tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post8065984022639397822..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: When Does Backstory and Exposition Work?Stephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63649090801579153602012-12-13T15:10:48.261-06:002012-12-13T15:10:48.261-06:00Great post.
Ah, Stephanie, do you remember that d...Great post.<br /><br />Ah, Stephanie, do you remember that desperate email I sent you once "backstory? how?" and you said, "Go to Jill." That's where I first heard the "shards of glass" deal. Love it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-26824876739718243202012-12-13T12:51:53.728-06:002012-12-13T12:51:53.728-06:00By "lost it," I mean I had an LOL moment...By "lost it," I mean I had an LOL moment ;)<br /><br />And thanks for the advice! I'll definitely keep that in mind as I write! Anna Schaefferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377988052946078769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45884966053244509032012-12-13T11:10:36.580-06:002012-12-13T11:10:36.580-06:00Whoo! It's awesome when that happens, Lia. Hap...Whoo! It's awesome when that happens, Lia. Happy writing/editing!<br />:-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-91165669661042269392012-12-13T11:10:09.072-06:002012-12-13T11:10:09.072-06:00You're welcome, Amanda! :-)You're welcome, Amanda! :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-26811294347183787682012-12-13T11:09:56.080-06:002012-12-13T11:09:56.080-06:00LOL! You're welcome, Emii. Hope it comes out g...LOL! You're welcome, Emii. Hope it comes out good. And welcome back! :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24251165317949260132012-12-13T11:09:10.371-06:002012-12-13T11:09:10.371-06:00LOL! Sorry, guys. No disrespect toward the Pope in...LOL! Sorry, guys. No disrespect toward the Pope intended. But, why can't the guy go for a swim? I'm just saying...<br /><br />Anna, my suggestion is to just keep writing that first draft. Try to be mindful of places where you've info dumped, highlight them if you have to, then you can come back later and look for places to make changes, to space the information out.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79264722941391755752012-12-13T11:07:06.594-06:002012-12-13T11:07:06.594-06:00Fight the urge. Let it be a mystery, give us hints...Fight the urge. Let it be a mystery, give us hints to it, and it will create reader sympathy for him, which is good if he's being a jerk. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-20088278743017315172012-12-13T11:06:05.464-06:002012-12-13T11:06:05.464-06:00You're welcome! I'm sure you're going ...You're welcome! I'm sure you're going to find the perfect balance. Keep at it!Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-55566824695149771282012-12-13T11:05:33.494-06:002012-12-13T11:05:33.494-06:00You're welcome!You're welcome! Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-76998685641870373002012-12-13T11:04:53.278-06:002012-12-13T11:04:53.278-06:00Thanks, Katie. Yeah, Jeff calls it the dumb puppet...Thanks, Katie. Yeah, Jeff calls it the dumb puppet. I've also seen stupid puppet. Don't know why it has to be a puppet! LOLJill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-50913894869576025282012-12-13T11:04:07.782-06:002012-12-13T11:04:07.782-06:00LOL
Well, we'll cut him some slack. The standa...LOL<br />Well, we'll cut him some slack. The standards were different back then. If you do this today, you will likely not get published. Unless you do it in a book after you're already a bestseller, then you can do what you want--though I don't recommend such risks. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79410642823562691812012-12-13T11:02:56.915-06:002012-12-13T11:02:56.915-06:00That is very tricky, Roseanna. I tend to leave eve...That is very tricky, Roseanna. I tend to leave everything out for fear I'll add too much. But readers sometimes need a hint of a reminder too, depending on how long it's been since they read book one. Tricky stuff.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-58928329209905841962012-12-13T11:01:58.133-06:002012-12-13T11:01:58.133-06:00You are very welcome! :-)You are very welcome! :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-53699264784652278432012-12-13T11:01:48.185-06:002012-12-13T11:01:48.185-06:00Good! And that fits the scene, too, Alyson. If she...Good! And that fits the scene, too, Alyson. If she were to think of Grandma and baiting while she was in line at the cafeteria, it wouldn't be as powerful. Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-78353102565930109322012-12-13T11:00:34.544-06:002012-12-13T11:00:34.544-06:00Now there's something you don't hear every...Now there's something you don't hear every day. Add more backstory! LOL<br />The cool think about learning all the rules of writing is when you get to the point where things start to clear. You think, "Ah haaa..." And then you can break rules on purpose because you know what you're doing, if that makes sense. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-74479875874630324442012-12-12T11:08:31.497-06:002012-12-12T11:08:31.497-06:00This couldn't have been posted at a better mom...This couldn't have been posted at a better moment. I'm struggling with backstory and been in a slump, came to gtw, and there's my solution! :) ThanksLianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59585827571650700422012-12-12T06:56:53.584-06:002012-12-12T06:56:53.584-06:00This was so, so helpful! I'm struggling with b...This was so, so helpful! I'm struggling with backstory right about now, and I will definitely be using this! Thank you!Amanda Fischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-41914747736462878552012-12-12T06:55:29.337-06:002012-12-12T06:55:29.337-06:00I lost it too, Anna. Just started snuffling and sn...I lost it too, Anna. Just started snuffling and snorting at myself this morning.Amanda Fischernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56969390184517188492012-12-12T03:24:05.144-06:002012-12-12T03:24:05.144-06:00I've definitely been away too long. I'm pu...I've definitely been away too long. I'm pumped to try out the 'dumb puppet' and the Pope in the pool! Great post, Jill. Makes me want to start writing. But I'm in the composting stage. Guess I could try a short story... yes, yes I think so. Thanks for the idea. ;)emiihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02042164350910286833noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1769628448745767552012-12-11T23:15:31.214-06:002012-12-11T23:15:31.214-06:00GREAT post! I was smiling to myself the whole time...GREAT post! I was smiling to myself the whole time I was reading it, but I lost it at the picture of the Pope on the "diving board." Oh, goodness. <br />Anyway, this is something I'm trying to figure out now. My character's past influences almost everything she does, but I want the readers to figure that out without me shoving it at them. Anna Schaefferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05377988052946078769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56125953226530088532012-12-11T22:05:57.014-06:002012-12-11T22:05:57.014-06:00Thanks for the post!
This is something I'm dea...Thanks for the post!<br />This is something I'm dealing with in my WIP, where my character's past has a huge influence on how he acts and treats others. It's hard not to just dump loads of backstory on the reader.Katenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-37200527238967151742012-12-11T20:10:30.259-06:002012-12-11T20:10:30.259-06:00Oh! Thank you so much Jill!!!
I've wondered ab...Oh! Thank you so much Jill!!!<br />I've wondered about backstory the whole time I've been writing! I've always wondered if I'm adding too much in or does it need more explanation? I find the backstory really hard to add in. I mean, I know my characters backstory and all... but how to fit it in there, that another story! =P<br />Thanks!!!Emmi Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103869981438471742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56505327224042784362012-12-11T19:49:21.466-06:002012-12-11T19:49:21.466-06:00This is so perfect for me right now because at the...This is so perfect for me right now because at the moment, I'm having trouble revealing some of the most important things in a way that isn't weird or cheesy. Thank you!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-75609182570223694792012-12-11T19:24:16.746-06:002012-12-11T19:24:16.746-06:00I don't think I put in lots of backstory all o...I don't think I put in lots of backstory all over the place, but when it does come, I tend to overload a little. And I totally recognize the "dumb puppet" method from other books and TV shows; it always seemed very convenient and I didn't know there was a name for it! Good post Jill!Katienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33787630365243499162012-12-11T18:13:10.737-06:002012-12-11T18:13:10.737-06:00Such a cool post, Jill! I love it when readers fil...Such a cool post, Jill! I love it when readers filter backstory into a novel and you hardly notice it! The worst back-story job I've ever read was in Les Miserables when Hugo left the plot for 70 or so pages to explain how Thenardier comes into the story. It was all about the Battle of Waterloo, and the character did not come in till the very last couple of pages. *headdesk*Rachel Heffingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08383034249438542111noreply@blogger.com