tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post3015248438043906756..comments2024-03-27T10:02:56.747-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Cover Me, I'm Going Back: Tips on Writing FlashbacksJanice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61178135108164136392016-06-07T16:00:55.178-04:002016-06-07T16:00:55.178-04:00Glad you enjoyed them :)Glad you enjoyed them :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-40217570772509957342016-05-27T10:06:18.672-04:002016-05-27T10:06:18.672-04:00I love flashbacks, I always start writing my stori...I love flashbacks, I always start writing my stories from the middle, draw in the reader with great suspense that wanting to know what happened in the beginning will be nagging at them to read those flashbacks. And at the end I tie everything together, get a resolution and a mind boggling climax.<br />Thanks for these articles.ummyasmeenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12690600818340301197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20986350887449313412015-12-04T09:45:01.678-05:002015-12-04T09:45:01.678-05:00It's really a matter of personal taste. The tr...It's really a matter of personal taste. The trouble with flashbacks, is that they often only matter to the author who knows what they mean. A brand-new reader doesn't see them same way, so they carry no meaning and can even be confusing. <br /><br />Seeing the end first carries similar pitfalls. If readers know how it ends, then why read the book? It can sabotage your story and steal all the mystery and tension. <br /><br />If you feel that your frame is the most intriguing way to write your story, then go for it. They can work if done well, it's just a sad fact that many of these types of stories don't work. So it's risky.<br /><br />You'd have to decide what the flashback gains you that just starting the story where it starts doesn't. Does it set a tone or expectation that the actual start doesn't? Does it provide critical information that can't be reveal any other way? Is it a solid opening all on its own? Many of these types of scenes don't work as openings, since they rely on knowing more about the story going in.<br /><br />You can always write it the way you want, then test it against some beta readers and see what they say. If they're confused or skim over it, then you know it isn't working. If they love it, you know it did.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-48919562109285988882015-12-01T12:40:48.326-05:002015-12-01T12:40:48.326-05:00Im trying to write a spiritual memoir x fiction an...Im trying to write a spiritual memoir x fiction and am having difficulty to write from beginning. When I have tried in past it felt more like explaining....as it starts with a prophecy and then unfolds. Ive been thinking a better way would be to start at the end and be triggered back to mid way of the unfolding of events (like a framed flashback) and then slowly reveal the prophecy (which could have started the story) woven throughout the unfolding of events. However from what I am seeing, people don't like framed flashbacks? Do you think this is wrong way to approach? I believe I have a intriguing frame that would trigger into flashback.....but really the story is about the prophecy and unfolding of events. It is quite complex I guess...so I wouldnt want the flashbacks to overcomplicate it.<br />Thanks so much.Widget1https://www.blogger.com/profile/00467350755791259955noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-12662185267217750192015-05-27T07:14:06.042-04:002015-05-27T07:14:06.042-04:00I did something similar in mine (flashes of memori...I did something similar in mine (flashes of memories) and I used italics. But mine were short, never longer than half a page. If yours are longer you might want to try something different.<br /><br />Is there a "memory trigger" you could create, where she has a certain affect every time it happens? Like a smell, or a feeling, so each time this happens the reader knows they're about to go into a memory? Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-60910010006478182602015-05-25T23:09:06.389-04:002015-05-25T23:09:06.389-04:00Amazing, I'm thinking about my character havin...Amazing, I'm thinking about my character having sudden flashbacks at times (she had her memory erased as a child), but I'm not quite positive on how to present the sudden flash backs. My story is written in first person and it is an actual thing that happens as though she freezes for a moment and travels back to the lost memory.Morgannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-53425804681465490172015-04-14T14:25:18.834-04:002015-04-14T14:25:18.834-04:00Thanks. I'm a firm believer that it's all ...Thanks. I'm a firm believer that it's all about the execution and what works for the story. If it serves the story it usually works. If it's trying to explain or prop up a story that can't stand on its own, it usually fails. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22279182146830281252015-04-14T14:08:51.281-04:002015-04-14T14:08:51.281-04:00Great advice in this post! I seem to come across q...Great advice in this post! I seem to come across quite a lot of people who hate flashbacks on principle, but your analysis is far more balanced. Very interesting.Elise Edmondshttp://magicwriter.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-50308350221134914502015-04-11T07:08:55.276-04:002015-04-11T07:08:55.276-04:00That's a great question to test if the flashba...That's a great question to test if the flashback is needed or not. Thanks! Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80696888440220911252015-04-11T07:08:07.950-04:002015-04-11T07:08:07.950-04:00Sounds like a great example of an author who did i...Sounds like a great example of an author who did it well. What novel if I may ask? Others might be interested to see how they did it.Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61654743149757885582015-04-11T00:29:47.055-04:002015-04-11T00:29:47.055-04:00What I think about flashbacks is just what you sai...What I think about flashbacks is just what you said. As long as they are done well and fit seamlessly in the story, I love them. I try to think "What is my POV character doing now that makes a flashback necessary?" <a href="http://www.lexicalcreations.weebly.com/" rel="nofollow">JEN Garrett</a>JEN Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11223454346963493011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-62231700132489309512015-04-10T09:21:58.258-04:002015-04-10T09:21:58.258-04:00I've just been reading a story that had flashb...I've just been reading a story that had flashbacks (whole but short chapters) some years back that were formatted in italics. I didn't find this interrupted the reading at all, but helped me understand why the character(s) were at a particular point in the present. Louise Charleshttp://www.louisecharles.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39116013130432699562013-09-11T15:29:12.878-04:002013-09-11T15:29:12.878-04:00My pleasure. Good luck! Hope you find the happy me...My pleasure. Good luck! Hope you find the happy medium there. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-19914529595594753652013-09-11T15:18:08.920-04:002013-09-11T15:18:08.920-04:00I'll give that a try and see how it reads for ...I'll give that a try and see how it reads for my new CPs. Thanks!Margit Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10598857001911420397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-1925632668432409712013-09-11T14:45:04.996-04:002013-09-11T14:45:04.996-04:00Margit, you might try tightening them. Maybe keep ...Margit, you might try tightening them. Maybe keep the vital information, but streamline it so it doesn't slow the pacing. If you tweak the emotions to go with it it could be very powerful. Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-67744112373072116992013-08-31T10:03:25.848-04:002013-08-31T10:03:25.848-04:00I recently had a critique that recommended I cut m...I recently had a critique that recommended I cut my flashbacks or move them later in the story. A few other people said they really liked one flashback, but wanted an emotional response to go with it, so I've been struggling with where to put flashbacks, which ones to keep, and how to frame them. I think your examples are really good, but it's going to be a tricky one for me to figure out, at least for a while.Margit Sagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10598857001911420397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-73895161504289334642011-08-31T08:46:33.469-04:002011-08-31T08:46:33.469-04:00LOL. I'll keep my fingers crossed for brillian...LOL. I'll keep my fingers crossed for brilliant!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-43048293231409800142011-08-31T08:35:28.226-04:002011-08-31T08:35:28.226-04:00Thanks! It'll either work out brilliantly or b...Thanks! It'll either work out brilliantly or be a horrible disaster! :-DPaul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-76537647436837099202011-08-31T08:30:32.112-04:002011-08-31T08:30:32.112-04:00Paul, very tricky, but since it's that integra...Paul, very tricky, but since it's that integrated into your story, odds are all those flashbacks have their own narrative drive. Good luck with it!<br /><br />Terry, you have the best analogies!<br /><br />MK: Oo, that drives me crazy too.<br /><br />Angie and Guilie, you're welcome!Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-90255827849267758102011-08-30T08:13:32.471-04:002011-08-30T08:13:32.471-04:00Great advice, Janice; thank you! Flashbacks are i...Great advice, Janice; thank you! Flashbacks are important, sure, but they can be tedious and boring and, like you so well said, take the reader out of a well-paced narrative. The thing that jumped out at me most was to avoid explanation and turn the flashback instead into a revelation. That's something I'll print and keep next to my 'puter :) Much appreciated!Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-83203246986326809092011-08-29T15:57:39.382-04:002011-08-29T15:57:39.382-04:00Making your reader want the flashback--BRILLIANT! ...Making your reader want the flashback--BRILLIANT! Thanks Janice.Angela Cothranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09243582290698922119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-37430274180197339542011-08-29T12:45:37.381-04:002011-08-29T12:45:37.381-04:00My flash-back pet peeve is when, after a first lin...My flash-back pet peeve is when, after a first line or paragraph, a story drops into flashback. This almost never works, and often means the story's starting in the wrong place. Flashbacks done well, I love. I think my favorite is from Shadow Spinner -- the author made me wait and wait to figure out a piece of the character's history, and it wasn't quite what I'd expected.MKHutchinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07715686902529938959noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-80813362328254576932011-08-29T10:29:15.437-04:002011-08-29T10:29:15.437-04:00Great advice. Working your way in and out of flash...Great advice. Working your way in and out of flashbacks has to be clear to keep the reader grounded. And they should be handled more like IV drips rather than tube feeding. <br /><br />Terry <br /><a href="http://terryodell.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Terry's Place</a><br /><a href="http://www.terryodell.com" rel="nofollow">Romance with a Twist--of Mystery</a>Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-45122151173425218772011-08-29T09:28:18.958-04:002011-08-29T09:28:18.958-04:00I'm really hoping things work out okay in my b...I'm really hoping things work out okay in my book. Since it deals with past-life memories, there are scenes that are effectively flashbacks, though they represent the character's discovery of his past incarnations rather than recalling past events in his own life.Paul Anthony Shortthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14393249001158230985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-7645773950769210462010-02-11T19:55:04.648-05:002010-02-11T19:55:04.648-05:00Great advice. You are so right that the back story...Great advice. You are so right that the back story/flashback has to relate to what's happening now. I just read storm glass by Maria Snyder and thought she did a really good job of introducing profound back story/flashbacks that totally tied into the story.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.com