What is the difference between backstory and flashback

Does it enhance the story? Use scenes, setting, dialog, goals to set flashbacks. Memory Moments are you best option. Sharing the past, special moments, dark wounds or secrets with other characters. Use dialog and metaphor to show these moments. All of these are effective. She excels in seeing the deeper layers of a story. With a love for teaching and mentoring, Rachel comes alongside writers to help them craft their novel. A worship leader, board member of ACFW and popular writing teacher, Rachel is the author of over 17 novels.

She lives in Florida with her husband and dog. Contact her at: Rachel mybooktherapy. Do you need help with your story idea, synopsis or proposal? How about some one-on-one craft coaching. Conversely, foreshadowing is used to help the reader predict what might happen, or to encourage the reader to make a guess. It often happens fairly early in a story, and is frequently used at the end of a chapter, or even at the end of one book in a series. Foreshadowing is a somewhat simpler technique than a flashback; it may occur when the author notes that a character has a bad feeling, for example.

This immediately makes the reader wonder what might happen in the future that could have caused this bad feeling. Using flashback and foreshadowing in a text can be good ways to increase the reader's overall engagement in the story. She helps writers at all levels including ESL clients. Freelance writing for resumes, proposals business and query letters, blogs, brochures, websites.

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How you found me. Email Format html text. Part of re-writing backstory may include moving some of the backstory to later in the manuscript. If you find you have a lot of backstory in the first scene or chapter, consider moving some of it to later in the novel. Ask yourself, does the reader need the backstory information? If the answer is no, then cut it from your story. If the answer is yes, ask yourself does the reader need the information in the current scene or can you move it to later?

Your characters need to do something interesting before too much backstory is included. One final thought on backstory. Curiosity is what drives the reader forward. Keep the reader curious. I hope the above illustrates who using select backstory can engage your readers. You can also learn about the difference between Tension and Conflict and apply it to your story.

StoryTeller is creative editing software for fiction writers. Transform your story, not just your words. Successful stories depend on your ability to edit, improve, and revise your work. Only when you master story editing, can you master storytelling. Popup Form. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Flashback A reader lives a flashback is if it were a regular scene.

Flashback Example Here is a beautiful example of a flashback that works. You owe me. Short for numb nuts. Dodge had been a sentimental guy.