Comments on: Keeping a Secret - A Great Backstory Technique

By: Deep Dark Secrets | MARILLA MIRAK

Deep Dark Secrets | MARILLA MIRAK — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 19:19:32 +0000

[…] Keeping a Secret – A Great Backstory Technique by Laura Drake […]

By: Keeping A Secret – A Great Backstory Technique | Lindsay Boitnott

Keeping A Secret – A Great Backstory Technique | Lindsay Boitnott — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 14:45:39 +0000

[…] Check out the full article HERE! […]

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 09:57:38 +0000

In reply to delsheree. And thanks for tasking the time to comment, delsheree! Best to you and your writing!

By: delsheree

delsheree — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 02:34:03 +0000

I love the way you approached this topic. Backstory is such a difficult aspect of writing to work with. The questions you asked on how the actual event the mystery surrounds affected your MC were really insightful. I love it when a story surprises me, but like you mentioned, rarely does one really stun me, and I completely agree that that's usually because too much has been given away earlier in the story. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and tips 🙂

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:45:04 +0000

This was so timely for me; I've been struggling with how much to give of the trauma in my MC's past...which is different than what you're talking about, but that last point about trusting the reader to "get" it without being smacked in the head with it, definitely applies, as does "as little as possible." I'll be keeping this in mind as I finish drafting and, especially, as I move into editing phase.

By: Saturday Summation – 14 March 2015 | It'll All Work Out

Saturday Summation – 14 March 2015 | It'll All Work Out — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 05:10:17 +0000

[…] do our jobs right, hopefully authors are stringing you along successfully and then surprising you. Author Laura Drake offers some suggestions on how to do this effectively - and one of the most important ones, I think, is making sure the protagonist will be equally […]

By: conniecockrell

conniecockrell — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 15:04:41 +0000

Great post. I'm just starting the editing of my first mystery and this is very helpful information. Thank you.

By: jillhannahanderson

jillhannahanderson — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 13:21:58 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. Last night while running (I do my best thinking then), I think I found a solution where, although my protagonist knows this secret throughout the story, but never comes right out and says the secret, just alludes to it (which affects her daughter), it isn't until the end that her daughter finds out. We will see, I'll have to rework things, but I'm so thankful for your post, Laura, as it was a good point made that is pushing me to rework it! :)

By: Laura Drake

Laura Drake — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 09:25:32 +0000

Thanks, Jill, and I'm sorry - I've been trying to think of a book I've read where this happened successfully. I can't think of one, and there's a reason, I think. Can anyone else think of one?

By: Kelly Byrne

Kelly Byrne — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 20:24:01 +0000

In reply to Laura Drake. Oooooooh, it's so good. :)