Backstory - The Reader Doesn't Care!

Backstory - The Reader Doesn't Care!
Tuesday, October 18, 2022 by Cindy Sproles

It's Orlando! Land of the Mouse. It's 25,000 acres of cheese-lined streets, suckers with ears, and hidden Mickey's anywhere you dare to seek them out.

When I landed at Sanford Airport (very late at night – like in the a.m. hours), the first thing that came into view was a large Disney banner just as you walked off the airwalk and into the airport. Two families who had boarded ahead of me at my departure airport, each had the perfect American family in tow (2.5 children) – I know, I'm still trying to figure out how you can .5 a child. But I digress.

The point is, mom and dad are loaded to the max with two strollers. 2.5 kids (under the age of three), backpacks on everyone, and let's not forget the toddler-size carry-ons with teeny, tiny hand pulls and wheels the size of fifty-cent pieces. I'm sure those were good thoughts BEFORE they left home but soon became a problem when toddler one refused to pull hers. Thus inciting toddler two to follow suit, and then dad had to hold the hand of toddler one, manage a heavy backpack and stroller, AND (take a long deep breath here), hook both teeny, tiny carry-ons around his finger while pushing that stroller with the same hand. Isn't dad amazing? As we say in Tennessee, "Love his heart." To cap off the late-night experience, all 2.5 children were screaming messes. Mom was lost somewhere between the airwalk and the bathroom, where she also managed a stroller, backpacks, a screaming baby, and a dirty diaper.

I did ask, as I passed the flustered momma, in a kind and empathic manner, "Can I help you do something?" Momma huffed out a breath, gritted her teeth, and cursed me out without opening her mouth with one groan.

I exited the airport and crawled into the nicely air-conditioned SUV belonging to my son, grateful that our roles have reversed so that he is now the one hauling me around instead of me pushing him in a stroller. There are advantages to adult children.

When supper rolled around the next day, my son and his fiancé took me to what I used to call, Downtown Disney. Now it's called Disney Springs, and it's grown up. It lost its "downtown" name that sorta reminded me of my teen years when we cruised down Broad Street, hanging out of the car windows and shouting at our friends on the sidewalk. This new, classy-ier Disney Springs bore no resemblance to the hidden mystery Mickeys that I remembered.

I had to laugh when I glanced over at a mini choo-choo filled with parents and children, only to see that same mom, dad, and 2.5 children from the airplane. I know – what are the odds? The little choo-choo chugged along a short, s-shaped track, and poor mom and dad each held a screaming toddler over one shoulder. The train stopped, and they climbed out, grabbing at their kids. It bore the resemblance of frightened cats trying to claw their way free of an impending attack. There was not one look on their faces or their children's faces that I would envision being in the "happiest place in the world."

I, however, enjoyed a great sandwich from the Earl of Sandwiches (which I highly recommend should you make your way to Disney Springs), and I was blessed with the company of my son and future daughter-in-law. By the way, the only thing I was lugging – was a tiny 5x7 wrist purse. Hallelujah, I'm free of strollers!

I tell you this long, drawn out, list of happenings for two specific reasons:

1)The happiest place in the world should only be experienced by children 10 and older. Any age less and the sanity, financial well-being, and protection of the family unit will be destroyed. On the tv screen, Darth Vader is the size of a pencil. When you walk past Lego World, he's six feet tall. My goodness, that would scare me, much less a 2-year-old. And all those cute characters we've grown to love over the years suddenly take on a whole new meaning to a little one – big and scary. Despite a parent's best efforts, their stroller becomes a cumbersome bag carrier while they hip, lug, or drag their crying children.

2)This whole post is really about the backstory. This is an example of how we tend to tell our readers every detail, reason, why, or how come about our story when we just need to start the story where it begins. As a good agent friend said some years ago, "That's nicely written, but your reader doesn't care." WHAT? My reader doesn't care? Harsh, I know, but well-given advice. He is right. The readers don't care about the details of where the story began in your head. They begin where the story starts – they care nothing about the route before the story. So, my advice – write that backstory, then cut and paste it into a new document. Save it for prosperity. You might say, "If I cut that, I lose 5000 words on my word count." My rebuttal is, to think of those 5000 words as what is in that very dirty diaper that momma was changing at the airport. Just start where the story begins. Feed us a few lines of backstory at a time, if all. But for goodness' sake, don't vomit it out on the first page or as a prologue. THE READER DOESN’T CARE!

Our words are like sweet incense to us, but we need to learn to become managers of our real estate. Real estate is the page and what is placed on that page is pricey and beautiful, not wasted by outbuildings and weeds.

Learn to add backstory in small doses and like a spoon full of sugar, the medicine will go down easier.

Photo 1 – MCO, Orlando, FL Photo 2 & 3 Pixabay.com

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Comments

MEL HUGHES From Jacksonville FL At 11/2/2022 2:16:24 PM

In 1982 I took my two oldest boys--then 3 & 2--to Disney World. Went on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and both boys lost bladder control, screaming. Yikes. Great story and reminder...

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

LOL...the experiences! That's what we remember.

Sherry Kitts From Florida At 10/19/2022 3:34:54 PM

I loved the backstory! Funny and true about parents and their little kiddos. We took our son when he was small and when he saw the giant Goofy character, he cried. We lived in Virginia then. Now we're in Central Florida and I'm at the FCWC at Lake Yale. Look forward to your Fri workshop.

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Yay. I'll see you. Glad you liked it.

Melody From Mooresville At 10/19/2022 3:21:09 PM

I think I vomited a backstory. Ewww. Terrible image, but very good analogy. Thanks

Reply by: Cindy Sproles

Good analogy....but that's what happens. lol

Deb Potts From Michigan At 10/19/2022 3:00:18 PM

You hit the nail on the head with this witty post! We did the very thing you mention - wrote a very long, very detailed backstory. We cared so much more about it than any reader would be expected to. Most of it ended up in the diaper pail, where it belonged.