Tuesday's Links to Writing & Marketing Blog Posts

WHY BACKSTORY IS THE SPINE OF YOUR STORY AND HOW TO USE IT TO MAKE YOUR STORY STAND TALL

By: Sonali Dev

Backstory. The word strikes terror into the hearts of writers learning their trade, but backstory doesn’t always wear a black hat. Longtime RU follower and soon-to-be-published author SONALI DEV shares some insights on backstory that might surprise you.

Wow, you’re all here despite that dreaded word in the title of this post. Backstory. Shudder. Horrors. Yikes. Go ahead, tremble, throw up in terror, then take a breath and come back.

Backstory might have become the rap on the wrist all newbies have learned to fear, what with ‘backstory dump’ being every critic’s handy-dandiest tool. But relax, down this way lies freedom from backstory-phobia.

Let’s start with an easy little exercise.

Try to think of a book you really truly loved. (I told you it was easy)

Is it Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind? Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Ain’t She Sweet? Kristan Higgins’ Waiting On You? Molly O’Keefe’s Crazy Thing Called Love?

I name these because much like all media I have an agenda here and these books are spectacular examples of rich backstory and some of the most unforgettable flashbacks in the genre. But you could come up with any story you absolutely could not put down.

Done? Good.

Now think about that favorite character who made that story your favorite story. Can you tell me what the character’s childhood was like?

Woah… Slow down . . .

Read the full article HERE!

~*~

If you missed my writing & marketing tweets and retweets yesterday, here they are again:

1. Fiction University: Real Life Diagnostics: Weaving in World Building Details. How Much is Too Much? http://ow.ly/yBbU9
2. Southern Writers - Suite T: Write Your Characters to Life http://ow.ly/yBbYN
3. Punctuating Dialogue: Intermediate Part 1 | Lit Central | O.C. http://ow.ly/yBcxk
4. Description: Writing a Scene of Pure Shock http://ow.ly/yBcEa
5. The Secret Weapon of YA/NA Writers | Writers In The Storm http://ow.ly/yBdUp
6. The Psychological Benefits of Writing: Why Richard Branson & Warren Buffett Write Regularly | Entrepreneur.com http://ow.ly/yBe4w
7. Why Querying for an Agent is a Waste of Time | David Bruns http://ow.ly/yBeci
8. C.M. Skiera's Blog: How Not to Release a Self-Published Novel http://ow.ly/yBetI
9. Writer Unboxed » To Pseudonym or Not to Pseudonym http://ow.ly/yBeEJ
10. 3 Tips to Enhance Your Marketing Efforts - Books & Such Literary Management : Books & Such Literary Management http://ow.ly/yBeJI
11. Writers On The Move: Tread Gently - 10 Steps To Provide a Helpful Critique http://ow.ly/yBeMv
12. Building Character(s) – 5 Tips for Creating a Lead Character Your Audience Will Really Care About | Diane Drake http://ow.ly/yBeV9
13. Character Eye Descriptions: The Window to Your Story | Writers In The Storm Blog http://ow.ly/yBeZK
14. 7 Tools to Hook Your Reader http://ow.ly/yBfrC
15. The Writers Alley: I'm So Emotional! Creating Authentic Character Emotions http://ow.ly/yBfGB
16. Why Backstory is the Spine of Your Story And How to Use it to Make Your Story Stand Tall | Romance University http://ow.ly/yBfNZ
17. Free Book Promotion Web Sites - 15 of the Best - Patch of Earth.com http://ow.ly/yBfZ9
18. 4 Kinds of Sentences Every Writer Should Remember http://ow.ly/yBgeD
19. Insecure Writer's Support Group: Where to Find Royalty Free Music http://ow.ly/yBgF9
20. The State of Self-Publishing | Hugh Howey http://ow.ly/yCKdG
21. Have you read Facebook’s Terms of Service? If not, read on | The Rundown | PBS NewsHour http://ow.ly/yCKrc

Happy writing and running, Kathy