Creating Believable Backstories for Characters—Brandon Sanderson

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of creating believable characters in storytelling, suggesting that writers should view their characters as the protagonists of their own narratives. They advocate for a deep understanding of a character's backstory, motivations, and personality to make them feel real and consistent. The speaker advises against overt exposition and instead recommends revealing character traits and history through subtle cues in dialogue and actions, enhancing the reader's experience by allowing them to piece together the character's story.

Takeaways

• 🎭 The speaker emphasizes the importance of characters not appearing as mere constructs of the author's will, to maintain the illusion of a seamless narrative.
• 📚 Writers can experience a period where reading becomes analytical, focusing on the mechanics rather than the story, but this can evolve into appreciating the craft.
• 🧠 The mindset shift involves viewing characters as the protagonists of their own stories, with lives and interests beyond the main plot.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Understanding a character's backstory is crucial, but it should be woven naturally into the narrative rather than explicitly stated.
• 🌟 Characters should be written with distinct personalities that influence their actions and reactions in various situations.
• 🎨 A believable backstory involves knowing the character's driving principles and motivations, which guide their behavior and decisions.
• 📝 Some writers use detailed dossiers for characters, but the speaker prefers to understand the fundamentals to inform character actions and preferences.
• 🤔 It's important to avoid info dumping and instead let the reader infer character traits and history from context and subtle cues.
• 💭 The reader's subconscious should be engaged, piecing together clues about the character's background and personality as the story unfolds.
• 📖 The goal is to make each character intriguing, offering subtle hints that make them a puzzle for the reader to enjoy solving.

Q & A

Why does the author believe it can be dangerous for writers to watch behind-the-scenes content about their craft?

The author suggests that behind-the-scenes content can pull back the curtain on the writing process, revealing the mechanics behind storytelling. This awareness can make it harder for writers to read books as they start to see the techniques used rather than the story itself.

How did the author's perspective on reading change during their college years?

During college, the author went through a period where it became harder to read books because they started seeing all the authorial techniques used. However, they eventually moved beyond this phase to a point where they now enjoy stories even more, appreciating the way authors construct their narratives.

What mindset does the author suggest adopting when creating characters?

The author recommends thinking of each character as the protagonist of their own story, regardless of their role in the main narrative. This mindset helps in creating intentional and natural character actions that don't appear forced or author-driven.

Why is it important for characters to have interests outside of the main plot?

Characters should have interests outside the main plot to make them feel more real and engaged in their own lives. This approach helps maintain the illusion of a seamless story, where characters' actions are driven by their own motivations rather than solely by the plot.

What is the significance of understanding a character's backstory according to the author?

Understanding a character's backstory is crucial as it provides the foundation for their personality and motivations. It helps the author write characters who act and react in a way that is consistent with their life experiences and internal driving principles.

Why does the author discourage the use of detailed character dossiers?

The author discourages detailed character dossiers because they believe it's more important to understand the fundamental aspects of a character's life, such as their driving principles and motivations. These fundamentals allow the author to naturally infer other details about the character when needed.

How can a writer avoid info-dumping while developing a character's backstory?

A writer can avoid info-dumping by revealing a character's backstory through context and subtle cues within the narrative. This approach allows readers to pick up on a character's history and personality through their actions, dialogue, and choices without explicit exposition.

What is the author's advice for making characters feel consistent and not 'schizophrenic'?

To ensure characters feel consistent, the author advises clearly defining their motivations and how they perceive the world. This clarity helps in maintaining character consistency, unless the character is intentionally meant to be schizophrenic.

How does the author suggest revealing a character's past experiences?

The author suggests revealing a character's past experiences through their interactions, diction, and behavior, rather than through direct exposition. This method allows readers to infer a character's history and expertise from the way they communicate and act in different situations.

What role does a character's diction play in their development, according to the author?

A character's diction plays a significant role in their development as it can subtly reveal their background, education, and personality. By choosing words and speaking styles that reflect a character's life experiences, the author can make each character feel distinct and intriguing to the reader.