Hi I really love all the writing tips you give! I'm a fanfic writer myself and your tips have helped me out so much with writing <3 I was wondering if you had any tips on how to write any kind of flashback scenes? Like ways to lead up to it or where a character is like having a headache and then BOOM they get a glimpse of a flashback or something. I struggle so much with this ;-;
Ideas for Flashback Scenes
Hey there! Thanks for the question! Since flashbacks are about reminding a character of a memory they haven't been thinking about, here are some ideas for triggering a memory!
Hinge on an Object/Person
Coming across an object or person from the past can call a dusty memory to the forefront.
Maybe your character is going through the attic or clearing out an unused shelf. It can be a friend returning an item that they’d lost.
A dream is a product of taking snippets from our actual life and putting them together in weird ways. A character may dream about something in the past, wake up, then recall the memory more clearly, using the dream snippet as the starting point.
Similarly, they may dream briefly as they doze off, then wake up to have a “fuller” flashback.
A deja-vu would be most natural if the memory being recalled is set somewhere the character goes to on a day-to-day basis (like the supermarket or the cobbled walkway in front of their house, etc.)
A repeated action (cashier checking out items), a familiar scenery, or a familiar sound will trigger a similar memory, maybe even set in the same location.
Mid-Conversation/Trigger Words
Certain words or voices can be triggers of memory. You can have a moment where the character pauses for a moment to think, “wait, I think I’ve heard that phrase somewhere…”
The other character asking them a question can also trigger a memory in the process of trying to come up with an answer.
Trigger words can appear on road signs or on book covers, etc. You can try describing the font/color of the word and link it to a snapshot of the memory being recalled.
This is where the character is doing essentially nothing (like standing in the shower, staring off into the ceiling, etc). It can even be when they’ve lied down trying to sleep, when something suddenly just jumps into mind.
Provide some context through internal dialogue, where the character is either thinking about something that they’re worried about or an event that left an impression on them that day, etc.
Being in Danger/Near-Death Moments
This is similar to how a character’s life plays out before their eyes right before they die.
When a character is in danger, their brains will start firing in ways that it usually wouldn’t, triggering a flashback.
A flashback can be induced by shock, a loud bang, explosion, etc. when the character goes momentarily numb.
Flashback Under Intoxication
If your character is drunk, on drugs, or taking medication that impacts their cognitive abilities, they may start triggering memories that have long been buried.
However, the flashback scene in this case will have some unusual aspects, and will be prone to being warped or even fabricated in some parts.
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