books

Character Backstories

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Giving a character a backstory is essentially making them a more well-rounded character. It’s allowing your audience to get a better picture of who they are and what their motives might be.

Backstories are important to all characters – not just the main characters. Side characters, and especially villains, can greatly benefit from having a backstory of their own. It makes them much more real and grounded characters that have layers. Backstories allow you to write characters rather than caricatures. 

But how do you write a backstory without it coming across as cliche or an info dump? There is a trick. 

I like to think of a character’s backstory as an iceberg. You’ve got the top 5 percent that you see, while the other 95 percent is hidden beneath the surface. Much like Hemingway’s Iceberg Principle, if you tell the important parts of a character’s backstory, the whole thing will be easily inferable for the reader. 

That is why, it would be a good idea to write out your character’s entire backstory – just get it all out there on paper. However, the trick is to not take everything from the backstory and dump it straight into your novel. Be strategic. Give the audience only the important or relevant backstory pieces that will help to propel the story forward. Your protagonist being an introvert might not be as necessary information to the story as them being an orphan. But if you write their backstory well enough, the reader will be able to infer the bits that are left out. 

Basically, you should always make a backstory for your characters, but don’t feel the need to dump it all into the book. It is okay to leave some stuff out. That is what makes for a well-developed character. 

Writing Habits

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Writing can be a daunting task, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. If you want to improve, it’s important to develop good writing habits. These don’t apply to everyone, but the following are some of my favorite habits that have helped maintain my writing goals.

  1. Write every day. It doesn’t matter how much you write, just make sure you write something every day. Even if it’s just a sentence or a few hundred words, the act of writing will help you improve your skills and keep your momentum going.
  2. Read widely. Reading is essential for any writer. Reading other people’s work will help you learn about different writing styles and techniques. It will also give you ideas for your own stories if you’re pursuing a specific genre.
  3. Brainstorm ideas. Before you start writing, it’s helpful to brainstorm ideas for your story. This could involve coming up with character sketches, plot points, or setting details. The more ideas you have, the more likely you are to find one that sparks your creativity.
  4. Outline your story. Some writers prefer to outline their stories before they start writing, while others prefer to wing it. If you’re not sure whether to outline or not, try both and see what works best for you. Outlining can help you stay on track and make sure your story has a clear beginning, middle, and end. I prefer winging it in the beginning to get a feel for the story and characters, but I loosely outline when there are sequels.
  5. Write in a quiet place. When you’re writing, it’s important to find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted. This will help you focus and avoid distractions.
  6. Take breaks. It’s also important to take breaks when you’re writing. Get up and move around, or step outside for some fresh air. This will help you stay refreshed and avoid burnout. Stay hydrated (or caffeinated) and keep some snacks within reach.
  7. Get feedback. Once you’re happy with your story, it’s helpful to get feedback from other people. This could involve asking friends, family, or beta readers to read your work. We’re often too close to the story and automatically fill in the blanks while editing our own work. Feedback can help you identify areas where your story can be improved.
  8. Don’t give up. Writing is a challenging but rewarding journey. There will be times when you feel discouraged, but it’s important to keep going. Keep writing, keep learning, and keep improving. It’s okay to take a sabbatical from writing too. Whether it’s a few days or a year in some cases, make the commitment to see your story through until it’s finished.

These are just a few of my favorite writing habits. What are yours?

Silencing Your Inner Editor

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Every writer has an inner editor. It’s the voice that tells us our writing is no good, that we’re not good enough, and that we should give up. This voice can be very destructive, preventing us from finishing our stories or even starting them in the first place.

How do we silence our inner editor voice? Here are a few tips:

  1. Remind yourself that your first draft is not your final draft. The purpose of your first draft is to get your story down on paper, no matter how rough it is. Don’t worry about making it perfect, just focus on getting the ideas out of your head and onto the page.
  2. Set aside time for editing. Once you have a complete first draft, you can start editing. This is where you’ll fix any problems with your writing, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. But don’t start editing until you’ve finished your first draft. Feel free to leave notes or comments to yourself, but leave the true editing for when the initial draft is complete.
  3. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes when they write. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and keep writing. Don’t let the fear of making mistakes stop you from putting your ideas down on paper.
  4. Find a writing partner or group. Having someone to read your work and give you feedback can be helpful in silencing your inner editor voice. A writing partner or group can help you see your work through fresh eyes and offer constructive criticism.
  5. Take breaks. If you find yourself getting stuck, take a break from writing. Go for a walk, listen to music, or do something else that you enjoy. Sometimes the best way to get unstuck is to give your mind a break. Remember to keep your favorite snacks nearby.

While silencing your inner editor voice is not easy, it’s essential for any writer who wants to finish their stories. These tips are just a small portion of the lengthy writing process. See more of our blog posts here.

Submitting Closer to Deadlines

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Anthologies are a great way to get your work published and to reach a wider audience. Here are some reasons why you should wait until closer to the anthology submission deadline to submit.

  1. You’ll have more time to revise your work. When you submit your work early, you’re not giving yourself enough time to revise it and make it the best it can be. By waiting until closer to the deadline, you’ll have more time to get feedback from beta readers, editors, and other writers. This will help you to identify and fix any problems with your work, and it will make your story more polished and professional. This also prevents multiple resubmissions to make corrections, which lessen acceptance chances.
  2. You’ll have more time to promote your work. The closer you submit to the deadline, the more time you’ll have to promote your work. This is because you’ll have more time to share your story on social media, reach out to other writers, and build buzz around your work. So if you wait until closer to the deadline, you’ll be more likely to get your work noticed.
  3. You’ll have less time to wait for a response. Waiting can be extenuating, especially when it comes to story submissions. By waiting until closer to the submission deadline, you’ll save yourself additional anxiety.
  4. Your work is more memorable. Acquisition editors recall the most recent story they’ve read with the most clarity. By submitting closer to deadline, your story will be among the last batch read before acceptance letters are finalized. This tends to give it a greater impact.

Ultimately, the decision of when to submit to anthologies is up to you. There is no right or wrong answer. Consider your individual circumstances and goals, and choose the approach that best suits you.

Ready. Set. Action!

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Action scenes are a great way to keep your readers engaged and entertained. They can also be a lot of fun to write. But if you want to write action scenes that are truly exciting, here are some tips to help.

1. Choose the right perspective. The perspective you choose can have a big impact on the way your action scene reads. If you’re writing from the perspective of a character who is in the middle of the action, your scene will be more exciting and immersive. But if you’re writing from a more detached perspective, your scene will be more objective and suspenseful.

2. Show, don’t tell. Use vivid language. Action scenes are all about the details. So use vivid language to bring your scene to life. Describe the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of the action. This will help your readers feel like they’re right there in the middle of the action with your characters.

3. Keep it moving. Action scenes should be fast-paced and exciting. Don’t bog your readers down with too much exposition or backstory. Just get to the action and keep it moving.

4. Use dialogue sparingly. Dialogue can be great for adding tension and suspense to an action scene. But don’t overdo it. Too much dialogue can slow down the action and take your readers out of the moment.

5. End with a bang. Your action scene should end with a bang. This could be a cliffhanger, a major plot twist, or a satisfying conclusion. Whatever you do, make sure your ending leaves your readers wanting more.