Every story has a background. There’s world building, even in non-fiction. Hard to believe? How many books have you read, or just seen on the shelves, about JFK? The Civil War? Lots. Why do so many keep getting published, and bought? The authors present that information in unique way. Which is presented on a platter called Back Ground. Some people have told the story of the Underground Railroad from the slaves’ perspective, from the brave people helping them and so many more. Each one depicted as stories of hope, suffering, thrills, etc. THAT’S how the non-fiction writers build their world. Doing the research to present a world of hope or danger or betrayal to the reader.
With fiction it can get tricky. Especially when you’re writing a story set in a completely different world. The reader will need to know enough about the world to understand how things work. The When, What, Who, How and Why of things. Yet there’s a fine line between telling/showing your reader the world and losing your story to a history lesson.
George R.R Martin is an example of that. Don’t get me wrong, I love the books. I only watch the seasons AFTER I’ve read their corresponding book. One thing the show has done which I appreciate is not bug down the viewers with an entire episode, or chunks of episodes, dedicated to a history lesson. They cut to the present and how the worlds’ and characters’ pasts have created that present. The books have often two to pages about the history of one city or the history between two families.
Another favorite author (Although all my authors are favorites) presented me with presenting back story done right. Garth Nix. In his book “Sabriel” there’s much to learn about the world. Two worlds on the same planet, divided only by the Wall. We don’t need to know the entire history of the wall, the war, factions, peoples and such behind its creation. But there was much to know and understand about the world if readers were to understand the story. He presented everything without stopping the story. How? He made the world’s history part of the plot. I won’t spoil the book for those who haven’t read the book (If you haven’t, get thee to a library!) But that’s how backstory should be.
So if your setting has two bridges over a river, and each bridge was built by a different family of a feud two hundred years before the story’s time, and that info doesn’t mean jack to the plot, then don’t mention it. Keep it in a shoe box, but leave it out of the narrative. If it doesn’t matter to the story, it won’t matter to the reader.
Living, Writing, and Ranting. 