Crafting Backstories That Deepen Character and Plot

Alan Elliott, Cathy Rueter, Gay Yellen, Kit Sanders, Leigh Hull, and Lynn Slaughter discuss how strong backstories deepen motivation and strengthen plot. They share techniques for building believable histories that support emotional authenticity in fiction.

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

Check out these other resources:

Building Stories That Grow With Young Readers

Craft, Middle Grade, Writing, Young Adult

Bev Irwin, Bonnie J. Doerr, Laurie Edwards, Patrice Lyle, and Shannon L. Brown dive into the creative decisions behind writing for children and teens. Topics include voice, authenticity, series development, and how to build stories that grow with young readers.

Knowing When a Story Is Finished and Letting It Go

Craft, Writing

Kaui Hart Hemmings reads from her novel The Descendants and reflects on the emotional process of releasing creative work. She explores when to let go, how to embrace imperfection, and why completion matters.

Wartime in Crime Fiction

Authors, Fiction, War

War reshapes everything, including the criminal world. In this powerful discussion, authors explore how conflict, occupation, and political upheaval create fertile ground for crime fiction. They examine how wartime pressures transform ordinary people, blur moral...

Crafting Backstories That Deepen Character and Plot

Building Stories That Grow With Young Readers

Knowing When a Story Is Finished and Letting It Go

Wartime in Crime Fiction

Explore

Learn

Ready to join?