Happy belated Father's Day to all the dad's out there. We had a great time yesterday with both of our father's (and mother's and a brother) stopping over for food and fun on the back deck. Hope you all had a great time. (We actually had two sunny days in a row!)
This week I was writing a scene in my WIP with a minor character who would only be in this one scene. I wrote the chapter, saved it, then started thinking about what I had written. It was very flat, and worse, I didn't know why my MC had chosen this person for the task they were fulfilling in the chapter. As I thought about the answer to my why, a back story began to unravel for this minor character, and I realized that was why the chapter was so flat.
How about you? Do you create back stories even for minor characters? Why or why not?
Well of course I do. I'm a constant rambler. If you talked to me in person, you'd actually tell me to get on with it. So, naturally I do this in writing too. I can't even go to the supermarket without telling my husband, A: what I got at the store, and B: all about the butcher, John, his new grandson and the Deli clerk, although, I can't remember his name, maybe something like Hans, no that's not right. Dan, I think its Dan, anyway, his daughter just got accepted into med school. I'm totally stoked for him, but I've never met her. I think they moved here form out of town and she never stops by the deli. Kind of sad to never visit your Dad at work. Sigh. Wait, where were we? Backstory, yes, I love it. I think a really good story has those layers that make you understand and love or hate the characters better. So,carry on you little painter of people. Carry on:)
ReplyDeleteOh gosh, that looked like I blogged on your blog. DRAT! Sorry.
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