character backstory

There's nothing less exciting to read than a one dimensional character who is completely flat and dull and uninteresting. Characters are most interesting when they have depth, when they spark off the page with personality and interests and unique thoughts and feelings and mannerisms.

But, this begs the question: how much backstory and info do you need to really make your characters pop? It's been really really really helpful to write pages and pages of backstory for my characters. Even knowing (PAINFULLY SO) that I'll most likely have to cut a good chunk of it. So why bother, you might wonder?

Even if you don't get to share how Darya learned she could manipulate water when her little sister was caught on a plant underwater, writing it out and spending time with it will help you craft characters with more depth. Because your character development will be influenced by all that you've written.

And, in turn, your characters will have all the intrigue they deserve. Yes, it's not super fun to cut backstory that took you a while to write (crying), but of all the things I've done for my characters, this was by far the most helpful.

If you have other tips and tricks for character development, I'd love to hear them!