Behind the Scenes
Some
readers
have
criticized
the
use
of
backstory
in
my
novels,
claiming
it
slows
the
pace
or
detracts
from
the
main
plot.
I
understand
that
some
readers
prefer
a
straightforward
narrative
without
diving
too
deeply
into
how
characters
became
who
they
are.
But
to
me,
novels
are
more
than
entertainment;
they’re
about
les
-
sons
and
connections.
If
characters
don’t
grow,
learn,
or
reveal
something
meaningful
along
the
way,
and
perhaps
teach
the
reader
something
in
the
process,
they
fail
to
reflect
life.
Without
that
authenticity,
my
description
of
my
work
as
“Non-Fiction
Fiction”
would
lose its truth.
In
my
novels,
backstory
isn’t
confined
to
a
single
char
-
acter—
it’s
woven
throughout
the
narrative,
offering
glimpses
into
the
lives
of
many
characters.
Each
back
-
story
serves
a
purpose,
providing
insights
into
motiva
-
tions,
decisions,
and
conflicts
that
shape
both
the
individual
characters
and
the
broader
storyline.
These
interconnected
histories
demonstrate
how
the
charac
-
ters’ lives influence and impact one another.
When
done
well,
backstory
can
provide
a
novel
with
emotional
depth,
helping
readers
connect
with
charac
-
ters
by
understanding
their
struggles,
triumphs,
and
motivations.
A
protagonist’s
tragic
past
or
a
villain’s
personal
pain
adds
layers
of
empathy
or
complexity,
making
their
actions
feel
authentic.
Backstory
also
builds
believability
by
grounding
characters
in
realistic
histories,
turning
their
choices
into
logical
extensions
of
their
past
rather
than
arbitrary
plot
devices.
In
nov
-
els
with
multiple
characters,
backstories
often
reveal
surprising
connections,
showing
how
lives
intersect
in
ways
that
enrich
the
narrative.
Additionally,
backstory
can
serve
as
a
tool
for
foreshadowing,
subtly
hinting
at
future
conflicts
or
resolutions
that
make
the
story
feel
cohesive
and
rewarding.
By
highlighting
key
themes—
such
as
redemption,
resilience,
or
the
weight
of
choices—backstory
can
elevate
a
novel’s
emotional
resonance and thematic depth.
However,
backstory
has
its
challenges.
Poorly
integ
-
rated
or
overly
detailed
backstory
can
disrupt
the
nar
-
rative
flow,
pulling
readers
out
of
the
present
storyline
and
making
it
feel
like
a
detour.
When
too
much
in
-
formation
is
introduced
at
once,
it
risks
overwhelming
readers
and
bogging
down
the
pace
of
the
novel.
In
some
cases,
revealing
too
much
about
a
character’s
past
can
reduce
mystery,
especially
when
a
sense
of
in
-
trigue
is
crucial
to
the
plot.
There’s
also
the
risk
of
mis
-
balancing
the
story
if
the
backstory
overshadows
the
main
events,
making
it
feel
as
though
the
novel
is
more
about
what
happened
before
than
what’s
happening
now.
Finally,
backstory
that
doesn’t
tie
into
the
main
plot
or
character
development
can
feel
irrelevant,
leav
-
ing readers wondering why it was included at all.
For
me,
the
key
to
backstory
is
balance.
It
isn’t
about
explaining
every
detail
of
a
character’s
past
but
choos
-
ing
the
most
impactful
moments
and
weaving
them
into
the
narrative
in
a
way
that
enhances
the
story
rather
than
detracts
from
it.
When
handled
thought
-
fully,
backstory
doesn’t
slow
the
novel
—it
deepens
it,
providing
the
context
and
emotional
richness
that
make
the
journey
unforgettable.
In
my
novels,
back
-
story
is
never
filler.
Whether
it’s
a
brief
memory,
a
rev
-
elation
of
past
trauma,
or
a
pivotal
event,
every
piece
is
there
for
a
reason.
It
shapes
the
characters,
enriches
the
plot,
and
invites
readers
to
experience
not
just
the
destination
but
the
journey—and
all
the
lessons
along
the way.
So,
here’s
to
backstory—a
toast
to
the
layers
that
make
characters
real,
stories
profound,
and
lessons
unfor
-
gettable.
May
it
thrive
in
my
novels,
as
every
twist
and
turn
it
reveals
is
a
reminder
that
the
past
always
whis
-
pers
its
secrets
to
the
present.
After
all,
isn’t
it
the
backstory
that
often
holds
the
key
to
what
happens
next?
Just as God begins with the
unseen, the backstory is the soul
of a novel, hidden but essential.
"The name of the Lord is a fortified
tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Proverbs 18:10