Tell The Damn Story ep 407: Crafting Characters Like Michael B. Jordan, The Art of Backstory Exploration

About this episode

Alex Simmons and Chris Ryan discuss the art of crafting characters inspired by Michael B. Jordan's journaling process for backstory exploration.

Today, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan enthusiastically discuss the craft of building unforgettable characters, taking inspiration from none other than Michael B. Jordan. Right after his Oscar win, Jordan shared the journaling process he uses to create fully formed backstories for his roles—an approach our hosts believe every writer should consider. Throughout this episode, Alex Simmonss and Chris Ryan explore how journaling from a character's earliest memory to the first page of your script can add authentic layers and nuance that pull audiences in. They discuss the impact of detailed backstory on everything from character dialogue to world-building, with examples ranging from the rich and poor origins of characters to the expansive histories of Tolkien's Middle-earth. Tune in for inspiration, actionable tips, and a fun, insightful look at how the best storytellers—including Michael B. Jordan—build characters that live, breathe, and stick with us long after the story ends. And as promised, here are 20 Character Bio Questions out of over 170. Use them for writing good and evil characters . Have any questions, comments, or suggestions? Then, please leave them in the Comments Section…

People in this episode

Host: Chris Ryan

Topics covered

• character development
• backstory
• journaling
• storytelling

Keywords

• Michael B. Jordan
• character bio questions
• world-building
• dialogue

Mentioned in this episode

Products: 20 Character Bio Questions

Books & works: Tell The Damn Story, Crafting Characters Like Michael B. Jordan, Oscar

Places: Middle-

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