tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post1378562362195073341..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: Filling in the BackgroundElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61367194106314163782010-05-18T09:00:12.545-07:002010-05-18T09:00:12.545-07:00I am ALWAYS tempted to share too much up front... ...I am ALWAYS tempted to share too much up front... in fact in my first drafts, often I DO... I guess I fall in love with the complex characters and want my readers to see how much I thought about it *snort*<br /><br />I am currently writing my first mystery though, and I am LOVING having this SECRET background, to be revealed as the story goes. It is a kick to have the BACKGROUND be tied so Hart Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17599570189253229318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-87977066499205902812010-05-18T04:51:14.212-07:002010-05-18T04:51:14.212-07:00"a smidgen at a time" is what I like bes..."a smidgen at a time" is what I like best in a read, and what I try to do when I write. Excellent post, Elspeth.<br /><br /><a href="http://theoldsilly.com" rel="nofollow">Marvin D Wilson</a>The Old Sillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09661188622348794193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-3583549140528536252010-05-17T22:56:44.163-07:002010-05-17T22:56:44.163-07:00Charmaine; I try to follow a very similar pattern...Charmaine; I try to follow a very similar pattern. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-77816815672240582312010-05-17T20:13:51.925-07:002010-05-17T20:13:51.925-07:00I try to build a background for each character, si...I try to build a background for each character, significant events of the past and how they relate to their family and why. But then I aim to just draw on those anecdotes throughout the story when a suitable time arises.<br /><br />Great post :-)Charmaine Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06642615452680721583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-91520338302171753472010-05-17T18:44:42.580-07:002010-05-17T18:44:42.580-07:00Kathi; You're absolutely right - it does help...Kathi; You're absolutely right - it does help build tension. Good point.<br /><br />Meribeth; I find those dumps irritating as well, and I start to instantly dislike the character.<br /><br />Patricia; Aren't they the worst? You can only keep that polite expression in place for so long.<br /><br />Clarissa; I don't know if my characters are quiet and reserved - but most are Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-50627993071234573592010-05-17T18:37:57.000-07:002010-05-17T18:37:57.000-07:00Such a great post! Yes, friends and characters ke...Such a great post! Yes, friends and characters keep secrets, don't they? The reveal is certainly fun though. <br /><br />Found your blog from Patricia Stotley. So glad I did!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-18153372864042646722010-05-17T17:27:30.801-07:002010-05-17T17:27:30.801-07:00I'm with you, I like my characters to reveal t...I'm with you, I like my characters to reveal themselves by actions because most are quiet and reserved. No one I know - well, most I know - don't tell me about their lives on the first visit.<br /><br />Great post.<br /><br />CDAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-26677207475327818322010-05-17T15:46:10.721-07:002010-05-17T15:46:10.721-07:00This is so true, except for those odd characters y...This is so true, except for those odd characters you get stuck next to on a bus or airplane--the ones who give you their life stories and there's no way you can escape.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-77177323777261595152010-05-17T15:23:20.588-07:002010-05-17T15:23:20.588-07:00The characters I like best are the ones get to kn...The characters I like best are the ones get to know slowly. Data Dumps are people who's names I forget (or try not to remember).<br />Love that phrase --Data Dump. Just sums it all up nicely.<br />Maribeth<br /><a href="http://gigglesandguns.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Giggles and Guns</a>Mary@GigglesandGunshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07350818228268801008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-26768196141597697172010-05-17T14:19:35.947-07:002010-05-17T14:19:35.947-07:00I agree to gradually feed info about your characte...I agree to gradually feed info about your characters into the story. It helps tension and keeps the readers reading. Great post!Kathi Oram Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11959149321213743448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-43328708781012271852010-05-17T13:39:08.964-07:002010-05-17T13:39:08.964-07:00Jane; They can be sneaky little creatures, can...Jane; They can be sneaky little creatures, can't they? Usually the surprise turns out to be good and makes me wonder why I didn't figure it out on my own!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-39663874485602812612010-05-17T13:00:24.123-07:002010-05-17T13:00:24.123-07:00Good point. My characters tend to keep secrets fro...Good point. My characters tend to keep secrets from me, too. But then I love surprises!)Jane Kennedy Suttonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519340747761460017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-46310416113790241122010-05-17T12:44:48.159-07:002010-05-17T12:44:48.159-07:00Margot; I think too much information all at once ...Margot; I think too much information all at once can just be confusing. If a reader can barely remember a character's name at that early point, why should a writer surround the character with baggage? First, a purse. Then a small carry-on. And so on and so on and so on...and before you know it, there's a trunk.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-13973435568567578442010-05-17T12:39:00.323-07:002010-05-17T12:39:00.323-07:00Elspeth - Loved this post! I agree 100% with you (...Elspeth - Loved this post! I agree 100% with you (odd how we kinda wrote about the same thing for today, huh?). Giving backstories all at once can be hard for the reader - tiresome, even. It really is much more interesting, and more realistic, to give that kind of information bit by bit. That's realistic, too. As you say, almost no-one knows everything about us...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-90754850280401944852010-05-17T12:12:11.011-07:002010-05-17T12:12:11.011-07:00Karen; I tend to have the same reaction! The bes...Karen; I tend to have the same reaction! The best lesson I ever heard about writing is "Write what you would want to read".Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-86007587950736882632010-05-17T11:24:46.049-07:002010-05-17T11:24:46.049-07:00Mason; It does make it easier to remember, doesn&...Mason; It does make it easier to remember, doesn't it? <br /><br />Stephanie; Thanks for sharing what works for you, I love discovering how other writers think!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-83585647040006567162010-05-17T11:14:23.145-07:002010-05-17T11:14:23.145-07:00I discover the character's past as I go. I do...I discover the character's past as I go. I don't fill out templates for them- most of it turns out to be unnecessary. Sometimes I'll get stuck and have to have a conversation with them about that.Stephanie Thorntonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17437077559099315853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-61528261650384043932010-05-17T11:08:40.227-07:002010-05-17T11:08:40.227-07:00Little snips of background here and there in a sto...Little snips of background here and there in a story are good. It me a remember them better and it also gives you something to look forward to. You know you're going to be learning more about the characters as you go along. Enjoyed the post.<br /><br />Mason<br /><a href="http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Thoughts in Progress</a>Mason Canyonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10935307400882363560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-84279573074619007032010-05-17T10:56:04.674-07:002010-05-17T10:56:04.674-07:00Elizabeth; I hope I'm getting better at it e...Elizabeth; I hope I'm getting better at it every day, and every time I edit! I hate those data dumps as well.Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-1397280595562369862010-05-17T10:33:40.978-07:002010-05-17T10:33:40.978-07:00Nice post, Elspeth. :)
Gradual backstory sharing ...Nice post, Elspeth. :)<br /><br />Gradual backstory sharing is the best! I hate those data dumps when I come across them...boggles my mind. But it's so important to show who the character is now because of where they've come from--we just have to work it in.Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.com