Flashbacks, Flashbacks and even more Flashbacks

[IndigoShirtProd]

This is more or less me asking for advice on my novel that I've been putting of working to focus on my comic. The structural issue I'm having with the story is whether or not I should include certain flashbacks. I have one planned and written already, but I feel as though adding others would flesh out the characters more, specifically a character that dies at the top of the story. This character hangs over the story and characters like a ghost (ha! ghost), with their previous actions affecting everyone else. I think it would be a good idea to give them more focus so that later revelations have more impact but. . . I don't know if it'll be worth it. I wanted this character to remain mostly figureless and unsympathetic, and so I fear giving them more screen time will humanize them more, regardless of what they do in the flashbacks.

So, any advice? How have you handled flashbacks in your comics or novels. Was it worth it? Did you meet you goals? I'm honestly in a debate with myself and I'm looking for a tie breaker.

[Iris-Grimoire]

Screentime does humanize them, always keep that in mind, no matter how much of a jerk they might be in these scenes.

I've got flashbacks on top of flashbacks, and I can't really take them away from the comic even if it's "bad" storytelling. The alternative was starting the comic years before the "real" events, and that would be too much time to acclimate the reader to the new dynamics - but those events are still important to understand the story as a whole, so I use a framing device in which the characters can't stop thinking about them in-universe.

[Dark_Faeire]

In my novel I have put in 3 different flashback parts of the main character into my story. Only because my character was introduced with mental health issues and while I was working on the story I thought that the readers should have an understanding on why he has these health problems. I do randomly post the flashback in the story but I made sure there's separated from the previews flashback chapter.

I believe if there's more the your character that the audience don't know about and you want to show it to them then add those flashback. It'll help show the audience that there is more to the character then they already know and maybe give them more to connect to.

[RyzaCobalion]

i honestly think flashbacks can be good if done right. one of my biggest issues with flashbacks is if telling a character backstory solely on flashback alone like showing multiple flashbacks at once and spend more time on them then on the main events. Mainly cause they sometimes they break the pacing of the story and we focus too much on the character of then instead of now. But, if it don't break the pacing but rather builds upon it then it's fine.

One thing my creative writing teacher brought up when i was in her class talked flashbacks in a similar manner on where she lectures "flashback can help but they can't break the pacing of your storytelling. Because what matters more in your stories, comics, etc are the characters. Without enough time to spend with these characters then their development was for nothing."

i have not personally wrote them just yet in my novel but i know where you're coming from with this topic as i also want to think carefully when writing one in my novel or comic. There's a lot dos and don'ts when it comes to flashbacks as with any topics in general.

[IndigoShirtProd]

But that's the thing, even though there's more to be explored I really don't know how I'd feel if the audience developed a positive connection with this specific character. In my case, the flashbacks are more about how the other characters feels about the character in question and why what happened in the past affects the actions of the present. It's also about showing the character and not telling things about the character. The one flashback they're already in presents them in a good light but after that point the reader is told they're a bad person.

[Dark_Faeire]

I see what you mean. Well, if it's more about reflection, but if they're told that they are good then bad maybe that's up to the readers to think that. just because you end up putting that they are a bad person doesn't mean that they are. the flashback can show why they end up that way if you want to show that as an example.

idk if you want to read my story to see it as an example? I'm not saying it did a good job of presenting the flashback but it can maybe help? idk. I think in the end it's up to you to continue adding them in because they are your story and if you want to share with the readers this extra information.

But my novel is called Don't Touch if you're curious to see how I handle flashbacks :o

[vothnthorvaldson]

My story is constructed around flashbacks, and that's something I really like reading too.

In my case, I cannot avoid them as the story is structured as follow: actual time is the children's generation, and these children, little by little, learn things about their parents generations through people's memories, tales and documents (all treated as flashbacks). There are flashbacks within flashbacks, as well as several flashbacks for the same memory (remembered by different people, who perceived different things, or are more or less reliable).

The thing is, I'm always making sure that each flashback is necessary. It has to advance the plot, bring new questions; or bring a new perspective on a person or an event.

If I understand well, your flashbacks would fall in that last category: bring a different perspective on a character, and you are not sure of it's worth it.
Difficult to know. I'd say the best would be to ask someone to read both versions, (even just the script) and ask them to tell you if that changes their perception of the character (and if yes, if it changes it the way you would like).

[IndigoShirtProd]

Sure I'll give it a read. Any specific flashback that could help? Like which episodes should I read?

[IndigoShirtProd]

Yeah I need to get someone to read my stuff. It's just a lot to ask a person to read a full novella, specifically a novella with some dark themes.

[Dark_Faeire]

I would say read the first chapter to get an idea of my character then maybe read either flashback 2 or flashback 3.

I will be honest that it does give a dark feel in the flashback because this is the characters history of why he has these mental health issues, but you will see why this has to be shared.

Yeah and if your adding flashback within a flashback and etc just make sure that its well cleared for the audience to read. If these flashbacks are the soul of your story for the plot then you just make sure its understandable knowing who's flashback your going into and why we need to go more to the past from there. Honestly, I'm new to these add-on flashbacks but I think it's been working out for me and my readers actually understand about these events.

[vothnthorvaldson]

It may be a bit too much work (?) but one possibility would be to isolate one section that kind of stand alone. The extra work would be to make it stand alone enough to be understandable outside of the novella context (eg. A summary until the chosen section - one section with and without flashbacks - one short conclusion).

[Dark_Faeire]

Sometimes I like to use books or movies as reference when it comes to these flashbacks.
Like why are these flashbacks could be triggered? or if your throwing it in randomly, like I kind of do, these these flashbacks have to be well plotted to cut into the story. It does seem a bit of extra work, but if its part of your story then just make sure you organize it well to know wish past there going to be looking into.

[IndigoShirtProd]

So you're flash are a good example of how to handle storytelling. I got so heated by the homophobia and the stupid questioning from the father but that's besides the point. I appreciate the writing, and how the characters were framed and handled. I think this all a matter of contextualizing story beats and offering more information on characters, and I don't know if done that well in my current draft. Thanks for the example and advice!

[Dark_Faeire]

lmao everyone always get heated with the dad xD

But thank you and I'm glad that it helped or gave you an idea of how to handle a flashback. I'm sure there can be many ways to bring in a flashback to a story but its also on how to want to bring it in as well. Just keep at it until your satisfied with and it works out for you