Help and Healing for Divorced Christians

More Backstory Troubles: "God, the Devil, and Divorce" Memoir Writing

8/15/2016

3 Comments

I confess I'm still struggling with where and when to put backstory. Just when I think I've finally found the solution, I read something that convinces me I don't have it right yet. This time the eye opener came from Your Life is a Book. by Brenda Peterson & Sarah Jane Freyman. Honestly, I've had my fill of craft writing books, but I purchased this one, along with several others, at the advice of my mentor. So being stuck, I picked it up and began to read.

A lot of books talk about "Facing Your Inner Critic" and this one does too. Okay, that's not my problem. I believe I can write well and that I have something important to share, so I believe my inner critic is well balanced . I loved reading how Brenda relates to animals. My animals are an important part of my story. Check. P and F talk about how the music of the time period can take the writer to the moment she's recalling, and also about how singing affects one's body and brain. Since I'm a singer, I mention songs and singing, so check. The authors stress the importance of the subjects, "Eat, Pray, Love." I've included plenty of all three. So good so far.

(I go for a cookie here. Food helps me process.)

But I'm not solid about how I handle backstory. I'd been telling myself that all the backstory I'm inserting is perfectly legit. Just read Cheryl Strayed's Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Strayed includes tons of backstory, explaining how she came to be hiking the trail. Wasn't I on solid ground following in the well-worn boots of this fabulous writer? And there it was: P and F writes "If the clotheslines [timeline] is too burdened with disorienting flashbacks--interior, big building blocks of backstory--it will sag, and so will your main story." and in their next chapter, "Each chapter, [Strayed] stressed, was firmly grounded on the Pacific Crest Trail, before she flashed back to any other scenes from her life."

Okay, I need to study Strayed's technique once more. In my next revision, I'm going to get the timing right. (Maybe I'd better stock up on more cookies first though.)

Blessings,
Linda

3 Comments

Bill Kring

8/15/2016 09:30:26 pm

Not too many cookies, though!

J.L. Callison link

8/15/2016 09:39:54 pm

I'm convinced we frequently get so bogged down in getting out technique right that we forget to tell the story. Do you keep your backstory interesting and pointing toward your end point? To me, that is the deciding factor. If you give a bunch of dull, dry, boring factoids, yes, you will lose your audience, but if you keep it lively and moving and it fills a necessary place in the story, it needs to be included. Remember, it was the experts that built the Titanic.

Also, remember, free advice is worth every penny you pay for it. :-)

Linda link

8/17/2016 11:32:46 am

J.L., I appreciate your comments and understand what you're saying. I have several scenes in the backstory I think are pretty interesting, so that's my dilemma. Do I throw out some in the interest of keeping the story moving forward? Back to Wild to figure out how Strayed did it.