Creating Believable Backstories for Characters—Brandon Sanderson

Title: Creating Believable Backstories for Characters—Brandon Sanderson

Step-by-Step Tutorial:

1. Introduction to Character Development:

   • Brandon Sanderson discusses the importance of creating intentional and believable backstories for characters in stories.
   • He emphasizes the need for characters to be the protagonists of their own stories, with unique motivations and personalities.

2. Understanding Character's Lives Before the Story Begins:

   • Start by asking yourself what the character was doing before the book started.
   • Consider what their life was like and if something interrupted their routine.
   • Characters should be living their lives and be interested in things related to the plot.

3. Character as Protagonist:

   • Change your mindset to see each character as the protagonist of their own story.
   • They should be the ones taking action and driving the plot forward.

4. Writing Characters as Personalities, Not Roles:

   • Avoid writing characters to fit a specific role in the story.
   • Instead, focus on developing their personality and how they would act in different situations.

5. Motivations and Driving Principles:

   • Clearly define the character's motivations and driving principles.
   • Understand how these motivations shape the character's worldview and actions.

6. Avoiding Info Dumps:

   • While backstory is important, try to avoid info dumping.
   • Show the character's experiences and background through their actions and interactions rather than telling the reader outright.

7. Contextual Clues:

   • Use contextual clues to reveal a character's backstory.
   • Show their experiences through the way they talk, behave, and interact with others.

8. Creating Intriguing Characters:

   • Make each character a puzzle for the reader to figure out.
   • Use different types of words, behaviors, and choices to make characters unique and engaging.

9. Making Reading Fun and Interesting:

   • Aim to make your characters and their backstories engaging for the reader.
   • Allow readers to piece together the character's background through subtle hints and clues.

10. Final Thoughts:

• By crafting believable and intentional backstories for your characters, you can enhance the depth and realism of your storytelling.
• Remember to focus on making characters relatable, complex, and engaging for your audience.