Flashbacks.

[lizzypaul]

I'm writing a story right now that refuses to be told in a linear way. Currently, there's a lot of explanatory dialogue, which I hate, and which feels boring (and goodness knows if I'm bored, any reader is going to be comatose). I have a couple ideas for flashback scenes, but...flashbacks. Uck.

Poll Flashbacks:What makes a good flashback scene? What makes a

Comments

[lordhellebore]

I second this. It depends if they're inserted into the narrative skilfully so they don't disturb it, but instead add to it. But don't ask me how to do that ;)

[mtrlb]

I read Atonement by Ian McEwan and thought the way he did it wasn't bad. Watch the movie, its pretty faithful to the book. In my opinion (and im a terrible writer by the way) I think you just have to jump into it and hope that your point gets across

[felinephoenix]

I can't think of any literary ones off the top of my head but I've always liked flashbacks. Especially the kind that show the character in a different light. That's the key to them, I think: the flashback has to show something about the character and how they've developed.

But now that I think about it... a lot of the flashbacks I've been seeing lately are in comics, and I think it's a lot easier to do effective flashbacks in that medium. The visuals help a lot.

So maybe you should just ignore me.