Master Fiction Writing

The Art of Character Development

Listen Later

It was great to be interviewed by Sara Gentry about creating characters!

We delve into the significance of character backstory in storytelling, distinguishing between world backstory and character backstory - and emphasising the importance of understanding a character's history to make them relatable and believable.

We talk about how backstory influences character decisions, the necessity of managing multiple characters, and the concept of "minimum viable backstory".


Takeaways

  • Backstory is essential for character development.
  • Understanding a character's history helps readers connect.
  • World backstory and character backstory serve different purposes.
  • Characters need relatable motivations to engage readers.
  • The complexity of characters can enhance storytelling.
  • Managing multiple characters requires varying levels of backstory.
  • Minimum viable backstory is crucial for side characters.
  • Character reactions should be rooted in their backstory.
  • Writers should focus on the cause and effect of character actions.
  • Resources like podcasts and courses can aid in character development.
    • Unlocking the Secrets of Character Backstory
    • The Art of Character Development
      • "Stuart is the king of character."
      • "Backstory makes somebody feel real."
      • "The minimum viable backstory."


        • Chapters

        00:00 Introduction to Character and Backstory

        01:22Understanding Backstory: World vs. Character

        04:54 The Importance of Backstory in Storytelling

        08:36 Character Consistency and Relatability

        13:21 Managing Character Backstories in Complex Narratives

        21:47 The Minimum Viable Backstory for Characters

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store
        Master Fiction WritingBy Stuart Wakefield
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6
        • 4.6

        4.6

        21 ratings

        More shows like Master Fiction Writing

        View all
        The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

        The Joe Rogan Experience

        228,383 Listeners

        Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

        Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

        38,856 Listeners

        Writing Excuses by Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

        Writing Excuses

        1,300 Listeners

        Helping Writers Become Authors by K.M. Weiland

        Helping Writers Become Authors

        1,006 Listeners

        The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers by Joanna Penn

        The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

        629 Listeners

        Novel Marketing by Thomas Umstattd Jr.

        Novel Marketing

        326 Listeners

        The Daily by The New York Times

        The Daily

        111,948 Listeners

        Writer's Routine by Dan Simpson

        Writer's Routine

        311 Listeners

        Today in Focus by The Guardian

        Today in Focus

        986 Listeners

        Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice by Savannah Gilbo

        Fiction Writing Made Easy with Savannah Gilbo | How to Write a Novel & Writing Advice

        1,489 Listeners

        The Shit No One Tells You About Writing by Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

        The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

        790 Listeners

        The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

        The Ezra Klein Show

        15,950 Listeners

        Essential Guide to Writing a Novel by James Thayer

        Essential Guide to Writing a Novel

        428 Listeners

        Writers on Writing by Barbara DeMarco-Barrett and Marrie Stone

        Writers on Writing

        93 Listeners