tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post7872490020890541105..comments2024-03-08T20:41:23.825-08:00Comments on Author Heather McCorkle: Time And Place For BackstoryHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-2669115766440902572010-09-30T13:51:15.646-07:002010-09-30T13:51:15.646-07:00I love it when I'm right too! Wait, what was I...I love it when I'm right too! Wait, what was I right about? LOL! You're welcome. I'm glad I could help.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-69929398442543490892010-09-30T13:30:30.177-07:002010-09-30T13:30:30.177-07:00Thank you Heather! I am rewriting the first 2 chap...Thank you Heather! I am rewriting the first 2 chapters and I will remember to do this. I thought I wanted to ground the reader as to why she was feeling the way she was. But you are so right! I love it when you're right. <br />Thanks also for the Writer's Digest link. Excellent!Karlene Petitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17910702587514001827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-71120911557519176162010-09-30T08:31:42.882-07:002010-09-30T08:31:42.882-07:00Sprinkled in small doses, I like that Lola, a lot!...Sprinkled in small doses, I like that Lola, a lot! Thank you. :)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-55346819668791861762010-09-30T04:52:08.011-07:002010-09-30T04:52:08.011-07:00Backstory, in my opinion, should be sprinkled in s...Backstory, in my opinion, should be sprinkled in small doses, and even then not until somewhere after page 40-50....with very few exceptions. (One being stories where the past *is* part of the story and this is usually done in 'then' chapters [vs. 'now' chapters])<br /><br />For what it's worth: I'm not a fan of prologues. <br /><br />Wonderful post.<br /><br />Happy Thursday, Heather. :)<br />Love,<br />LolaLola Sharphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14394765053485642935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-73475141430904807332010-09-29T22:28:44.023-07:002010-09-29T22:28:44.023-07:00Stina, so true, Donald's books are full of gre...Stina, so true, Donald's books are full of great advice!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-49082023881678057652010-09-29T20:10:45.915-07:002010-09-29T20:10:45.915-07:00I read a great post on this recently based on one ...I read a great post on this recently based on one of Donald Maass's book. Something about cutting out you backstory and place on page 50. Chance are you won't need it at all.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-49588418195912757072010-09-29T19:55:45.591-07:002010-09-29T19:55:45.591-07:00Thanks DL! I'm glad you liked it. :-)Thanks DL! I'm glad you liked it. :-)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-63656802375013652442010-09-29T19:53:55.887-07:002010-09-29T19:53:55.887-07:00The 9 rules are fantastic aren't they Julie? D...The 9 rules are fantastic aren't they Julie? Don't feel bad. There was a lot of backstory in my first novel too! I must have cut 5000 plus words of it!<br /><br />Thanks Shannon!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-25213851201043924592010-09-29T19:45:13.047-07:002010-09-29T19:45:13.047-07:00It is tough to write an inciting incident without ...It is tough to write an inciting incident without a bit of backstory isn't it Kristi? And you're right, it's all about getting them engaged!<br /><br />Thanks Lindsey. It struck me about the difference being action and that's when I knew I had to write a post about it!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-19277054501318710092010-09-29T19:33:52.197-07:002010-09-29T19:33:52.197-07:00You'll love the article Tamika! It's full ...You'll love the article Tamika! It's full of great insight. <br /><br />Thanks Linda! I found that infor about 5-10 pages on the online live conference chats with agents and editors. It's great to know!Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05130733681254163610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-72096909242831298262010-09-29T16:01:57.060-07:002010-09-29T16:01:57.060-07:00Great post as usual, Heather. I like the tip abou...Great post as usual, Heather. I like the tip about 5-10 pages... thanks!DL Curranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11386303187160819147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-43702701489705912292010-09-29T12:19:44.655-07:002010-09-29T12:19:44.655-07:00Fantastic post, Heather! I'll be checking out...Fantastic post, Heather! I'll be checking out the article for sure! :-)Shannon O'Donnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17299313309059235876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-58938411841723668012010-09-29T12:11:07.945-07:002010-09-29T12:11:07.945-07:00Those 9 must follow rules are great, thanks for sh...Those 9 must follow rules are great, thanks for sharing. I wrote a ton of backstory in my first novel. Thank you critique group for pointing it out!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-81671855500682795662010-09-29T11:36:53.232-07:002010-09-29T11:36:53.232-07:00'The difference is action', I like that He...'The difference is action', I like that Heather. I think a lot of new writers confuse prologues with back-story. Sometimes, though writers just throw back-story on a page and label it a prologue, which is also not goo. But action is indeed the difference. Great post!Lindsey Edwardshttp://thewritewords-lindsey.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-86908680318842745662010-09-29T10:53:31.629-07:002010-09-29T10:53:31.629-07:00Excellent point. I hadn't heard the tip of 5-1...Excellent point. I hadn't heard the tip of 5-10 pages either. I honestly thought it was later. And it is sooo hard to write an inciting incident that makes sense without backstory and explanation of how the character(s) got there. However, if they're engaged, readers are more than willing to keep going even if they don't understand everything. And done right, this need for understanding KEEPS them reading.Kristie Cookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01649966564896771373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-40405546191071145672010-09-29T09:34:08.855-07:002010-09-29T09:34:08.855-07:00Excellent post, Heather. I hadn't heard that ...Excellent post, Heather. I hadn't heard that tip about 5 pages and 10 pages before. I'm going to go count my opening pages before backstory hits right now -- uh, oh - nervous.Linda Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18001433214194860481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-551608342749773751.post-69092612912760911352010-09-29T08:02:58.167-07:002010-09-29T08:02:58.167-07:00I'm checking out the article~ thanks! I agree ...I'm checking out the article~ thanks! I agree that backstory can be digested better later in the novel. It makes sense to keep the reader engaged in the present action. <br /><br />Great post:)Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.com