Using Backstory to Drive Character and Plot

Presented by: Kelly Nichols | Philip Cioffari | Steven Womack

A character’s past drives every choice they make on the page. Kelly Nichols, Philip Cioffari, and Steven Womack explore how to define, shape, and deploy backstory to support plot and character development. Writers will learn when to reveal key information, when to withhold it, and how to integrate backstory smoothly without slowing pacing or overwhelming the reader.

To access this content, please sign up as a member.

Check out these other resources:

Interactive Fiction: Storytelling in Social Games

Career, Gaming, Interactive Fiction

Blair and Jean Leggett of One More Story Games discuss how they blend narrative and technology to create immersive, player-driven storytelling experiences in interactive fiction.

Cracking the Code of YA Mystery

Craft, Writing, YA, Young Adult

Bonnie J. Doerr, Jessica Verday, Joseph Terrell, and Marlis Day discuss their experiences writing and publishing young adult mysteries. They explore genre expectations, character challenges, and what keeps teen readers engaged from the opening chapter to the final...

Bringing Characters to Life Through Emotion and Detail

Character Development, Plot

Allan Ansorge, Carmen Amato, Delphine Boswell, Jane Sevier, L.A. Chandler, and Merrilee Robson discuss how to create characters that stay with readers. They explore the use of sensory detail, emotional truth, and real life inspiration to bring characters to life.

Using Backstory to Drive Character and Plot

Interactive Fiction: Storytelling in Social Games

Cracking the Code of YA Mystery

Bringing Characters to Life Through Emotion and Detail

Explore

Learn

Ready to join?