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Night Terrors, the behind the scenes
The Story Behind “Night Terrors”

The Story Behind “Night Terrors”

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Why Did I Write “Night Terrors?” First, there was a short story contest—and I wanted to enter. Second, I had been having night terrors for over a year. These weren’t just bad dreams. I hadn’t watched any scary movies or eaten pizza at midnight. They just… started. Sure, I’ve had vivid dreams before, but I always knew they were dreams. These experiences were different—terrifying in a way that felt real. I began reviewing my daily routine to figure out what…

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Daily Digest: How Much is Too Much Backstory?

Daily Digest: How Much is Too Much Backstory?

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Readers want backstory information on characters and events. Having the right amount of backstory is tough, especially when you have so much great material to choose from. So, how much backstory should you include AND how do you effectively add it to the story? Backstory helps create complexity in your characters. [Like an iceberg], ninety percent of any given character … lies beneath the surface. —Megan Burkhart First, Let’s Look at the Pros and Cons of Backstory.