Should we write backstory? Should we not? How much backstory should we include? Where and how should we include it?

We tackle these questions today with three simple tips that will help you navigate backstory and make the decisions that are right for your story.

PODCAST SUMMARY

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The other day, I heard Mark Hurwitz say that "the beginning of the book (exposition is the literary term) is a bit like a social contract between the reader and the writer. This got me thinking about the different critique groups and contests that we have that focus solely on the beginning phrases of our books. Are they helpful? I’m of the opinion that they aren’t.

So today we are going through a pile of books to see how the beginnings stand up to being social contracts between the writer and the reader.

Books I read from today:

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne

Anxious People by Fredrick Backman

Shadow of the Dragon by Tom Clancy

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

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Get Bended Dream here: https://books.katcaldwell.com/bended-prequel

Like Substack? Find me at Lessons In Story. https://lessonsinstory.substack.com

Sign up for my writers' newsletter to learn more about the craft of writing, know when my workshops are and be the first to get exclusive information on my writing retreats. https://katcaldwell.com/writers-newsletter

Want more information on my books, author swaps, short stories and what I’m reading? Sign up for my readers' newsletter. https://storylectory.katcaldwell.com/signup You can always ask me writing questions on instagram @katcaldwell_writing