The Story Behind the Story

What's backstory, and what's it doing here anyway?

- BY E.L. TENENBAUM

Backstory is vital for adding depth to a world and its characters, and not just because it provides an origin story that sets up a potential prequel.

Describing the nature, nurture, or events shaping characters up to a certain point explains how they affect present decisions and perceptions. So, in addition to giving some idea of what's happened until now, backstory especially impacts the why of everything that happens next. In short, backstory is context.

Bear in mind, backstory differs by genre. Certain genres intentionally withhold backstory to heighten thrill, mystery, or suspense. Auto/biography is entirely backstory, digging into the past to influence present opinion according to how far someone's come or who someone's become. Historical context reminds us that behaviors and norms are influenced by time, not just regarding society but also the simple facts of what existed then. All to say, although backstory is yours for the forming, it should be logical and, when necessary, factual.

Implementing backstory comes in knowing when, where, and how much to include, so the reader gains understanding sans unnecessary expositional overload. One of the best parts about backstory is that it's more familiar than many realize because decisions regarding how much to reveal about yourself regularly crop up in all sorts of interactions with others. Thus, it comes down to applying what you already know in whichever logical way fits your story.

Who gets a backstory?

Everyone! Including secondary characters, antagonists, even imaginary worlds and familiar settings.