Flashback MISTAKES New Writers Make ❌ Avoid These Cliches!

Are you struggling to write captivating flashbacks? Are you worried you might lose your reader's interest when revealing the backstory of your characters? Don't worry, you're not alone. Flashbacks can be tricky to master, but when done right, they can deepen our understanding of the characters and make us care so much more about the story. In this video, I'm going to share the DO's and DON'Ts of flashbacks — common mistakes that I see a lot of new writers make and how to AVOID these pitfalls. Let's make every single one of your flashbacks captivating and meaningful to your story.

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✨ T I M E S T A M P S ✨
00:00 How to write flashbacks
01:23 DON'T go into a flashback without a clear trigger
02:28 DON'T give a flashback with no impact
03:42 DON'T use a flashback to info-dump worldbuilding
05:11 DON'T use a flashback to answer questions we haven't asked
06:33 You're invited to a special live training!
09:03 DO give every flashback a clear trigger
10:09 DO make every flashback change our perspective
11:09 DO use flashbacks to reward our curiosity
13:25 Want to take your flashbacks to the next level?
14:22 Subscribe for writing videos every Wednesday :)
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✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ HOW TO WRITE BACKSTORY FOR YOUR CHARACTERS

→ THE ULTIMATE CHARACTER PROFILE

→ HOW TO HOOK YOUR READER ON PAGE ONE

→ HOW TO WRITE PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[Enettechipette]

Thank you! One main character of mine had a traumatic childhood but I didn’t want to shove so many flashbacks down the readers’ throats.

[Moonmoon-wsjo]

i read a story in which there is a segment where it's all back to back flashbacks, but it made sense because the person has unlocked thousands of years of memories that he has forgotten and everything is a trigger. the reader is as overwhelmed as the main protagonist, the people around the protagonist is worried and is unsure how to handle it. It's incredibly well-done, i can't believe it's not an original story but a fan made one.

[ShadowGunR]

My favorite book that uses flashbacks is Toilet Bound Hanako Kun. In short, whenever ghosts are defeated by destroying a precious item of theirs, their domain shatters and a flashback of them is revealed.The BEST one is when a new character's backstory reveals a LOT about the main character, who's been shrouded in mystery regarding his true identity, yet there are several questions left, and even more added! I highly recommend the series! Either way, love the video, Abbie! 😊

[relishin]

I’m 18, on the second draft of my third novel, and religiously, every draft, every time, i rewatch all your videos because they are unbelievably helpful. GODSEND 🙏

[marktwayne]

Lol the universe is trying to send me a message because I'm about to write a two-parter flashback to explain my character's origins

[Thatoneapollokid]

"Nobody cares 🙄💅"
- Abbie Emmons

This quote has helped me through life and writing, before I used to write 1 page long stories with too much informations and 0d characters, but once I heard Abbie say "nobody cares", I started writing 3848 page long novels with 5d characters 🤧



Ok but srsly, this channel has improved my writing sm, ty Abbie!!! :D

[romanshagiev]

"Nobody cares". Golden words, writing a story that matters to readers is true art. Your tutorial is perfect, I can already see what I can fix in my story. Thank you!

[Remythesquirrel]

I loved the flashbacks in The Hunger Games. (Escpecially the bread scene.) The author put so much emotion into it, but didn't overdo the scene at the same time. And also I love how it gives Katniss and Peeta a stronger connection!! (I've been writing a LOT of cringey flashbacks, so this helps a lot) Thanks, Abbie! Your videos have helped me grow so much as a writer! Can't wait to read "the Other World" !! :)

[cosmiclatte]

The flashbacks in 100 days of sunlight were so well done and written well. Perfect pace

[poisonshift]

One I just wrote.

Barbra pushes a bough aside and looks at the face of her father's granite marker. It hadn’t changed in all the years that had passed. And she had a memory of her father’s lifeless face as he lay in the open casket at the funeral home. He didn’t look restful, despite the embalmer's hard work, he looked dead. She’d looked at her father's father, sitting beside her during the service, and thinking that dead and old didn’t look the same. You’d think that when you were a child, because only old people died. But it wasn’t only old people. Anyone could die. She could die. That thought terrified her. No matter how much she went to church, she couldn’t believe her fear away. She lost her father and gained a pervasive uneasiness that hadn’t ever gone away.

[MorenaNama]

Talking about flashes, I don’t know if anyone has told you yet, but for me the intro is too flashy for my epileptic-like disease and I always have to took away or skip it. You don’t have to change anything, just saying that it happens 🙈♡

I’m not good in writing flashbacks because they always turn into huge infodumps 🤣 So thanks for this video! ♡

[zeeakadir]

Wish I had discovered Abbie's channel years ago. I've just had my debut middle grade historical fiction published in May 2023, contains A LOT of flashbacks😅 I can't wait to watch this video to see if I did at least manage to get some things right LOL😂

[leeplantlover]

thanks for this!!!! im currently writing a book about a woman who lost her grandmother to an uknown disease and how it shaped her to want to become a doctor, it has a lot of flashbacks

[kibanarasi]

I really admire Abbie, along with amazing tips she explains us the psychological reasons and aspects of readers and her way to engage with readers and writers are revieting unlike other writers, I love your work Abbie you'll make it biggg one day, Thank you so much for guiding us❤❤❤❤

[supergalaxyfist]

"NOBODY CARES" really got me lol.

Thank you for the advice, I'm currently on my first flashback ever and I want it to be as seamless and as relevant as possible. I appreciate the advice.

[taliav]

The Thrawn and Thrawn Ascendancy trilogies by Timothy Zahn has wonderful flashbacks.

[books.n.biscuits]

#AskAbbie
1. Can you make a video about making the MC more relatable? I have all the juicy internal conflict, but my protagonist is still not as relatable as I want her to be. I also think that's why I lose my interest in EVERY story I try to write.
2. How do I try to add more suspense in the story? They always seem quite boring
These videos are a life saver! Thanks a lot!

[jamescarvey]

Thank you Abbie I'm in the midst of being inundated by flashbacks- I have introduced a small rescue team of Navy Seals I did have to give a sizable back-story which I initiated through flashbacks. I suddenly realized that the back and forth between the " Then" and " Now" may not be as seamless as I may have thought it to be. Thanks for getting me thinking along these lines about flashbacks, and for all the other valuable tips you've sent our way with this video. I'm finally rocking on thanks to your inspirations. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[fionas_frenzy]

My favorite flashback of all time is from The Hunger Games, when Katniss is remembering when Peeta gave her the bread XD <3

[PragyaSharma-btud]

You are an inspiration to me and many other aspiring writers who want to share their stories with the world. You have taught me so much about writing. Thank you for being such a wonderful authortuber .