Comments | linthornhill: Backstory

linthornhill

Backstory

Apr 06, 2009 08:26

My brain is whirling with backstory and I'm about to put fingers to the keyboard to rough out two scenes for the competition. Before I do, I want to send a thank you to Jason Isaacs. I don't know him, but over the weekend, I saw a lengthy interview with him which was most enlightening ( Read more... )

writing

Comments 11

chanteur_dombre April 6 2009, 16:04:58 UTC

We're told to create histories for our characters on stage all the time. I'd be interested to see this interview - do you know if it's online anywhere?

linthornhill April 6 2009, 16:57:15 UTC

It's on YouTube in six or seven parts (if I remember correctly it's something like 'Fifth Dimension Presents'.) As an actress, you'll find it extremely interesting.

chanteur_dombre April 6 2009, 20:33:05 UTC

Oh, thank you!

I'm having a lot of fun researching my character at the moment - she likes monster movies!

linthornhill April 7 2009, 03:42:55 UTC

That's wonderful fun.

vashka_kat April 6 2009, 16:49:43 UTC

I've always found this a bit tricky.The perfect balence between too vague and too info-dumpy is hard to straddle! Especially as I am used to writing fanfiction, where I can safely assume most of my readers knowabd love the backstory already!

linthornhill April 6 2009, 16:58:32 UTC

I think erring on the side of too scanty is a huge fanfiction pitfall, but then knowing when to say when is equally difficult. As I tend to write fantasy, backstory is necessary in a way that it isn't if you set a story in New York City 2005.

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linthornhill April 6 2009, 19:58:08 UTC

The brilliant thing about Isaacs' Tavington is the congruity of the character. He's a hero in his own mind, and he firmly believes in what he's doing He's quelling a rebel uprising, and if he's a bit more ruthless than his commanding officer, it's not beyond the scope of the guerilla insurgency.

I do agree with you though. He does make Malfoy look like a ponce.

redvelvetcanopy April 7 2009, 01:55:55 UTC

Backstory writing can be very relaxing. Less pressure, in a way. But very necessary.

linthornhill April 7 2009, 03:43:30 UTC

Yes and no, I think. On the one hand, you need to know all of it, but on the other, you have to decide how much to include in the draft.

minuet99 April 7 2009, 14:50:13 UTC

Heee... yay JI! :)

linthornhill April 7 2009, 14:54:04 UTC

He's pretty interesting.