i mostly write as a hobby and for my own healing. i try to avoid tragic backstories, but i feel like i have to throw SOMETHING in to make my characters interesting. i always hear stuff about how tragic backstories are stupid and worthless and how i should avoid them at all costs, but i can't help it. i think i'm projecting onto my characters at the same time? i don't know. this is just something i'm really insecure about and idk why lsdkjamlscdkfjsdfiosdfj
I've actually been meaning to make this post for a while, so here's
A rough guide to the tragic backstory
When developing a character, you always want to give them a motivation. They don't just need a personality, they need a reason to have that personality in the first place. A backstory is a great way to set that up. But when dealing with trauma, it's a little harder, and there are a few things to remember.
Research. Research, research, research. Yes, even if you've been through the same thing. Read about other people's perspectives, understand how they approach the same trauma.
Separate it from yourself. Self projection is a good way to vent, but can harm your story, and the way you accept criticism of your work. You can use your own trauma as inspiration, but try not to entirely base a character on your own struggles.
Allow your characters to be more than their trauma. It can influence their personality, and it shouldn't be passed off as unimportant, but don't make every single thing they do loop back to their trauma, don't make them constantly talk about it all the time. Subtly weave it in.
Don't exposition dump it! Exposition dumps are a subjective thing, and having a character talk about their life isn't a bad thing, but try to avoid having some big scene where they talk about their entire life in detail. Like I said before, try to weave it in slowly. You don't even need to explicitly state it at all, if you don't want to!
Think about why this character needs to have this trauma. How does it affect their personality? Their decision making? How will it change the story? It should serve a narrative purpose, or it comes off as unnecessary.
Heal, don't cure. If you don't want a happy ending, ignore this point. If you do, then let your character heal. Let them learn to cope, understand who they are, seek help or guidance. But never erase their trauma entirely.
Don't give every character a tragic past. Make sure there are characters that have no major trauma. Make sure there are characters with minor traumas. Make sure not to compare them, too!
Be selective about what their trauma is. Try not to pile ten different sad life events onto one character. Not only does that start to fall into unbelievability, but it's way harder to write about respectfully.
Remember that all of those are general tips, though! If your writing is for your eyes only, write whatever the hell you want. These are just about what improves the experience for the reader, and even then there are always exceptions to the rule.
Writing can actually be a great coping mechanism to process your own trauma or mental illnesses! Don't let anybody shame you for the way you cope!
And, as always, remember that all the advice I give is completely subjective.
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