Build unforgettable characters via Backstories

Stop letting weak backstories kill your plot. Master thematic resonance with theory, examples and 4 exercises to save your WIP. Join now!

In this hands-on workshop, Francesco examines the importance of backstories to highlight narrative thematic resonance, analysing novels and films in depth to understand what can undermine an otherwise engaging story.

Beginning with a word of warning against backstories revealed like clues in a murder mystery, Francesco will dive deep into the importance of connecting characters' backstories to their thematic universe of choice, using examples spanning from Madame Bovary to Spiderman.

He will then analyse Pi Patel's poignant backstory in the novel 'Life of Pi', showing how the screen adaptation loses most of its emotional force by tweaking the theme ever so slightly.

It will follow a brief exposition of the 'Trauma Trope', and how to use it effectively (or not so much) showing examples from the tv show 'The Boys'.

Francesco will close with a display of what a writer can conjure with words, using 'Stories of your life' by Ted Chiang and its screen adaptation 'Arrival' to show the endless possibilities of writing craft.

4 thought provoking exercises are intertwined with the above sections, suitable for both authors looking to improve their work in progress and writers thinking about their first draft.

Testimonials from our attendees

➡️"Francesco's workshops are a delight to attend. He's a really engaging speaker and he clearly knows a huge amount about the art of story telling. His advice on character development is incredibly helpful and thought provoking. I can't recommend one of his sessions highly enough."

Stephen Hodgson

➡️"Many thanks for leading last weekend’s seminar. I found the format excellent and you covered a huge amount of ground in the two hours succinctly and very clearly."
Eugene McCann