Muse & the Marketplace 2018

Backstory and flashback can enrich fictional narratives in important ways, providing key context and motivation to main characters, underling the significance of themes and image systems, and adding texture and dimensionality to the story's world. Delving into past timelines can easily go wrong, however, which may be a reason aspiring writers are sometimes advised to avoid it altogether. In this craft session we'll analyze key passages from fiction in order to answer questions such as: What's the difference between backstory and flashback? Are there artful ways to use these techniques that help the reader understand your character's central motivation? Do you have too much backstory or flashback in your narrative—or could you use more? An on-the-spot writing exercise will give participants a way to use what they've learned to improve and deepen their stories.