How do you create a sad back story?

[jeremiahmusasa39]

I'm stuck trying to come up with a really sad backstory for my character. I want it to hit hard with specific moments and feelings that connect with readers, but I can't seem to think of anything right now.

[jwabeasley]

Well let's brainstorm a bit. Tell me about how the character is now.

[jeremiahmusasa39]

His soul has been transferred to another body, previously owned by someone who had committed suicide.

[jwabeasley]

Okay, so he's been body-swapped, but what about his personality? What kind of themes are you grappling with? How old is he?

Some common sad backstories are: Death(s) of family member(s) or romantic interest, parents getting divorced, losing your job on the same day as your girlfriend dumps you and your house burns down which also happened to be your birthday, your favorite TV show ended prematurely, your crowning achievement was a failure, you're middle aged but you haven't achieved anything important, you're middle aged and successful but your elderly father still doesn't respect you and you're still not happy.

The possibilities are endless but I can't craft anything personalized unless I get details to work with.

[simonitropunk]

Well, the current chapter is a sad backstory in Lyza’s Sandstorm

[justincarbunkle]

Did they also commit suicide?

Do they know the person that committed suicide? Maybe their soul enters their fathers body after he commits suicide.

Do they want to go back to their original body? Do they have someone they need to care for? Or do they feel happy their physical form can die?

Are they poor? Were they abused?

[kyupol]

Focus on the person who committed suicide. Why did they do it in the first place?

Will he inherit the trauma of the person who offed themselves?

[LunarScyphozoa]

Ooh, body swap! If you want to focus on the person inhabiting the body, you can deal primarily with two things: how he ended up there, and how he feels about it now. What happened to his previous body? Did taking over this one hurt? How is he dealing with the body not being his? I can tell you from experience that not recognizing your own body is plenty dramatic.

[jeremiahmusasa39]

He is traveling between worlds to gather information about the people who killed his family.
The person who committed suicide is an alternate version of himself.
This situation arose from school bullying.

[BoomerZ]

Have him inhabit the moment when the suicide was at a point of no return. Then he feels the pain of the reason for the suicide and the powerlessness in stopping it. You could add a friend or family member of the body's original owner panicking and trying to help.

[jeremiahmusasa39]

Yes he inherits the trauma of the person who offed themselves

[jeremiahmusasa39]

Thank you for the ideas. I think I have a starting point to work with.

[jeremiahmusasa39]

He is traveling between worlds to gather information about the people who killed his family. The person who committed suicide is another version of himself.

[Lensing]

I'm stuck trying to come up with a really sad backstory for my character. I want it to hit hard with specific moments and feelings that connect with readers, but I can't seem to think of anything right now.

Write something so sad that you are ashamed of writing it because
it exposes your own sadness and vulnerability.
This would hit hard

[jeremiahmusasa39]

Thank you for your help! I will try what you suggested.