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How to Create Relevant Backstory that Drives (Not Stalls) a Novel

1/9/2023

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Author: Sandy Vaile 
Originally published in Hearts Talk eZine's March edition 2023

​ 
Creating compelling backstory is essential for developing rich well-rounded characters that capture the interest of readers.


However, the wrong backstory can turn into an information dump that slows a story’s pace to a yawn. Read on to find out how to create backstory that is relevant to the plot, so it won’t detract from what’s important: the story.

It’s not enough to know everything about a character’s past, like where they went to school and what kind of cake they had at their 10th birthday party. While documenting your character’s entire life might be fun (for some) and knowing it certainly enables you to have a comprehensive understanding of who they are and where they came from, a lot of it won’t be relevant to the book you’re writing.

Say what?

Authors get chastised for information dumping when readers don’t see the relevance of the information. You can’t just throw information at the wall to see what sticks.

Backstory must be:
  • Purposeful; and
  • Relevant to what’s currently happening in the story.

But how can you make it so? 
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Number One Concept to Stop Showing Confusion

8/7/2023

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Author: Sandy Vaile
Previously published on the Romance Writers of Australia blog 23/08/22
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‘Show don’t tell’ is one of the most worrisome writing guidelines ever created, but it’s also essential to modern authors. Finding the right balance of showing and telling in your story is like patting your head and rubbing your belly while balancing on one leg at the top of a pole in a river full of crocodiles. (And I never exaggerate.)

Authors get themselves tied up in knots over how much to show and where to tell. It's painful to watch. But there is good news. Take a deep breath, let go of the minutiae that is bogging you down and remember one simple and liberating concept, and you’ll be on your way to mastering this tricky business. 

The One Showing Concept You Need to Know

ACTIVE STORYTELLING
​

This concept is so simple you’ll wonder why the ultimatum of ‘show don’t tell’ was ever given. 
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Write Better Fiction by Finding its Beating Heart

7/6/2023

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Author: Sandy Vaile
Previously published on the Writers in the Storm blog 02/11/22


​Every story has a beating heart that gives it purpose. It’s the vision that keeps all the working parts of a novel focused on what really matters, enabling the author to outline more easily and write a purposeful story.
​
But how can you be sure your story has one (and if it hasn’t, grab the defibrillator and shock it into being)?

What is the heart of a story?

Plots are the mechanism for moving characters through a series of events towards a goal. The heart of a story is its very reason for existing. The reason a specific author wants to tell a particular story. It turns a common idea into a unique journey, based on what interests the author and why.
​
At the heart of every story is a theme that runs throughout, which colours the characters and flavours the narrative and conveys the author’s message in a way that affects readers deep in their souls.
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The Secret to an Enduring Author Career

15/4/2023

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Author: Sandy Vaile 
Previously published on the Writing and Wellness blog 03/08/22.


After more than a decade of writing and teaching fiction, I have the luxury of looking back on my journey (thus far) to see where I could have done things differently, to heighten enjoyment and expedite my arrival at the place I am now.

And I’m going to share those insights with you today. 

I’m Sandy Vaile, an author of fast-paced romantic suspense for Simon and Schuster US and a fiction coach who is empowering modern writers around the globe to write stories they're proud to share with the world (one author at a time).

If only I'd known the truth

There is limitless information on the internet about how to write and publish a book and yet thousands of authors struggle to find their place in the industry. I believe this is because the creative process isn’t something that can be pigeon-holed and contrived. Original ideas flow from our imaginations and no two minds or lives are alike.

If only I’d known a few truths when I started this journey, it might have made it easier and saved me a heap of anxiety. 
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How Fearless Prose Supports Environmental Sustainability

30/3/2023

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Author: Sandy Vaile 

How is the environment relevant to fiction coaching?

When you think fiction coach, your mind probably doesn't automatically leap to environmental sustainability, does it? I have to admit that I hadn't considered how my own environmental beliefs might support business efficiency and values either.

But last night I attended a fantastic Southern Business Networking and Mentoring event in McLaren Vale, and learnt how businesses can become more environmentally sustainable by implementing a circular economy model of production and consumption.

What is a circular economy?

This involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible.

It was inspiring to hear what local businesses are doing to support this model. From a dairy trialling re-useable glass bottles, and industry-leading viticulture practices, to a home business offering refills for household products, and a cafe that produces only one single household bin of waste each week.

Inspiring stuff! 
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My Business and Environmental Values 


​Things I already in my home, which have a positive impact on my business efficiency and support my personal values:


♻️ Reuse
♻️ Recycle as much household waste as possible
♻️ Look for environmentally sustainable products when making purchases
♻️ Run my house on rain water for part of the year
♻️ Support my electricity needs with a solar system
♻️ Water the garden using tank water

And, because I am always one to be stretching my limits, in the future I'd like to explore: 

🌻 Composting food scraps 
🌻 Investing in a battery to store solar power 


I'd love to hear what actions you take to support environmental sustainability in your life. Drop a comment below.  
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Below are the values that guide Sandy Vaile as she supports aspiring authors across the globe to write fiction stories they are proud to share with the world.

If you'd like to learn more about how Sandy can help you achieve your fiction writing goals, grab a time in her diary for an obligation free chat.
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  • Events
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    • Fearless Novelist group
    • Success Stories
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    • Free reads
    • Book Reviews
  • About Sandy
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