I feel the need to write an essay specifically about flashbacks, because it's a big, fat, ugly problem in fanfictions. The terrible truth is that apparently many fanfiction writers (and other writers as well; I'm just targeting fanfiction writers because I have noticed it more there) seem unable to properly use this writing tool, which I find odd because they aren't hard to write or use correctly. All it takes is a little common sense and a little thought.
The number one rule when using flashbacks is: DO NOT CONFUSE THE READER!!! This is the biggest problem I've found. Flashbacks are a very good tool to use in your story, because unlike a character or the narrator just telling the reader what happened, it allows the reader to actually see for themself what happened. However, there is a difference between Flashbacks, Memories, and Dual-Timed Stories that I think many people are confused about, and this in turn leads to confusing the poor readers who just want a decent story to amuse them.
A flashback is a snippet --usually no shorter than a couple of paragraphs, rarely longer than a chapter-- in which something that has happened in a characters' past is presented as if it were happening in the present, momentarily putting the actual story to happen in the future. It is almost like a short (very short) story (more like an episode) stuck into a longer story so that the reader can better understand something, perhaps something that is mentioned in the current story or that explains why something is how it is. Flashbacks are not in first person (I'm sure someone is going to argue with me on this, but I’m right ~>) because...
A memory is very much like a flashback, except that it is told in first person. This means the reader is not seeing for themself how things happened, no matter how descriptive the narrating character is, because they are being told what happened. Like a flashback, it can be as short as a paragraph or two, or rarely longer than a chapter. However, a memory gives the reader a biased view of events.
A Dual-Timed Story is when the actual full story is told in two different time periods. This is what occurs on accident if an author uses way too many flashbacks. However, used correctly, it's one of the most amazing ways to write a story. There are two methods of using this: 1.) An obviously dual story, such as my story And the Stars Will Laugh (which may get deleted soon...) where there is an obvious divide --this part happened when she was a little girl; this part happened when she grew up. It's like two stories spliced together. 2.) A subtle dual story, such as Hush, Little One. As the story progresses, you're learning through flashbacks and memory references what exactly went on between October and Orlando back in New Zealand, and even before that. You don't notice it's a dual story, but it is, because you're getting more than just a quick back story of how they got to where they are; the actual story of things is coming out a little at a time.
If a story is written in first person, it is still possible to have flashbacks. (HLO, for instance.) If a story is written in third person, it is entirely possible to have memories --a character could be telling another character, or writing it down, or even thinking to themself about something that happened.
Here is what makes things confusing, and that I find absolutely unnecessary, because it's due to laziness on the part of the writer.
CHAPTER ONE
Now I'm hopelessly confused as to what's going on because you're giving me events in two different time frames without taking the time to adequately develop either of them; I have no idea about any characters involved because you haven't taken the time to develop them because you've been too busy jumping time frames; and you've jumped time so many times and so quickly that my brain is horribly muddled and not sure where it's supposed to be paying attention any more.
If you want to start a story off with a flashback (though then it's not really a flashback, it's more a prologue), do it. But do as much of the flashback as you want the reader to know for the time being, and then drop it. Finish the rest of the chapter in the current so that the reader can get to know your character, come to understand when the story takes place, and get a grasp of what the story is actually about. If you don't want to start the story with a flashback, but there's a certain part of the history that you want the reader to know about, put a flashback at the end of the chapter, or have a completely separate prologue. Especially with the first chapter, you want to reel your readers in and get them hooked, but if you're yanking the hook around too quickly for them to bite, they're going to wander off. It's important with any chapter to keep things simple and straight-forward enough that your reader can at least understand what you're trying to tell them, but it's even more important in the beginning chapters where you reader doesn't even know the story or characters yet.
Make it obvious to the reader which is the story, and which is the flashback. Personally, I usually put a divider (some sort of bar, like ************************) between the story and the flashback, and then I put the entire flashback in italics so that the reader understands it's not part of the normal, current time story.
What was the number one rule? DO NOT CONFUSE YOUR READERS. If this means e-mailing the chapter to someone (heck, mail it to me, and I'll let you know if it confuses me (and I won't be as sarcastic as I am in here; I promise)), and asking them if it's confusing, do it! Don't over-do the flashbacks. If that past is so important that you feel the need to flood your story with too many flashbacks, go ahead and do a dual-story. This will add depth to your story and take away confusion, which all leads to happy readers.
Above all, if you remember the number one rule, you should be okay.
Questions? Comments? Write me.
Everything, unless otherwise stated, copyright Shiloh, 2005
*two paragraph flashback*
*three sentences of the present*
*one paragraph of flashback*
*one paragraph of the present*
*three sentences of flashback*
*one sentence of the presence*