The Art of Character Development

Master Fiction Writing

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