How to Interpolate Backstory Into Your Main Plot

Backstory is often the why. It can provide both context and subtext to a character's journey through the main story. If handled poorly, backstory can ruin the entire experience for your audience. The goal should be to fully satisfy audience's curiosity without slowing down the momentum of the main plot. This largely comes down to the right choice of one of four techniques: prologue, flashback, linear timeline, or alternate timeline.