When creating a character, writers often start with the backstory. But like reading with the TV on, being unfocused with backstory rarely leads to a deep understanding of character.

I learned this the hard way after writing tens of thousands of words of backstory only for the actual novel to go nowhere. Instead, I now focus on five simple aspects.

This is the technique I’ve used to craft character backstories for 20+ novels. It makes writing easier AND gives you a chance to show off worldbuilding without info dumps.

A detailed backstory isn't necessary (unless you enjoy creating them!). You only need to understand five aspects from your character's past to know them better than you know any real person.

The five backstory elements you actually need

The origin of your character's desires

What does your character want from the external world? What do they want internally (such as peace, love, embracing their rage)?

Desires help readers connect to characters, because each of us is a big soupy pot of want. It also drives the story because characters will try to fulfil their hopes.

To understand your characters, decide on the origin of their desires. For example, maybe they want to be alone because they were hurt by people they loved, or they want to amass wealth because they grew up in poverty.

You can weave worldbuilding into this as well. The internal, emotional desire is something deeply human and universal, such as the need to be accepted or to be admired. But the external manifestation of that desire is worldbuilding.

For example, at the beginning of A New Hope, Luke Skywalker wants to be greater than life has afforded him so far. That desire is relatable and grounds the story. His external desire is to leave a moisture farm on a desert planet to become a space pilot. That's worldbuilding.

The source of their fears

What does your character fear more than anything? This can include both external fears (ex., spiders) and internal fears (ex., experiencing negative emotions such as heartbreak).

We connect to this as readers because we all fear something. Like with desire, fear helps drive your story, because a character will aim to move toward their desires and away from their fears. You can also make your book more tense by forcing your character to face the things that terrify them.

Like with desire, fear is a chance to show your world through your character. Internal fears--such as of rejection--are relatable and universal, but external fears--such as being eaten by the 12-legged dream demon-- are worldbuilding.

Some primal fears, like snakes or things with holes in them (urgh, lotus pods, shudder), don't need a cause (though you can give your character one!). But others, particularly internal fears, will have a basis in the character's past. Something--or a series of somethings--created that fear. Write this part of your character's backstory.

The development of their beliefs

What does your character believe about themselves and the world? Are their beliefs correct or not?

We all have ideas about who we are and how the world works. Your characters should too. Sometimes these beliefs are accurate, and sometimes they're completely wrong (ever meet someone who is convinced they're "drama-free" while also starting feuds with everyone?).

Like real people, a character's beliefs depend on their world. For example, if a character lives in a capitalist society, they might believe that money determines someone's worth. If they think that money shouldn't matter, that belief formed in opposition to what their society taught them.

Knowing your character's beliefs helps you write their story because their choices will depend on what they think about themselves, the world, and other people. For example, if they believe heavily in hierarchy, they'll treat authority figures with respect and look down on those they think are below them.

Most beliefs develop over a long time, but writing about the entire process isn't necessary. For example, if your character thinks they are worthless because their mother said so, you don't need to write every single time their mom insulted them. A few examples are enough to understand why they are the way they are.

The cause of their ghost

You'll see this called by different names--wound, damage, or ghost-- but the concept is the same. This is your character's trauma, shame, or simply negative past experiences.

The severity depends on the type of story you're telling. In one book, a character might be haunted by accidentally causing the death of their brother. In another story, the main character might simply feel guilty about shoplifting a chocolate bar when they were 16.

Readers connect to a character who is haunted or hurt because, as The Dread Pirate Roberts said, life is pain. It makes your character more three-dimensional.

Like with desires and fears, your character's wound is internal, but its external cause is worldbuilding. Anyone can carry heartbreak. But someone mourning a dragon who was killed by a telepath lives in a very different world than someone grieving a date who ghosted them.

Write the parts of your character's backstory that still haunt them, and the ways that pain has affected them. For example, the character with the murdered dragon might be on a quest for vengeance. The one who was ghosted might swear off dating.

The Essential Character Creation Workbook includes worksheets for developing your character's desires, fears, beliefs, and ghost. It delves into topics that pick apart your characters' psyches and weave worldbuilding into their personalities.

How they learned their special skills

If your character has any special skills that will be important to the story, then decide how they acquired them.

Like with beliefs, you can write this as a sort of training montage rather than crafting every single step on their path.

This is another opportunity to weave worldbuilding into your character. Someone who was forcibly drafted into the wizard military lives in a very different world than someone who was born with full control over their magic.

What about their relationships?

If someone had a large enough impact on your character to shape who they are, they'll likely show up while answering the five backstory elements.

For example, their mentor will be part of how they learned their skills. The person they love the most will be part of their desires (they want to be with them), fears (they fear losing them), or ghost (they lost them). Parents will likely be part of the development of your character's beliefs.

If your character happens to have an important relationship that wasn't covered while crafting these parts of their life, then add them to the backstory as well.

Pulling it all together

A character's desires, fears, beliefs, and ghost form the basis of their arc and will drive your entire story. Learn about character arcs, or check out The Essential Character Creation Workbook for step-by-step worksheets on crafting a page-turning character arc that stays with readers long after they close your novel.