Does every character need a backstory?

Not every character needs a backstory. Many minor characters in fiction only need to appear consistent with their context and the purpose they have in the narrative.
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Does every character need a tragic backstory?

If you're really adventurous, try having a character with no tragic backstory at all. They don't have to be happy-go-lucky, either; they can just be a regular person who gets swept up in your story. Whether that be the hero, the love interest, or the best friend, give it a try.
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Should you start a story with backstory?

Because the answers are part of the novel's backstory. Backstory refers to the characters' history and other story elements that underlie the situation at the start of the book. Backstory helps to establish the setting and makes the reader care about what happens to the characters.
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What is the basic rule for backstory?

And that is this: Never share your character's backstory until the last possible moment, right before whenever readers will be hopelessly confused without knowing the backstory. Hint all you like, but don't actually share the facts of that delicious backstory until you have to.
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Why is a character's backstory important?

Backstory has two main jobs to fulfill in your story: (1) to reveal important information about the main characters, and (2) to help depict a fully realized story world. A character's backstory comprises all the data of his history, revealing how he became who he is, and why he acts as he does and thinks as he thinks.
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How to Write Character Backstory (Prompts for Writing Relatable Characters)



Which anime character has the saddest backstory?

15 Anime Characters With The Most Emotional Backstories
  • 8 Trafalgar Law (One Piece) ...
  • 7 Kakashi Hatake (Naruto) ...
  • 6 Sakata Gintoki (Gintama) ...
  • 5 Nico Robin (One Piece) ...
  • 4 Seras Victoria (Hellsing) ...
  • 3 Gaara (Naruto) ...
  • 2 Hyakkimaru (Dororo) ...
  • 1 Guts (Berserk)
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How do you make a good OC?

You should start with a concept, personality, or backstory, and make your character's appearance based on that. Don't try and rush the creative process! If you can't decide on something, give it time. Not all OCs were made in a day - in fact, redesigning and adding new features on is part of having an OC!
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How do you introduce a character in a backstory?

How to Write Compelling Backstories for Your Characters
  1. Build a timeline of your character's life events. ...
  2. Make sure backstory details are relevant. ...
  3. Draw inspiration from real life. ...
  4. Show, don't tell. ...
  5. Don't overload your first chapter with backstory.
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How can I write to Stephen King?

Stephen King's Top 13 Writing Tips
  1. Use failure as fuel. ...
  2. Remove everything that is not part of the story. ...
  3. “Write with the door closed. ...
  4. Don't dress up your vocabulary. ...
  5. Avoid adverbs. ...
  6. Paragraphs are maps of intent. ...
  7. Truthful writing often upsets people. ...
  8. There is a timeless connection between reading and writing.
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What should the first scene of a novel be?

It's an episode, plot point, or hook that attracts the reader to the tale you are telling. This incident explains why the protagonist does what he/she does, and thrusts him/her into the main action of the story. Your opening scene should include information that either foreshadows or leads to the inciting incident.
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When should you reveal a backstory?

They're impacted in the present by what happened in the past. This needs to be clear at the beginning of the story. You won't fully reveal backstory in the beginning because you don't want the story to feel like an info dump. But you do want the reader to know that your character has a history.
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How do you show not a backstory?

Here's how to show don't tell in writing:
  1. Understand what show don't tell means.
  2. Learn from examples of showing versus telling.
  3. Cut the “sensing” words to show don't tell.
  4. Avoid emotional explaining when showing not telling.
  5. Describe body language.
  6. Use strong verbs to show don't tell.
  7. Focus on describing senses.
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How long should a character backstory be?

Put the backstory in the main story.

Try not to give too much too soon to the reader. Instead, place the backstory into the story in doses or short sections. Include only one to two lines of backstory in a scene set in the present. This way, the backstory doesn't feel too distracting to the reader.
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Do villains need backstories?

In recent years, the trend has been to make villains more fleshed out by giving them a tragic backstory. While this strategy works and makes the villains seem more sympathetic to the audience, it's good to remember that a movie villain doesn't really need a tragic backstory to be awesome and loved by many viewers.
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Does every villain need a backstory?

So yes, it's interesting to learn a villain's motivations, but not every villain needs to have some tragic backstory that explains all of their awful actions. Some of these villains are just evil, and that's the end of it.
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Are tragic backstories cliche?

Let's face it: tragic backstories are now cliché. And that's a bit sad. But just because they're overdone doesn't mean you can't write one that's meaningful and original.
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How much does JK Rowling write per day?

Pretty much, Rowling writes for six hours a day. That is a good amount of time and acceptable for a writer who is doing this for a living. For me, I write probably more than that.
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How many hours does Stephen King write a day?

Stephen King: 2000 Words

In his memoir, King says it's best to write a minimum of 2000 words a day to avoid “the smooch of death.” “Read and write four to six hours a day. If you cannot find the time for that, you can't expect to become a good writer.”
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Do writers read a lot?

Writers need to look into themselves and turn toward the life of the imagination. To do so, they should read as much as they can. King takes a book with him everywhere he goes, and even reads during meals. "If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot," he says.
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Where should you put backstory?

Only insert backstory where it's relevant.

Backstory should always be triggered by something that's happening in the story present. Think about how your memories pop up in your own life. They are usually triggered by something you see, hear, feel, etc.
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How do I make my characters meet?

9 Unique Ways to “Meet” Your Characters
  1. Listen to Music.
  2. Peruse Pinterest.
  3. Interview Your Character.
  4. Cook a Meal with Your Character.
  5. People-Watch.
  6. Read.
  7. Go Candle-Smelling.
  8. Shop For Your Character.
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How do you reveal a backstory in a novel?

In a nutshell, the backstory is everything that has happened to your character before the novel begins. This can be revealed by: Exposition – simply telling the reader about the past. Flashbacks – where the reader is thrown back in time into the mind of the protagonist when the event occurred.
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Can I cosplay as an OC?

Is it okay to cosplay as an OC at an anime convention? Whether you are at an anime, comic, or gaming convention, there is nothing wrong with cosplaying your OC. Cons are full of different types of costumes worn by people with all skill levels in creating them.
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What are the 4 types of characters?

One way to classify characters is by examining how they change (or don't change) over the course of a story. Grouped in this way by character development, character types include the dynamic character, the round character, the static character, the stock character, and the symbolic character.
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How do you write an OC bio?

What to include in your character profile:
  1. Character basics such as name, age,
  2. Physical description of character's appearance.
  3. The personality traits of the character.
  4. Overview of the character's health.
  5. Career and education details.
  6. Preferences of the character.
  7. Description of the character's family life.
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