Backstories for Suspense by Laurel Osterkamp
Let’s welcome back Laurel Osterkamp as she shares with us “Backstories for Suspense.” Enjoy!
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Whenever I begin a new work-in-progress, my first step is to figure out my characters’ backstories. Because if I can figure out how to weave the backstories into the narrative, it will add depth, complexity, and most importantly, suspense.
So, how to effectively incorporate our characters’ back story without losing the flow and pacing? Here are some techniques I learned after reading five excellent psychological suspense novels this year.
1. Use Flashbacks: Bye, Baby by Carol Levering
Flashbacks are a powerful tool for revealing a character’s past in a way that adds suspense.
They allow the readers to experience the events of the past alongside the character, creating a sense of immediacy and emotional connection.
However, it is essential to use flashbacks strategically and sparingly. Too many flashbacks can disrupt the flow and confuse readers.
In the novel Bye, Baby by Carola Levering, we discover what leads Billie to kidnap her best friend Cassie’s baby.
The story begins with the moment of the kidnapping.
Then, it alternates between Billie and Cassie’s POV, but every third chapter is a Billie flashback, starting with her childhood, going all the way to near present-day.
Through these consistent flashbacks, we learn all about Billie’s traumatic past, and the hurt and betrayal that Cassie caused.
By the time we reach the kidnapping, it all makes sense. I was very invested!
2. Drop Hints and Clues: The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Another effective way to incorporate backstory is by dropping hints and clues.
These hints can be in the form of memories, recurring dreams, or even objects that hold significance to the character’s past.
By doing so, you create a sense of intrigue and mystery, leaving the readers eager to know more.
The Heiress, by Rachel Hawkins, has multiple POVs. While Hawkins uses flashbacks, she also drops a lot of hints and clues, especially when it comes to Jules, an outsider who isn’t being completely honest with her husband.
We know she’s hiding something, but what?
The hints and clues kept me guessing right up until the end.
3. Use Dialogue and Inner Thoughts: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera
Dialogue and inner thoughts are great ways to reveal a character’s back story without disrupting the flow.
They give us a glimpse into the character’s mind and emotions, which can be more powerful than just narrating their past.
The key here is to make the dialogue and inner thoughts natural and not forced.
In Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, Lucy, the protagonist, is haunted by the death of her best friend, Savvy.
Everyone believes Lucy is the murderer, and when she has intrusive, murderous thoughts, Lucy begins to doubt herself.
These inner-thoughts all lead to a stunning revelation that I never saw coming.
4. Create Tension and Conflict: The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Backstory can also be used to create tension and conflict.
By revealing past events and traumas, you can add layers to the characters and their relationships, making the stakes higher and the story more suspenseful.
It is crucial to remember that the backstory should serve a purpose and not just be included for the sake of it.
Freida McFadden begins her novel, The Boyfriend, with a terrible blind date.
The main character, Sydney, has trouble meeting decent guys. But when she finds what seems to be the perfect guy, her problems are far from solved.
Instead, conflict remains, and after her good friend is murdered, Sydney recalls past tensions and lies from all the people in her life.
This added tension and conflict took an already suspenseful novel and amplified it.
5. Use Misdirection: Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey
Misdirection is a clever technique to incorporate backstory in a way that keeps the readers on their toes.
By leading the readers to believe one thing about a character’s past and then revealing the truth later on, you create a sense of surprise and intrigue.
Jess Lourey’s Unspeakable Thingsis told from young Cassie’s point of view.
Cassie lives in a small Minnesota town in the early 1980s, and because of her youth, inexperience, and skewed perceptions, she’s not a reliable narrator.
Though she’s both honest and strong, it takes Cassie most of the novel to make sense of her experiences and the shortcomings of her friends and family.
Through misdirection, Lourey keeps the reader in pace with Cassie, so our revelations occur at the same time as Cassie’s do.
A character’s backstory is a powerful tool that can be used to add suspense, tension, and complexity to a story.
So, go forth and use these techniques to create well-rounded and intriguing characters that will keep your readers on the edge of their seats.
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About the Author
Laurel Osterkamp is from Minneapolis, where she teaches and writes like it’s going out of style. Her short fiction has been featured in Abandon Journal, Idle Ink, Tangled Locks Literary Journal, Bright Flash Literary Journal, and The Metawoker, among other places. Her new novel, The Side Project, was released on November 13th by The Wild Rose Press.
Social Media:
Website – https://laurellit.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorlaurelosterkamp
BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laurel-osterkamp
Instagram: Laurel Osterkamp (@laurel_osterkamp) • Instagram photos and videos
