Backstory is paramount to effective character development as well as writing realistic, impactful relationships. When I read a story with one-dimensional characters who don't engage my interest, one of the first thoughts I have is, "I'll bet the writer doesn't really know their characters."

What is backstory?

Put simply, backstory is everything that happens to your characters before your reader meets them. It encompasses a wide variety of elements such as a character's age, where they grew up, and their socioeconomic status. The possibilities are truly endless because, just like people, well-written characters contain multitudes.

How do writers use backstory?

In my past life as an actor, one of the first exercises I would do in preparing for a role was to work on my character's backstory. Some of this would come from clues in the script, while a lot was left up to me as an actor to create. Indeed, the many blanks an actor must fill in for their character's backstory, and all the room for interpretation within that, is part of what makes no two productions of a play the same. 

As fiction writers, you should be able to answer all of the same questions an actor does about your characters. (I have provided my suggested backstory questions at the end of this article.) 

Much of the backstory you develop will not make its way onto the page in a direct way. Indeed, much of your backstory should not be included on the page. But it should influence every scene you write. Who a person is and what they've been through impacts every aspect of their lives, whether consciously or not. 

Backstory for plotters and pantsers 

Some of us (myself included) are what I've heard fondly referred to as "pantsers"—as in we fly by the seat of our pants. We're the writers who jump into a blank page, often with no more than a premise, an image in our heads of an interesting character, or the beginnings of a captivating world. The characters and plot develop organically as we go along, and it is in the rewrites that we make sure all the pieces add up. 

Then there are the "plotters.” These are the writers who plan out all of the plot points ahead of time. Spreadsheets may or may not be involved. Plotters may do some character development as they go along, but they are much more likely to have thought deeply about who the characters are before they begin writing. 

These are vast generalizations, of course, and often writers swing along the spectrum from pantser to plotter, depending on the project. My point is, whether you are a pantser or a plotter, you can benefit from consciously considering backstory. Whether you do it before you put a single word on the page, between your first and second drafts, or at various points along the way, it is an exercise that will benefit any story. 

How to develop a backstory for your characters

Which backstory elements are useful for you will depend on your genre, the story you’re trying to tell, and how your writer brain operates. But here are some backstory questions that are useful to consider. Some questions may seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how often writers can't answer some of the more basic facts about their characters. This list is by no means exhaustive, and not every item on the list will speak to each writer. Use it as a jumping off point to get your creative juices flowing. 

• How old is the character? 

• Where did they grow up? 

• What is their socioeconomic background and current socioeconomic status? 

• What is their marital status and relationship history? 

• How do they feel about it? 

• Do they have children? 

• What is their highest level of education? 

• What do they do for a living? 

• Do they like it? 

• How do they know the other characters? 

• How long have they known them?

• How do they feel about them? 

• Do they get along? 

• Did they always? 

  • If not, why not? 

• What are their plans for the future? 

• Their hopes and dreams? 

• Their fears? 

• What do/did their parents do for a living? 

• How does this influence them? 

• Did they follow in their footsteps or take a different path? 

• Was their childhood happy overall? 

• Were there any traumas? 

• Did they have friends growing up? 

• What about enemies? 

• What is their race and ethnicity? 

• Immigration status? 

• Are these the same as the rest of their family or different?

• In what ways did these elements impact them growing up? 

• What about now? 

• What is their gender identity and sexual orientation? 

• In what ways does their gender and sexuality influence their worldview? 

• If they are not straight and/or cisgendered, have they come out yet? 

• When? 

• To whom?

• What was that experience like? 

• What kind of religious beliefs and practices (if any) were they raised with?

• Have they maintained those, or gone a different direction? 

• What is their biggest mistake and/or regret in life? 

• What is their biggest accomplishment or joy?

Final thoughts

Creating a robust backstory for your characters is one of the most important things a writer can do. The practice allows you to develop multidimensional characters that will appeal to readers and help them feel connected to the story. It can also help drive your plot. Whether you’re a “plotter” or a “pantser,” taking the time to consider backstory is paramount for every writer of fiction, memoir, and creative nonfiction.

Andrea Karin Nelson is the Founder & Executive Editor at Allegory Editing. In addition to her developmental editing work with published novelists, playwrights, and essayists, Andrea brings a unique set of experiences and skills to her editing craft. Twenty years as a writer and theater maker has developed her keen sense of story structure, plot and character development. Her plays have been commissioned and produced across the United States and performed in both English and American Sign Language. Fifteen years as a Master-Level, Certified Sign Language Interpreter has finely tuned her ear to the subtleties of language and the nuances of human interactions. And with over two decades as an educator, her teacher's heart allows Andrea to personally tailor her work with each writer. Click here to read an interview about Andrea’s journey founding Allegory. You can contact her at andrea@allegoryediting.com.