Found a weird trick for character backstories last week

I was stuck on a character for a fantasy story and tried writing their whole life story from a random object they'd carry. Picked a dented tin cup they got from a dying soldier in a war 10 years back. Suddenly I had 3 pages of backstory about why they hate authority and hoard food. Has anyone else tried using a single item to unlock a character instead of starting with personality traits?

2 comments

2 Comments

paul_mason1214d ago

Honestly, that cup trick is genius, might try it with a worn-out compass next time.

rowanbennett14d ago

Started playing with that idea myself after reading about how people's relationships with everyday objects often tell more about them than direct questions do. A character's favorite coffee mug, for instance, says a lot about their past, their priorities, even their insecurities. It's a much more natural way to find a person's story than just listing traits like you're filling out a form.