"Backstory is like seasoning—a little goes a long way, but too much ruins the dish. The 90/10 rule suggests readers only need to glimpse 10% of your character's history. The key is revealing past details when they become emotionally or narratively necessary, not when you think they're interesting."
Think your story needs to be either plot-driven OR character-driven? That's the biggest myth in writing. The truth is simpler: great stories use both. When Jason risks everything for a stranger during a high-speed chase, you learn his character through action. When Mr. Darcy quietly saves Lydia, plot reveals his true nature.
Marcus is one of the best pilots in the force, but with an empty scorecard. Supposedly cursed, he hasn't shot down a single enemy plane. When he's paired with Jane, a mechanic who uses 'enhanced repair techniques,' they're pulled into a secret mission that could change everything—if they survive
Character arcs become powerful when aligned with plot. External events should trigger internal responses, creating causality where characters don't just experience the plot—they're shaped by it. This symbiotic relationship between internal and external conflict forges the emotional connection readers seek, transforming mere events into profound, resonant storytelling experiences.
The traditional Hero's Journey doesn't quite fit modern speculative fiction. When your hero navigates fractured realities instead of ordinary worlds, faces cosmic mentors who mislead rather than guide, and returns with complex truths rather than simple wisdom, you need a fresh approach. Here's how to adapt Campbell's monomyth for other worlds.
Kenneth W. Myers 