{"id":733,"date":"2023-08-01T14:19:04","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T14:19:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/?p=733"},"modified":"2023-08-01T14:19:04","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T14:19:04","slug":"the-backstory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/?p=733","title":{"rendered":"The Backstory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, we\u2019re going to be talking about the Backstory for a Flat Arc protagonist. The Backstory is a vital part of a book or movie, so you have to make sure that you pin it down before you begin writing the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019ve already read my Positive Change Arc series, you probably remember when I talked about the Ghost of a Positive Change Arc character. And if you haven\u2019t read that post, you can check it out by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Backstory of a Flat Arc character is very similar to the Ghost. However, the main difference is how that Backstory affected the MC. In a Positive Change Arc, the Ghost is the reason the MC believes the Lie. But in a Flat Arc, the MC will believe the Truth either because of or in spite of the Backstory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at a few elements to consider when creating your MC\u2019s Backstory:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. The Truth<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The Truth can play many different roles in a Backstory, depending on where your MC is at during that time. Do they already believe the Truth and hold to it in spite of opposition? Or do they come to believe the Truth because of their Backstory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Either way, the Truth needs to be present in the Backstory. Just like the MC might have a history with the antagonist or other supporting characters, they will also have a history with the Truth. Their relationship with the Truth began before the story starts, and will continue after the story ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In \u201cThe Basket of Flowers,\u201d Mary learned the Truth from her father as a young girl. She had small hardships living as a peasant, but they weren\u2019t much. So when the actual story starts, her belief in the Truth is getting tested for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

    In \u201cPendragon,\u201d Artos, too, learned the Truth from his parents. And he also hasn\u2019t experienced any huge hardships in his life\u2026 at least, until the story begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. The plot<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Depending on your story and its needs, there are things that will have to be in place before the actual story begins. A lot of times, the Backstory will tie characters and events together in ways that could make for some great story elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Shocking plot reveals, tons of juicy conflict, and more can result from a well-written Backstory. And on top of that, the events of the Backstory will often affect the future choices and motivations of the characters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      In \u201cThe Basket of Flowers,\u201d Mary\u2019s father was actually a gardener for the count, which is how they obtained the cottage they now live in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n

      In \u201cPendragon,\u201d it seems that Artos\u2019 father was somewhat of a renowned warrior in his day, as even King Ambrosius had heard of him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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      1. The MC\u2019s role<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        What role does your MC play in their Backstory? Were they a villain, a mistreated orphan, a world-renowned journalist, or the sidekick to a superhero? Their role during the Backstory\u2014as well as their relationship to the Truth\u2014will help to set up the current story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Perhaps they\u2019re now trying to seek forgiveness for their actions. Or maybe they now have a desire to help other orphans. Or maybe they want to settle down and retire. Or perhaps they now want to become something more than a sidekick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        In \u201cThe Basket of Flowers,\u201d Mary\u2019s role in her Backstory is minimal\u2026 up until the beginning of the story, she\u2019s a peasant girl living a simple life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/div>\n\n\n\n

        In \u201cPendragon,\u201d it\u2019s much of the same for Artos\u2026 his Backstory is fairly short, and he doesn\u2019t get much action until the story begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. The reveal<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Whenever you\u2019re writing the Backstory, you have to make sure you know when and how exactly you\u2019re going to reveal it. Bit by bit? All at once? During a major plot point? At the beginning? At the end?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          You\u2019ll also have to determine who it\u2019s being revealed to. How much does the MC know? How much do the antagonist and other characters know? And, of course, you always have to ask how much the audience knows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          In \u201cThe Basket of Flowers,\u201d there isn\u2019t much Backstory to tell, so it\u2019s dropped in little hints along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          In \u201cPendragon,\u201d the Backstory is mostly told by the narrator, Artos\u2019 sister, who is looking back on the events of the story. The rest of it can be pieced together by things the characters say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

          <\/div>\n\n\n\n

          Here are some other examples of Backstories from fiction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            \n
          1. Sophie\u2019s orphaned past; what happened with the BFG and the little boy (\u201cThe BFG\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              \n
            1. The abandonment of earth and the altered course of the Axiom (\u201cWall-E\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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              1. The death of their father and the dividing of his estate (\u201cSense & Sensibility\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                1. The first capture and sentence of Frank Miller (\u201cHigh Noon\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                  1. When the explorer first meets Paddington\u2019s aunt and uncle (\u201cPaddington\u201d)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
                    <\/div>\n\n\n\n

                    Comment below the Backstory of your favorite book or movie!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Today, we\u2019re going to be talking about the Backstory for a Flat Arc protagonist. The Backstory is a vital part of a book or movie, so you have to make sure that you pin it down before you begin writing the story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[136,5,4],"tags":[151,24,26,29,100,23,33,27],"class_list":["post-733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-flat-arcs","category-plots-and-character-arcs","category-writing-tips","tag-backstory","tag-character-arcs","tag-characters","tag-christian-writing","tag-flat-arcs","tag-plots","tag-protagonist","tag-writing-tips"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=733"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":735,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/733\/revisions\/735"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=733"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=733"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=733"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}