BackStory is for You—the Author—to Know. Don’t be an intruder! by Caryl McAdoo

To develop a character, even on page one, the writer needs to know where the heroine’s been and what in her life has brought her to that day, but a reader does not. Don’t start your novel with backstory. It is unnecessary to bring the reader ‘up to speed.’ Actually, it’s a big, boring mistake.

In real life, when meeting a new person, you don’t know her back-story—getting to know the new friend is a part of the fun, right? Let readers meet your characters the same way—a little at a time. Who cares if her brother’s a Kentucky horse breeder or who her best friend is? No one. Not yet. Think about it.

Would you hold still to listen to a life history as soon as you sat down? No, it’s only after you get to know the person and find her interesting that you’re willing to go on a journey down memory lane. You’re interested in the here and now. The why or how you came to be there with her then what happens next.

The rest will be known in small increments, finding out more about her each time you visit. No one opening your book and meeting your character for the first time cares about her past either. They want to know what’s happening right then and what’s about to take place. If it’s interesting.

The backstory is great for the author to know, even vital. So yes, imagine the backstory that’s made the heroine into a strong woman. Work it all out, know it, then sprinkle it into your story as it progresses. Think of it as salt. Too much in one place will spoil your food, just as too much backstory—often referred to as an information dump—will spoil your novel.

Dole out backstory to readers on a need-to-know basis, as the information becomes relevant. Ana avoid author intrusion—writing information the POVC (point of view character) would not be thinking at that time because of what’s going on.

Example:

The private eye straightened behind the wheel at the ready. The object of her stakeout just emerged. He almost bounced down the brownstone’s stairs. What was he so chipper about that early in the morning?

Wiping blur from her eyes, she shook her head. Though he’d kept her up all night, she never regretted becoming a PI.

Her father had objected and her mother practically fainted the day she announced her decision, but she liked her work. Even if that first cheating husband almost shot her, the job hadn’t been that dangerous.

Risk, she loved it! Ever since the time her grandfather talked her into swinging on that grapevine.

Can you see? Even though that may be semi-interesting backstory, there’s no way the lady would be engaging in that introspection at that time. It’s old news for her. She knows it. All her focus, her internal dialogues, are going to be on that man leaving the strange address. She’ll be running scenarios as to the whys, trying to figure out her case.

Let your characters’ histories come out in dialogue or introspection, but in a natural manner. Backstory, no matter how beautifully written with amazing descriptions, is not from your character’s point of view (POV). Our PI in that example lived it. So why would she be rehashing what her parents thought about her career choice right then when the crisis is happening?

She simply would not.

So whose head is it in? Yours! The author! And you’re intruding on your character’s story.

Don’t do it.

Have you found it difficult to keep from spilling your character's history at inappropriate times?

~~~~~~

Caryl McAdoo prays her story brings God glory, and a quick scroll through her novels’ rankings by Christian readers attests to the Father’s faithfulness. She loves writing almost as much as singing the new songs He gives her—look her up on YouTube to hear a few. Her high school sweetheart husband won her heart fifty-one years ago, and now they share four children and seventeen grandsugars. Ron and Caryl live in the woods south of Clarksville, seat of Red River County in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door. 

Author Pages:

     Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Caryl-McAdoo/e/B00E963CFG

     BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/authors/caryl-mcadoo

     Simon & Schuster - http://tinyurl.com/S-SCarylsPage

     BookGorilla - http://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00E963CFG/caryl-mcadoo
     Southern Writers Magazine - http://authors.southernwritersmagazine.com/caryl-mcadoo.html

     Sweet Americana Sweethearts - bit.ly/2q0tcfFbit.ly 

Website: http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com    

                         (All First Chapters offered here)

Newsletter: http://carylmcadoo.com/sign-up-to-the-caryler/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_1hQx6UZbWi3OYwmKKxh6Q

                       (Hear Caryl sing her New Songs!)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CarylMcAdoo.author

Blogs:
    The Word & the Music http://carylmcadoo.com/blog/

    HeartWings (Devotional) - http://www.HeartWingsBlog.com

    Stitches Thru Time (Misc.) -   http://www.StitchesThruTime.blogspot.com

    Sweet Americana Sweethearts (Historical) -

                 http://www.SweetAmericanaSweethearts.blogspot.com

GoodReads:  http://tinyurl.com/GoodReadsCaryl

Google+: http://tinyurl.com/CarylsGooglePlus

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryl-mcadoo-00562323

The Three Acts of Life – and Your Stories by Caryl McAdoo

Caryl McAdoo

Have you ever thought about your own life as a story? Various characters come and go—some more influential than others. We each face conflicts, challenges, and trials, hoping to reach our goals in the end. As a writer, Caryl McAdoo sees the correlation between our lives and the three acts in writing. Enjoy! 
~ Dawn

The Three Acts of Life – and Your Stories

by Caryl McAdoo

Every story unavoidably has three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Even our lives comply to this philosophy. We were born and reared – our beginning. We live our life – our middle. We grow old and die – our end. So it is with every story without exception if it is to be a successful one. We know it’s paramount to hook reader in the beginning, and keep them turning pages through the middle, but if no satisfactory conclusion is offered, it’d be like inviting friends to party, showing the beautiful cake, but never giving them a piece.

Act One calls your heroine to her journey with a decision that leads to a crisis or a crisis that leads to a decision. Introduce all your players (heroine, romance, sidekick, mentor, and villain) in this Act, even if they don’t reappear until the end, and lay the foundation for your character arc, her growth. Its end comes with how your heroine intends to solve her main dilemma. If you’re writing a thirty chapter book this insight usually comes around Chapter Ten; maybe Eight or Twelve, but around the first third of your story.

Act Two escalates her problems and sees her overcome every one. Continually throw rocks at her; one thing after another; when it rains, it pours, doesn’t it? Isn’t that life? However many trials and tribulations you hurl at your leading lady determines your book’s length. Your readers learn about your cast, and the players more about themselves here. This middle is similar in length to Act One or longer, depending on your novel’s desired length. Use this Act to turn a seventy thousand word story into ninety-five thousand word one. The more tribulation and solutions, the longer the middle of your story grows.

Act Three is every bit as important as your first chapter. Have you ever read or watched a story that ended with no satisfactory conclusion? Maybe the author rushed through to the end just to get finished? Feel cheated? While those content to see that party cake without ever tasting it, the majority want to have their cake and eat it, too!

Wrap up every loose end. Catch every rabbit chased. If you introduced a blue suitcase or shown a gun on the mantle, then let your reader know why before Act Three is over. And after she defeats her villain, let her return to her normal life victoriously. Think of Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama. She goes to the beach in the storm, reclaims her true love, then takes him back to the reception they never had, and all is right in her world.

Most reading this is living out their own Act Two. Rest assured the Greatest Storyteller ever has His plans in place for each of us to end as the victor. Rejoice and give praise for every trial and tribulation for He will bring you through the overcomer. Our God is completely trust worthy and faithful to keep us in His everlasting love and tender mercies until The End! 

Tweetables:

Every story unavoidably has three parts: the beginning, the middle, and the end. Even our lives comply to this philosophy. Click to tweet.

If no satisfactory conclusion is offered to a story, it’s like inviting friends to party, showing the beautiful cake, but never giving them a piece. Click to tweet.

When writing a story, remember to wrap up every loose end. Catch every rabbit chased. Click to tweet.

Lady Luck’s a Loser

Lady  Luck's a Loser

Wealthy widower ready for a new lady in his life determines not to go through the dating scene. He hits on an idea and hires eight very different women to come live at his B&B! Then he devises games for Lady Luck to send one home each month hoping Mrs. Right will remain. But will his scheme backfire and spoil any chance for happiness?

FIVE STAR REVIEW from Affaire de Coeur magazine: “Splendid… Caryl McAdoo concocted a storyline brimming with originality, Christian values, and humor. …easy reading, delightful book!

Caryl McAdoo co-authored two non-fiction, three mid-grade chapter books, and four novels from four small publishers before VOW UNBROKEN debuted this past March from Simon and Schuster’s Howard Books. The historical Christian romance will be followed in September with HEART STOLEN. And a mature inspirational romance that previously earned a five star review from Affaire de Couer magazine is being re-released this month as LADY LUCK’S A LOSER. For every blessing, Caryl gives God glory. She lives a Red River County country-life with her high school sweetheart husband of forty-six years and two grandsons in northeast Texas.

To learn more and connect with Caryl, please visit:

Website      -        http://www.CarylMcAdoo.com

Blog            -        http://www.CarylMcAdoo.blogspot.com

Google+     -        https://plus.google.com/u/0/116386927782468472563/posts

Twitter       -        http://www.twitter.com/CarylMcAdoo

Amazon     -        http://www.amazon.com/Caryl-McAdoo/e/B00E963CFG/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_