tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post7210161374206142295..comments2024-03-28T10:48:15.246-04:00Comments on alien romances: What Writers Should Avoid—or Not?Rowena Cherryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11839386556697211986noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26974492.post-43509431491565799982008-07-10T19:02:00.000-04:002008-07-10T19:02:00.000-04:00This backstory problem was actually mentioned on a...This backstory problem was actually mentioned on a couple of panels I was on at Westercon this past weekend. <BR/><BR/>The problem is that beginners don't know how to do it -- and will insert IRRELEVANT backstory at the WRONG point. <BR/><BR/>The trick with backstory is to make the reader panting-eager to learn the fact -- then give them HALF that fact. <BR/><BR/>The trick with flashback is to keep the story moving FORWARD though the time-line loops backwards. <BR/><BR/>How you accomplish that is to stay on your because-line which is the plot-sequence. <BR/><BR/>What you put in the flashback is the BECAUSE that caused what just happened and therefore CAUSES what is about to happen next. <BR/><BR/>Writing is all about "because." <BR/><BR/>Jacqueline Lichtenberg<BR/>http://www.simegen.com/jl/Jacqueline Lichtenberghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01613040740264804278noreply@blogger.com