Hi, I'm writing a chapter where present-day MC, needs to know of an event that took place 200+ years ago. His ancestors were at that event, For a flashback, I have thought of - MC can read it in a book, written by his ancestor (in 1st person) - MC can hear the event being described by someone else who has knowledge of it - Watch a movie/documentary about it Are there any other ways of creating a fairly good flashback? If you can share any examples, that would be great. PS< I am leaning towards the first option. Any thoughts/suggestions?
200 years ago, they were very great letter-writers. Have the MC come across a letter written by the ancestor describing the event. It'll be fun to write the way they did back then. If you do decide to go this way, I hope you will post the letter for us to read!
To be a little pedantic, this isn't a flashback. A flashback is when a character remembers something from their own past, or when readers (or viewers) are shown something from the character's past. It needs to be something the character has personally experienced—one of their own memories. I don't know if there's a specific term for what you're wanting to do. Maybe backstory? I suppose that's it. It means something important that happened before the beginning of the story, but that is vitally important to understand. It doesn't need to be a personal experience of a character, it can be a historical event or news from earlier times (like what you're talking about).
How many words do you need to explain this event? You could make it a prologue, and include details that show up early in the first chapter (even if their significance isn't explained later). But some people don't like prologues and not every writer can make it work. I even have a book by Clive Cussler with two (fairly short) prologues! Prologue One, then Prologue Two, both in the distant past, then Chapter One in present day. But I'd never try that.
^This is good advice. But you want to think about sequence. It might work best to present this information right at the beginning, or it might work better for readers to learn it at a particular point in the story (as the character does). This way they're right in the same boat with the character, ignorant about the events of the past until he learns about them. That way they might be able to identify with him, to live through him b=more effectively, and feel the power of the revelation when it comes, rather than knowing it all along while he doesn't. One of the most powerful tools we have as writers is the ability to sequence how and when important information is revealed.
Knowing the genre you are working in would help with the advice on the approach. For a mystery, finding an old journal or letters would work as a clue. If we are talking supernatural fantasy, then talking to an eye witness, and doing a flashback from their POV as they relate the story. Context is key here.
