Writing Tips - Creating Your Character Backstory

 When it comes to creating a character for your book, it is important to know them inside and out. While you will not include all this information in your story, it will help you understand their motivations and how to move the story along.
What happens to us in our childhood, for example, will have an impact on us well into adulthood. This can be abuse, trauma, abandonment, etc.
It is important to understand how these things can manifest and how it could shape your character. If someone has abandonment issues for example, they may have a lot of failed relationships or they find it difficult to get close to people.
Before you start writing, create a short outline for your character and the main events in their life. Remember their life doesn't start on the first page. It is also important to note that you do not need to include pages of backstory in the opening chapter - a mistake many new writers make.
Trust that your readers want to know more and it is more enjoyable to have it unfold over the course of the story. You can include hints or snippets of information, but you should always be looking to move your story forward.