Pages

Filling in the Back Story by Kate Walker, Indebted to Moreno #Giveaway

Author Kate Walker brought this writing craft post, Filling in the backstory –  what’s the best way to do it?

And she has a new release this month, her 65th title- Indebted to Moreno. And look at the giveaway information at the bottom of this post. 



Connect with Kate Walker on the web:
Website         Blog        Facebook


Recently I had an enquiry from a new writer who had submitted three chapters  to an editor at Harlequin and had been asked to send a full  manuscript for them to read,  But she had a problem about the way that she should fill  in the backstory to the plot she was creating. How is it best to write  the details of the past story of the hero and heroine so that the reader understands what happened between them and how it affects their story now, in the present?

She had  started with her heroine seeking a divorce from her estranged husband of convenience because the duration of the contract is up (and she can only pay her debts if she divorces him). Obviously the reader needs to know what happened between her hero and heroine in the past but   what is the best way to do this?  Should she go between the present day and the past, showing in alternate chapters what led to the initial romance, and its break down, and how they ultimately sort things out in the present day.   Or does this create too complicated a structure for the story, and are Harlequin  looking for Moderns/ Presents to be told primarily in chronological order?  she asked.
Now, in most cases the advice I would give is the same as the one the editors always emphasise – that It’s All In The Execution.   The real answer is that you need to consider what would work best for the story.  But in writing category romance,  that is not quite the whole picture, as this genre has very definite requirements that you need to follow in order to meet the readers’ requirements.

My very first piece of advice would be this:  Don’t do  the complicated structure   - in my mind that’s not a good idea!

While I have written books with a backstory where the couple were together in the past The Proud Wife,   for example, has the heroine arriving to sort out her divorce from the hero – lots of authors do and it’s a common theme of many stories.  The hero and heroine of  my newest – and 65th title! -  Indebted to Moreno  were together in the past and  dark problems, caused by lack of trust, came between them so that  they parted  with  a lot of distance and suspicion between them.  But the thing I need to emphasise,  and that  you most need to  include in your novel  is that the reader is looking for the story of the hero and heroine in the present time .  The present day story is what a Modern Romance  (and any  category romance) is all about.    Very occasionally I will  show ‘flashes’ of the past to reveal what happened but these  days I doubt if I would do that in any depth. I might have done more of that in the past, but today’s readers doesn’t want large chunks of flashbacks. And most of them don’t really need it. They can work out what went wrong between your hero and heroine without having to actually ‘see’ it in the story now.   I might include it in their conversation, have them talk about  how they met,  what went wrong, and then by bringing it out into the open, and living through new times together, rediscovering each other they would learn to go forward into a future.  There is one very emotional scene in Indebted to Moreno where they peel away the  masks that have been hiding their true feelings, face up to the suspicions and mistrust in the past and have to confront  their own mistakes and faults that created those situations. But they do this in the present,  by talking about it and revealing the truth  about mistaken memories.

Meeting events such as the ones that caused problems of distrust or  anger or betrayal – or even the ‘Other Woman’  -  between them  can bring up flashes of memory, but not large chunks of details. These can slow down the pace of your story and take the attention off the way their relationship is developing now which is, after all, why the reader has bought the book and what she wants to focus on as she reads.

Now, I know   that really there are no rules – and yes,   the obvious question is 'what would work best for the story?'”    and as editors are always saying  ‘It’s all in the execution,’    But  honestly  for the romance readers  the past is the past. They want to see your heroine and hero overcoming the problems that came between them  in that past.  So yes, they need to know a bit about it  so as to see what’s gone wrong – but they want to read the story of your hero and heroine overcoming it NOW.
The way a category romance is put before the reader now is to show the development of the romance in the present time.  To show what is happening now  because that is how your hero and heroine develop a new and workable relationship . One that will lead the their  happy ever after ending and the way into the future together. Very few readers like  - or in fact even read!! – long flashbacks  so they are best avoided wherever you possibly can.

Thank you all, I’m marking this 65th title with a  special giveaway to share with all my wonderful readers.

Kate Walker's 65th title is INDEBTED TO MORENO


Sins of the past must be paid! 
On trembling legs, dress designer Rose Cavalliero stares up at the man she never thought she'd see again. Tall, dark and dangerous, Spaniard Nairo Moreno took Rose's virginity before a misunderstanding led her to nearly destroy his life. But now he's back and determined to collect the debt she owes him.  
Designing his precious sister's wedding gown will cement Rose's career. But if she'd known that accepting Nairo's offer would see her blackmailed into becoming a more-than-convenient fiancée to the man who broke her heart, Rose would have said no…wouldn't she?


Buy on:






Enter this Giveaway to win signed copies:


Goodreads Book Giveaway

Indebted to Moreno by Kate Walker

Indebted to Moreno

by Kate Walker

Giveaway ends September 30, 2016.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter Giveaway

30 comments:

  1. Some really good advice there. Sometimes simpler is just that, simpler.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi hoping my replies get the out as I'm away from home & internet is unreliable! But I'll try. Thank you Donna & yes, in good storytelling sometimes simpler is best!

      Delete
  2. This is excellent advice, and I tell you, it isn't just category romance readers that expect the story to be in the here and now. Attention spans are shorter than ever, and all genre readers want a fast-moving story with no flashbacks or info-dumps of backstory. (I confess to rolling my eyes if I ever run across one in books I read.) Wishing Kate great success with her 65th novel!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right Lexa - attention spans are less and it's a challenge to a writer not to just info dump -and so slow the pace right down. Thank you for the kind wished

      Delete
  3. I agree, as a reader to get the back story as the characters are talking about it is the right way to go. Let the truth be revealed as the story flows in the present time. Congrats on 65 books, that's amazing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's exactly how I feel Mary - making the story flow is what matters. Thank you for the congratulations!

      Delete
  4. Excellent advise! Too much backstory has a way of slowing things down too much. Then again, after writing 65 (!) books, you SHOULD have some excellent advise for the rest of us! Congratulations on the successful career.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Susan - funnily enough even after 65 books I sometimes feel I don't know that much! But yes readers don't want lots of backstory to slow thing down

      Delete
  5. So much goes into great writing, it sounds like there's always more to learn, and a slightly different way to tell every story.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So much to learn about writing it's true - and I think the only real rule is to write the best and most interesting story possible!

      Delete
  6. Hi Kate! Hi Olivia! Congratulations on your 65th title Kate. Good advice on backstory. I confess I quite enjoy a bit of a ramble but know most readers don't.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Denise and thank you for the congratulations- it's interesting that you like 'a bit of a ramble ' but it does slow the story down & readers want to get on with that story!

      Delete
  7. Congratulations on 65 books, that's awesome♡

    I understand what you mean about what's important in the genre you're writing. What works for some types if books may not work for others xox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for the congratulations Launna. It's true that what works for fast paced genre fiction might not be so important in another form of novel. Horses for courses as they say!

      Delete
  8. What an interesting post! I do think it is interesting that the amount of backstory varies based on genre. That makes sense. This post really made me think. Thanks for sharing!
    ~Jess

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi DMS - sorry for the delay in getting to reply to your and everyone else's recent posts. I've been away from home for a week but now I'm catching up again. It is always interesting to consider how much a novel needs the backstory depending on the genre and the way it's written. Some books need the detail, other need it sketched in with a light hand.

      Delete
  9. I needed to read this post, thanks for sharing. Congrats on the release of your book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So glad that this post was helpful to you Christine - I hope it helps you in your writing. And thank you for the congratulations

      Delete
  10. Great post, thanks. Congrats on the new release!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you to you too Ann - and I'm happy you found the post interesting

      Delete
  11. Great advice. I will say that my personally flavor given the circumstances would be to fit backstory expose into description and conversation. Perhaps catching up with an old friend or something of that nature. It all depends though!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Robert and thanks for commenting. I'd agree about the ways to reveal backstory - and even then, when catching up with someone etc, it's best not to put it all in one large lump- known as an 'infodump'!

      Delete
  12. I love stories where the backstory comes out in present action, triggered by current actions.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting Crystal - and I'd agree with you. The times when the backstory works best is when it triggers memories that affect the present or when the present events 'mirror' what happened in the past. Then the characters can almost go back and work through the mistakes they made then - and hopefully put them right

      Delete
  13. Revealing a backstory can be tricky business. You don't want to just put it all out there. Congratulations on the release!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I so agree, Sherry - as I said to Robert you don't want one large 'infodump' that slows down the pace of the story and separates the reader from the present so that the immediacy of the story is lost. Thank you for the congratulations on Indebted to Moreno.

      Delete
  14. Congrats on your new book. Great answer to a complicated question.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for visiting Carol - and your congratulations. It's always a thrill to see a new book in the shops. I'm glad you find my answer helpful.

      Delete
  15. I feel that's the exact right way to handle it--small snatches interspersed between action that eventually add up to the whole.

    I love the premise of the book. Awesome conflict.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Congratulations to Susan Flett Swidersky! You are the winner at this post! Please contact Kate Walker with your address to get delivery of your win!

    ReplyDelete

Join the discussion. What do you think?