8-Week: The Past is Never—Backstory, Memory Moments, Flashbacks, Oh My!

The present is nothing without the past and neither is the future. “Yesterday” is the foundation from which the ever-fleeting right now originates, which means it is also the foundation for the ever after of the future. We run from the past or long to go back. Some of us still dwell there. The emotional baggage of the past can be used to unpack the current emotional interiority of your characters. What is the difference between backstory and flashback? How does one accomplish time travel on the page without losing the reader? This workshop explores how, when, where, and why to weave the past into the present moment or main timeline of your narrative. To do so, we will study the three techniques—backstory, memory moments, and flashbacks—and then practice using these strategies in successful ways. Students will need to read a short story provided by the instructor before class and they will also walk away with a toolbox of handouts to draw from as they move forward to write what was.