'll have it. If you never use any of it, at least you scratched the itch!

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I get your point, but I think it doesn't give much because it's not developed. Like I said, it was an issue I encountered while writing it so it by no means is a full description.

I will probably mention it in dialogue w/other characters, but as far as this POV goes he'll be there temporarily, this chapter is transitional in a way, because he'll leave by the end of it (that being said he has to be there to do something, it's not contrived).

I'm a little over half way in. This is the first time this setting's been shown though. I don't think I'll do the "infodump " I think it may come up in conversation w/other characters though, one of other POVs is working w/a guy that used to work there that is attached to his and it may come up briefly in conversation.