How to Write Match Stories That Hook Fans
Dropping a character's backstory can reveal why they tick, but knowing how to weave it in without bogging down your present narrative is key. These tips will keep your story flowing.
The 5 w’s of story – where, what, why, who and when – can all change to create variety and interest. None of these elements must change. The characters in your novel or your setting could remain fairly constant. Yet change opens up possibilities for new developments and intriguing new scenarios. These keep your novel exciting and interesting. To avoid your story stagnating in a single location, shift somewhere new – another town or country, from the city to the countryside or vice versa. Make sure any change of setting makes sense in relation to the story.
If the middle of the game feels slow, don't be afraid to skip ahead and jump back to the action!
This is part one of a series on crafting killer backstories. I'll share more in upcoming posts — drop a comment on what you'd like to see next!
Alex
It’s great that you share these tips with young and aspiring writers. Even though they may not be writing novels, I believe it will be very useful for them to learn something new from a really skilled writer like you. I’d be glad to hear some recommendations on how a writer can develop the plot without cutting down chapters (I often see it in the books of young writers). Anyway, thank you for this post, it is very informative!
Mei Ling
Totally agree with your last point, but I'd love a deep dive on mapping out the main characters' relationship arcs. That would be a blast.