Never judge a book by its cover. Well, that also applies to individuals in the real world and fiction. A character’s backstory is the very essence of your original character. Character backstory ideas give you reasons why the character behaves in a certain way, what motivates them, and who they are.
Doesn’t it apply to a Red Dead Redemption or Dungeons and Dragons (DnD), or a fantasy fiction novel? A well-thought-out backstory makes a flat character a three-dimensional one that can be felt beyond the words written (or acted).
In this blog, we’ll demonstrate how to develop them and motivate you with 33+ unique character backstory ideas that will differ from one another.
Without further ado, let’s get to the point!
What Is a Character Backstory and Why Does It Matter?
A backstory is everything that happens in a character’s life before the very first page of the story. It is the sum of experiences, relationships, and events that make them. This can be compared with the base of a building, which is not seen but felt within the building.
Why is the backstory important?
A character without a back is like bland food without seasoning, quite forgettable. A well-crafted backstory can:
- Motivate Action
- Induce Drama
- Add depth
Pro Tip: You may never show the details to the audience because they do not need to see them all. Yet, knowing it will dictate how the character acts.
Do Characters Need a Backstory?
Absolutely yes!
Every character requires history or background so they do not seem fake or without any ground. An appropriate history explains more about the character’s behaviors, what influences them, and how they deal with circumstances. This enhances the understanding of the characters and makes them approachable, regardless of whether they are picture books, video games, or movies.
Now that we know whether a character’s backstory is important let’s explore the top ideas for creating unique backstories.
33+ Unique Character Backstory Ideas
Stuck trying to figure out a compelling backstory idea for your character? Here are 33 different best character backstory ideas that will help you get started:
Fantasy Ideas
- An elf was banished for breaking ancient rules.
- A hero cursed by a spell and searching for a cure.
- A mage who regrets a spell that caused great harm.
- A dragon slayer who secretly loves dragons.
- A healer who left their village after failing to save it.
Modern or GTA RP Ideas
- A street racer trying to pay for a loved one’s treatment.
- A hacker exposing corrupt organizations.
- A cop who turned criminal after being set up.
- A con artist looking for an honest life.
- A runaway starting fresh in a big city.
Sci-Fi Ideas
Love science fiction? Here are some cool backstory ideas for your upcoming project:
- A robot learning how to feel emotions.
- A pilot accused of causing a space disaster.
- A scientist haunted by their dangerous invention.
- An alien living in secret on Earth.
- A time traveler stuck in the wrong era.
Tragic Ideas
- The only survivor of a village attack.
- A warrior who couldn’t save their family.
- Someone wrongly exiled from their home.
- A person betrayed by their best friend.
- A soldier haunted by war memories.
Quirky or Fun Ideas
- A chef traveling the world to find rare ingredients.
- A bard who exaggerates their adventures for fame.
- An animal whisperer searching for a legendary creature.
- A treasure hunter who always gets lost.
- A matchmaker who can’t find their love.
Miscellaneous Ideas
- A former cult member is running from their past.
- Someone with no memory and mysterious scars.
- A detective is trying to catch the person who ruined their life.
- A bodyguard is protecting a hidden heir.
- A royal hiding their identity to live a normal life.
- A thief who wants to return stolen treasures.
- A ghost helping people solve unfinished problems.
- A former villain trying to make up for their crimes.
Lookup character backstory ideas on Reddit for more unique and creative concepts shared by many storytellers. What a rich source of inspiration it is!
Steps for Creating a Unique Backstory With ChatFAI
With ChatFAI, you can create a unique character’s backstory, all while creating the character. While writing a character’s bio, make sure you keep these things in mind:
1. Start with Basics
Begin with character analysis.
- What is their name?
- How old are they?
- Where do they come from?
- In which region of the country did they grow up?
2. Add Some Conflict
Everyone enjoys a good conflict. Did they go through any betrayal, loss, or suffering? Well, it’s a little drama after all! Why should we get bored?
3. Incorporate Personality
More often, such attributes are rooted in one’s history.
4. Take a Look Back
How do their experiences inform their emotional, mental, or social ties in the present? They probably tend to have trust issues because someone they cared about severely disappointed them.
5. Allow Them To Have An Ambition
What is it that they want the most? A vital aim connected to one’s past is believable and pushes the narrative forward.
Now, let’s get to know the unique backstory ideas you can use to give an ambitious look to your character online.
How to Give a Character a Tragic Backstory
Adding a tragic element in writing can seem tricky. Here’s how to do tragic backstories for characters accurately:
Remember that too much tragedy seems unrealistic. Focus on one or two significant events. It should be incorporated into their character and what they strive for.
Tragedy without purpose can be very empty. How or what has your character become as a result of it? For instance, a male warrior does not permit himself to have intimate relationships after murdering his best friend by mistake. Yet he tries to redeem himself in heroic deeds.
ChatFAI is great for helping you think of ideas and arrange them. This means that it is ideal to write the back story of any character you choose. Give it a shot; you might encounter stories that make your character worth adoring.
Good Character Backstory Ideas For Any Style
If you are writing fantasy, sci-fi, or modern-day sources, these character backstory ideas are interesting and simple to work with:
- The Silent Witness Chooses to remain a mute witness after seeing something that permanently changes the course of events, such as a crime or miracle, but can’t tell anyone because of fear, trauma, or an oath.
- The Lost Child: A kid who got lost and adopted strange parents like a thief or an alien.
- The Accidental Villain: Sudden changes can cause development choices to have consequences for other parties, and the person who makes the choice is working hard to fix that.
- The Outlaw Turned Hero: A former criminal who turned his life for justice, but the ghosts of the past lifestyle still trouble him.
- The Dreamer: They were born into poverty or cruelty and fed their hopeful fantasies to such an extent that they became real.
What Is a Good Backstory for Kindroid?
The figure of the Kindroid – a humanoid artificial being – always contains plenty of ideas to work with. These backstories give Kindroid characters depth and let you explore themes like identity, humanity, and morality.
Ways to Make a Story for Your OC
Creating a backstory for your Original Character (OC) may seem overwhelming. Yet, it is possible to simplify it by taking a step-by-step approach such as:
- Start with Their “Why”
- Build Their Environment
- Add Conflict
- Think About Their Growth
Wrap-Up
An excellent character backstory is the difference between an inventive concept and a fascinating and memorable character. It doesn’t matter if you are building a fantasy hero, a GTA RP villain, or a DnD deck character; every character’s past defines their future.
So, don’t hurry. Add some drama and fully use your creative skills. Ready to begin composing? Let ChatFAI be your friendly assistant!
FAQs
What is an example of a character’s backstory?
There are numerous character backstory examples. One of those is:
Kael Stormrunner was raised in a peaceful village. Everything was turned into a nightmare when raiders destroyed his home in sight. The only survivor, he now travels the world seeking redemption for the guilt of hiding during the attack.
How do you give a character a tragic backstory?
Select one event, which could be the death of someone or embedded betrayal, and relate it to the character. State how it drives the character or lingers on them. Ensure there is a tragedy and an element of hope or strength to make the character believable.
What makes the best characters in a short story?
Strong short stories have characters whose motivation is clear. The characters have some imperfections that make them relatable, and there is a background associated with the characters’ actions but not presented explicitly. From this, everything should be deliberate.
What are some tragic backstories?
- Suffering the death of a family member
- Betrayal of trust from a family member
- Being the sole survivor of a tragic incident
- Unintentionally inflicting injury to someone
- Getting banished from one’s homeland.
These aspects give rise to the emotional depth.
What is a backstory in a short story?
It is the story of the character that justifies his or her actions or personality. In short stories, overexplaining the backstory rarely happens, and it is usually placed in short, indirect details.