: Re: How do I know when and if a character requires a backstory? In my novel, at the point where the MC meets her would-be boyfriend, Rufus, I have added a small backstory about his job. Later

Ultimately audiences don't need a lot of details about most characters' history, what they do need, in order for the story to make sense and be immersive, is justifications for their actions. If a character has clear (stated) motives, reasons for being in the tale and doing what they do that is enough. You as the author will generally know far more than you ever put on the page about where characters come from and their true motives. Rufus needs a reason to attach himself to the MC and the two of them need reasons to bond, backstory may form the basis for this, but equally the events of the narrative may be sufficient without a detailed history of the characters coming into it.

Note that stated motives and true motives need not be the same thing, the friction between the two can be a source of dramatic tension.

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: What's a moment that's more impactful on a reread called? I've met a few of these but the most recent instance was two characters discussing buying a third character a drink when they all

@XinRu607

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: Tell your audience that the sparrows are cheeping and use italics for the translation. This is a technique that I've seen in a few books for communication that isn't verbal/audible the italics

@XinRu607

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: You could have a look at how this is done in Sarah Pinsker's story "And Then There Were (N-One)" which has (almost) all the characters with the same name. They can be identified by different

@XinRu607

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: Awkward language translation So Iâ€™m currently writing a book that takes place in Finland, though I am American and speak English. My main characterâ€™s name can be used as a play on words,

: Re: How do I know when and if a character requires a backstory? In my novel, at the point where the MC meets her would-be boyfriend, Rufus, I have added a small backstory about his job. Later

More posts by @XinRu607

: What's a moment that's more impactful on a reread called? I've met a few of these but the most recent instance was two characters discussing buying a third character a drink when they all

: Tell your audience that the sparrows are cheeping and use italics for the translation. This is a technique that I've seen in a few books for communication that isn't verbal/audible the italics

: You could have a look at how this is done in Sarah Pinsker's story "And Then There Were (N-One)" which has (almost) all the characters with the same name. They can be identified by different

: Awkward language translation So Iâ€™m currently writing a book that takes place in Finland, though I am American and speak English. My main characterâ€™s name can be used as a play on words,

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