Trips to the Department of Backstory

[eidheann_writes]

Basically how much is too much. I'm kinda at the point in my hols fic where it seems like it keeps going and going but I'm still sitting in what is effectively the prologue. 

I mean, backstory is important, I get that. And it's touching on the theme of my piece, so I'm even more torn.

But, it's approaching roughly 1/4 the wordcount of my "average" (if two fics could be considered having an average) and that scares me.

Do I just keep going and resolve to mess about with it later? Trust things will work out and I'll just be writing much more of a story than I have in the past?

(I know this is vague, I'm not certain how much I can talk about a festfic. Sorry. >.<)

Comments

[vaysh]

My two cents, obviously, but usually when you spent so much time and words on the backstory, then the backstory is in fact the story you want to tell, not your outlined plot. Not sure if this helps but in your situation I'd take an hour or so and let myself think, what if the backstory was my story? If it's not working, then discard that thought. Good luck.

[eidheann_writes]

I did a great many things after making this post, but was unwilling to reply until I was on something better than my phone. I was able to see the comments come in, and I'll admit my knee-jerk reaction to your comment was "I have no idea how I"d do that, that totally wouldn't work"

But I kept thinking about it. And not 15 minutes ago, it clicked in my head and I went "OH" and then I went "oh" and... you're going to get major props in my A/N for turning this into something much better than I had originally envisioned.

[vaysh]

♥

[glorafin.livejournal.com]

That's it exactly, and the reason why my WIP will forever be a WIP. My only attempt at a multi-chaptered stroy was all about the back story and it eventuall made the story telling unamangeable. :/

[skriftlig.livejournal.com]

Normally I'd say just keep writing and then you can edit it later. But also (and this is just my opinion), when I read a story and it starts with lots of backstory then I can get a bit tired/bored and stop reading. Sorry - this wasn't very helpful. Maybe you should ask someone to read it over and let them judge whether it's too much? It can be hard to see for yourself when you're the one writing it.

[eidheann_writes]

I have someone willing to beta, but I've only used her once and she's much more of a SPAG/continuity/pronouns. I have no idea how she feels about me flailing major plot stuff at her this early in the story. But I'll definitely poke her about her willingness.

And your comments about backstory match a lot of what I feel about it. I just go "why are you going on and on with this?" and I don't want that to be me. THank you.

[amorette.livejournal.com]

This is such a good response - thank you for sharing. I have been having backstory-probs as well and I am glad to hear this response. Basically you are laying it out very bluntly: TONS of backstory can get boring at times, and would cause a reader to lose interest.

Definitely something for me to think about as a writer... should try to weave backstory into the action as much as possible.

[khalulu]

There are ways to seed the backstory info in as you go along in the "main story" of your plot - be writing in your fic's present time and put in little explanatory sentences or paragraphs when the need and opportunity arise. Flashbacks, "he remembered when", "it had been x years since y had happened", etc. That way the backstory is not one big chunk. That would mean sort of starting over in your fic construction, though you would be using the ideas you'd already come up with. But you could keep it in mind for next time, if it seems like too much work for now.

Vaysh's comment is really interesting, though - maybe you're already telling the story you want to be telling. Are you into it, as a story? Then go with it. Do you feel like you're plodding through it? Then maybe the story doesn't need to tell all the details that you've worked out, and you can just put in the bare bones of it - a quick summary - or start in the present and scatter bits of backstory in as needed.

Good luck!

[sesheta-66.livejournal.com]

Ditto this comment.

I'd finish writing the story for yourself, to get everything straight in your mind (and potentially chronological), then go back to it as you write your main story, and insert chunks of it as the need arises / timing warrants.

(E.g. if the character needs a particular skill learned during an event, you can disclose the event closer to the time the skill is drawn upon; if a scene would naturally trigger a reminder of a time past; etc.)

Good luck!

[eidheann_writes]

I've got the facts of the story mapped out (and that's another thing. I feel like fail when I hear people map out every scene and I'm like "well, this kinda happens and this kinda happens and then HEA," but hey whatever works?) and I don't feel I'm at a point where it's really... starting over so much as easy to start fresh with a new doc, keep some of the stuff and then use my current "last paragraph of the prologue as last paragraph of story" kind of cut/paste.

Thank you. <3

[eidheann_writes]

Like I commented above to Vaysh, I kinda wtf'd at her comment but the more I thought about it, the more right she was.

I love you guys <3 You can take vague flailing and whining and turn it into something wonderful.

[ashiiblack.livejournal.com]

One of my friends in fandom writes a TON of backstory but then doesn't include most of it in her fic. The backstory is there for her to refer to when she is writing the plot. Is it long and tedious? Yes, but it could be essential to helping you write the fic you want to write. Though vaysh brings up an interesting point; what story are you wanting to tell?

[eidheann_writes]

I think Vaysh is better at reading my mind and the story I need to tell better than I am. *nodnod*