diyMFA Backstory Workshop

Backstory: Your Story’s Past

Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 2pm ET

Refine your skills and improve your writing.
Do a deep dive into your story’s past with this focused workshop.

Backstory is one of the most important storytelling elements, and also one of the most challenging to do right. In fact, a common mistake writers make is to share too much backstory too soon, giving the reader information that is not yet relevant to their story. The key to infusing your book with backstory is to understand how it works and how best to use it.

That’s where this workshop comes in.

In this in-depth 90-minute focused workshop, we will look at the six mechanisms we can use to convey backstory. As we examine these techniques, we will look at how they operate, and how to maximize their effectiveness in your story. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each mechanism, so you can choose the ones that will best serve your story.

In addition to studying different forms of backstory, we will also look at various examples from literature so you can see the techniques in action. Finally, we will do a few exercises so you can apply what you learned and gain a deeper knowledge of the subject through practice.

In this 90-minute workshop, we will…

• Talk about what backstory is and why it is important to your storytelling.
• Look at the six main ways to convey backstory, and their pros and cons.
• Discuss how to use backstory effectively in your writing.
• Examine verb tense—the logistical/grammatical side of backstory.
• Look at examples of backstory in action.
• Apply the concepts through exercises.

Registration: $35