How do you come up with a backstory of a character?

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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What is your character backstory?

Backstory is a synonym for 'character history' in a way. It's the web of formative experiences that help to explain your characters' desires, fears and motivations. Every time you create a new character, think about their history.
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What is an example of a backstory?

Backstory includes the events that directly lead to the "story" and its storyform. For example: Bob's backstory involved the loss of a child pet that made him hypersensitive to having children, pets, or any other form of personal responsibility.
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How long should a character backstory be?

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. Make sure the backstory does not take over the main story when you place it in the narrative.
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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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How to Write Character Backstory (Prompts for Writing Relatable Characters)



How do you make a short backstory?

The Top 10 Tips For Writing Great Short Stories
  1. Understand that a short story is not the same as a novel. ...
  2. Start as close to the end as possible. ...
  3. Keep up the pace. ...
  4. Keep the number of characters small. ...
  5. Give the reader someone to root for. ...
  6. Create conflict! ...
  7. Suggest a backstory but don't elaborate. ...
  8. Appeal to the five senses.
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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 write a good tragic backstory?

6 Tips for Writing a Sad Story
  1. Tap into your own emotionality. ...
  2. Know the difference between sentimentality and truth. ...
  3. Leave room to be surprised by specific detail. ...
  4. Pair strong emotions with ordinary ones. ...
  5. Use backstories to add weight. ...
  6. Use sad moments to further character development.
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How do you make a traumatic backstory for a character?

Show the characters processing their trauma and trying to resolve their issues. How do their brains connect the moment to reminders of the past? Give your characters a backstory, but don't let the traumatic event dictate their entire lives. Real people never want to be defined by a single thing that happened.
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Which anime character has the saddest backstory?

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

  1. HOW TO MAKE READERS CRY.
  2. Create a character we care about, who has struggled with something we can identify with. ...
  3. Create primal stakes for that character. ...
  4. Plot a difficult journey. ...
  5. Surprise us. ...
  6. Create a moment. ...
  7. Deal authentically with human emotions.
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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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Does Mary Sue mean?

Mary Sue is a term used to describe a fictional character, usually female, who is seen as too perfect and almost boring for lack of flaws, originally written as an idealized version of an author in fanfiction.
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What does OC stand for slang?

While OC meaning “original content” or “original character,” is common on the internet, OC has many alternative definitions.
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How do you write a 1000 word short story?

Focus on One Scene

Of course, you want the story to be its own self-contained story, but you won't be able to flesh out a complex story world, a cast of characters, and a significant backstory in 1,000 words. Instead, your flash fiction story should focus on one scene, one moment in the life of your character.
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How do you write a backstory to a villain?

4 Tips for Writing a Great Villain in Your Novel
  1. Choose a real-life model. Find a real person to model your villain after. ...
  2. Put yourself in their shoes. When it's time for your villain to act, put yourself in their place. ...
  3. Consider their motivation. ...
  4. Introduce a villain with a bang.
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How can I create a story?

Jump To Section
  1. Step 1: Determine Your Setting.
  2. Step 2: Make Memorable Characters.
  3. Step 3: Understand the 2 Types of Conflict.
  4. Step 4: Give Your Plot a Twist.
  5. Step 5: Recreate Natural Dialogue.
  6. Step 6: Articulate Voice Through Point of View.
  7. Want to Become a Better Writer?
  8. Step 1: Determine Your Setting.
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Is Harry Potter a Mary Sue?

Under this definition, no character in Harry Potter can be a Mary Sue, because the series itself is not a fanfiction. There's also an ugly side to the term. It's often used to put down any powerful female character, and is only rarely used against male characters.
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Is Hermione a Mary Sue?

In the films, however, Hermione basically has no flaws: She's a Mary Sue. Mary Sue is a word used to describe a perfect character in a work of fiction.
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Can villains be Mary Sues?

In some cases, Villain Sue can be justified, given that the villain was an Eldritch Abomination and the plot revolved around a Cosmic Horror Story. Compare with God-Mode Sue, Mary Tzu, Invincible Villain and Generic Doomsday Villain.
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What does Cos mean in cosplay?

History and Etymology for cosplay

Noun. cos(tume) entry 1 + play entry 1, after Japanese kosupure, short for kosuchūmupurē, borrowed from English costume + (role) play.
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Is it okay to cosplay without a wig?

It's entirely okay if you cosplay a character that doesn't have the same hairstyle as your own and you forgo wearing a wig. Most cosplays are not exact anyways; most people don't make their cosplays accurate to the source material.
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How old should you be to cosplay?

As cosplay has become more mainstream and accessible, people have been able to enter the world of costume creation at younger ages. On average, cosplayers wear their first costume to a convention at age 21. However, there is no age limit for cosplay.
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How do you hurt your character?

Fun Ways to Make Your Characters Suffer
  1. Create an adversary.
  2. Bring up the past.
  3. Make them choose between 2 bad situations.
  4. Make them face their fears.
  5. Challenge their worldview.
  6. Take away their control.
  7. Cause and effect.
  8. Find what makes them uncertain/off-balance.
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How do I make my readers scared?

Increase Their Heart Rate by Writing Short Sentences

Switching to a shorter structure will force your reader to take breaths more often, pulling them deeper into the scene and creating an experiential connection with the panic your character is going through.
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