I realized the other day that Dark Star is the first book I’ve written with flashbacks, and I’m really not sure why. Certainly reunited lovers is one of my favorite themes, but I’ve never done flashbacks before. Looking back, I think that was a problem with Try a Little Tenderness. I wrote it as essentially a two-part story because I didn’t want to tell the whole story of them meeting in flashback. That style worked for some, but didn’t work for others. I think it might have impacted the pacing.
Now with Dark Star I’m wondering if the flashbacks might be hurting the pacing as well. I don’t think the story works as well without them and there are only two, but I’m not really sure. How do y’all feel about flashbacks? Do you prefer them italicized or in regular font? Do you like them, tolerate them, or loathe them with a deadly passion? Let me know what you think.
the one who writes 
I like the idea of the flashbacks, especially when characters have known each other before we “meet” them. It gives us (the readers) an idea of what the couple’s lives were like and maybe some insight to why they broke up. Some flashbacks reveal the reasons why characters act they way they do.
Whether it is italicized or a skipped line with quotes, I like to know what is going on in the main characters’ mind at the time. I hope I made some sense… 🙂
I like the idea of flashbacks especially when the memory is triggered by a specific action or place in the present time and it somehow helps explain a character’s current frame of mind or reaction to a certain event.
I don’t care about the formatting as long as there is a clear distinction between the flashback and the current story. It helps with me organize the story in my mind.
Hope that helps.
Cool. This helps a lot. I really like these flashbacks, I don’t think they’re intrusive (though you’ll be the final judge) and I think they give a lot of insight into the characters, plus they were fun to write!
Not sure on the flashbacks. I usually skip them if they are too long.
See I worry about that, but I do think they lend crucial insight into these characters.
Then leave them in, I am going to buy the book anyway. (with or without )LOL. I loved Tonya’s wittiness in Rock Star, can’t wait to see more of it. Loved the excerpt. I am hoping I don’t have to wait 4 months after the release date, for amazon to get it.