tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post2881235992766673754..comments2023-11-03T05:49:10.841-04:00Comments on Storytelling Rules: The Sweet Spot: literary fiction and back story.Maureen McGowanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-41328509210431869422009-08-17T15:48:12.652-04:002009-08-17T15:48:12.652-04:00It's a tough balance, because Molly, you'r...It's a tough balance, because Molly, you're right, keeping a piece of backstory hidden is one thing, not showing something the character has just learned, while in their POV, seems a breaking of the bond between writer and reader, but as we've learned, if the writing is strong enough, anything will work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-63283154295750335242009-08-17T15:09:45.175-04:002009-08-17T15:09:45.175-04:00You know maybe backstory isn't the right idea...You know maybe backstory isn't the right idea here - because what made me angry about the book was the pov character, gleaning from the things in front of us - something I didn't. And he didn't share with me.<br /><br />that there was no backstory I totally loved. <br /><br />If a character keeps a secret from the backstory a secret -- delicious. It works for me. <br />It's just really remarkable that one little thing, a detail that you didn't think of, or worry about can break your reader's leap of faith.<br /><br />as far as water for elephants or something like being lost - it's a bit of a trick and you like it or you don't.Molly O'Keefehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15171236688541657736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-79911572803232543082009-08-17T14:02:25.996-04:002009-08-17T14:02:25.996-04:00Withholding info can make me feel manipulated, too...Withholding info can make me feel manipulated, too. I hate it when a detective character finds the clue that makes everything clear and the writer doesn't tell us what it is! It's totally okay with me to describe the clue, but not make the connection obvious. In fact, that's exciting to me as a reader. But when the detective reads the letter and we don't get to know the contents, it feels like a cheat.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-7605730308529780312009-08-17T13:46:45.799-04:002009-08-17T13:46:45.799-04:00Molly, Any time you want another novel with cannib...Molly, Any time you want another novel with cannibalism and dead horses set in Siberia, let me know. :-)<br /><br />But interesting point... Holding too much back from the reader, things the POV character knows but refuses to tell, can be more annoying than mysterious. But like so many things, if it's done well, and the payoff is huge, you can get away with it. I'm thinking about Water for Elephants, too... <br /><br />Thing is with that book... we didn't know until the very end that the narrator was holding back a few very important details... Maybe it's different if the reader knows the character's keeping secrets from them... Refusing to think thoughts that would let the reader in on the secret. Being purposefully deceptive. That can grate.<br /><br />Delicate balancing act, as Eileen says...Maureen McGowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00494408580378817045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29864506.post-5130295918147184672009-08-17T13:28:44.981-04:002009-08-17T13:28:44.981-04:00It is SUCH a delicate balancing act. Give readers ...It is SUCH a delicate balancing act. Give readers too much backstory and you bore them and take them out of the story. Don't give them enough and they can get resentful or, worse yet, not connect with your characters.Eileenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803986849921870941noreply@blogger.com