Behind every memorable character in literature lies a rich and compelling backstory. Character backstories not only breathe life into your protagonists and antagonists, but also provide depth and relatability to your narrative.

But most importantly, compelling characters set your work apart and readers remember you and your work. Many authors believe that there can be an audience for any book with good characters. The fanfiction market has shown this to be true: any stories can be countlessly generated, as long as the characters are beloved by readers, there will be an audience to consume it.

In this step-by-step guide, we'll explore the art of crafting character backstories that will keep your readers hooked from the first page to the last.

Step 1: Know Your Character Inside Out

Before diving into the backstory, take the time to fully understand your character. Consider their:

Personality: What makes them tick? Their fears, dreams, and quirks.
Motivations: What drives them forward? What are their goals and desires?
Weaknesses and Strengths: What are their strengths and what are their vulnerabilities?
Past Experiences: What events from their past have shaped them into who they are today?

The better you know your character, the easier it will be to create a backstory that feels authentic.

Authoring tools such as Metos helps you with that: the platform provides with spectrums, creative writing questions to add depth, and more. Get started here.

Step 2: Establish a Significant Event

A character's backstory often hinges on a significant event or moment in their life. This event can be a turning point, a tragedy, or a life-changing decision. It should be something that has had a profound impact on their beliefs, values, and actions.

Step 3: Determine the Setting

Consider the time and place in which your character's backstory unfolds. The setting can greatly influence their experiences and choices. Is it a medieval fantasy world, a futuristic dystopia, or a contemporary urban setting? Ensure that the setting aligns with your character's development. Check out our worldbuilding posts to get some tips and tricks on that part.

Step 4: Explore Relationships

Characters don't exist in a vacuum. Think about the relationships your character has had throughout their life. This includes family, friends, mentors, and adversaries. How have these relationships shaped them? Do they have any unresolved conflicts or deep connections?

Try to get to know the characters that they spend time with very well too. Readers will feel like a character is shallow if they're just there to spend time with the main character as "decoration". Ensure the connection feels authentic, genuine and realistic - and you get there by knowing them well enough to bring them to life in such a way.

Step 5: Incorporate Conflict and Growth

Every good backstory should include elements of conflict and growth. Your character should face challenges, obstacles, and internal struggles that force them to evolve. Show how they overcame adversity and grew stronger or how they were scarred by their experiences.

While certain genres contain Good vs Evil themes, nowadays popular works show characters with weaknesses, they are not perfect. They can be morally grey and have certain flaws. It doesn't mean they will not be likeable - they'll be relatable and people will care.

Step 6: Reveal the Backstory Gradually

Avoid the temptation to reveal your character's entire backstory in a single info-dump. It may be tempting to think people might want to know all these things to get started with the story. Instead, sprinkle details throughout your narrative. Let readers piece together the puzzle as they get to know your character better.

Step 7: Use Backstory to Drive Plot

A well-crafted character backstory can also drive the plot forward. Incorporate elements from the backstory that have a direct impact on the events of your story. This creates a seamless connection between character development and the overall narrative.

Step 8: Seek Feedback

Once you've drafted your character's backstory, consider sharing it with others for feedback. Beta readers or writing groups can provide valuable insights and help you refine the backstory further.

Step 9: Utilize Metos for Character Development

Metos is a platform offering a range of tools and prompts. It assists you in crafting characters' backstories that resonate with your readers. Explore the character development features to bring your characters to life.

Step 10: Keep Evolving

Character backstories can evolve as your story progresses. Be open to making adjustments if your characters take unexpected turns. Adapt their backstories to ensure consistency and authenticity.

In the world of storytelling, character backstories are the secret ingredient that can make your characters unforgettable. By following this step-by-step guide and using Metos as your trusted companion, you'll have the tools to create characters with depth, complexity, and relatability.

Happy character crafting!