Backstory Generator

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Backstory Generator: 30 backstories

They grew up in a suburb with both parents on the school staff. Everything changed when they were caught stealing and quietly forgiven. They wanted never to be cold again. They feared having nothing left to run from. Their secret: they kept a list of everyone who had been kind. Then one day a child arrived claiming to be family.

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Grew upin a suburb with both parents on the school staff
What shaped themthey were caught stealing and quietly forgiven
What they wantednever to be cold again
What they fearedhaving nothing left to run from
Secretthey kept a list of everyone who had been kind
Turning pointa child arrived claiming to be family

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They grew up in a suburb with both parents on the school staff. Everything changed when they were caught stealing and quietly forgiven. They wanted never to be cold again. They feared having nothing left to run from. Their secret: they kept a list of everyone who had been kind. Then one day a child arrived claiming to be family.
They grew up one town ahead of their parents' debts. Everything changed when they won a prize meant for someone else. They wanted to be trusted with the keys. They feared high places with low railings. Their secret: they were expelled and called it leaving. Then one day they found a door in a wall they knew by heart.
They grew up in a robot-run orphanage with very fair rules. Everything changed when a fire took the house and everything in it. They wanted to finish what the last generation started. They feared the smell of smoke in a closed room. Their secret: they kept a drawing someone threw away. Then one day a parcel came addressed in their own handwriting.
They grew up in a border fort as the cook's only child. Everything changed when they found papers with a different name for them. They wanted one whole day with nothing expected of them. They feared becoming someone their younger self would hate. Their secret: they knew who had really done it and never said. Then one day the message they had waited years for finally came.
They grew up in a big house with parents who were always abroad. Everything changed when a fire took the house and everything in it. They wanted to pass the test that had beaten them twice. They feared being seen to cry. Their secret: they lost the contest on purpose. Then one day they woke up and the old ambition was gone.
They grew up on a trading ship under a captain mother. Everything changed when the one adult who believed in them died. They wanted to hear their name said properly. They feared that every kindness would come with a bill. Their secret: they told the truth exactly when it would hurt. Then one day a child arrived claiming to be family.
They grew up in a hedge witch's cottage as the seventh of seven. Everything changed when they kept quiet about something they had seen. They wanted a new name and nobody who knew the old one. They feared going soft and being caught unready. Their secret: they once swapped places with someone unnoticed. Then one day an old friend sent three words and no signature.
They grew up on a trading ship under a captain mother. Everything changed when they found papers with a different name for them. They wanted to keep a promise nobody else remembered. They feared wasting the one talent they had. Their secret: they kept the name of the stranger who helped them. Then one day a stranger asked for them by a childhood nickname.
They grew up on pilgrim roads with a mother keeping a vow. Everything changed when they learned who had really been paying the bills. They wanted to prove one particular person wrong. They feared bells rung at the wrong hour. Their secret: they knew where the missing money went. Then one day a map arrived with one corner torn away.
They grew up in a crowded lane with a stepfamily of seven. Everything changed when they were caught stealing and quietly forgiven. They wanted to be needed by someone. They feared goodbyes of any kind. Their secret: they were afraid of the thing they were known for. Then one day someone offered to buy the one thing not for sale.
They grew up in a tower block flat with a night-shift mother. Everything changed when their closest friend moved away without a goodbye. They wanted a seat saved for them without asking. They feared lying so well that they forgot the truth. Their secret: they wrote for years to a friend they had to drop. Then one day their lucky object broke cleanly in two.
They grew up above a bakery as the youngest of five. Everything changed when the person who raised them fell ill one winter. They wanted to be forgiven without having to ask. They feared that the rumours about them were true. Their secret: they knew the way out long before they used it. Then one day they found the missing half of a torn picture.
They grew up in a border fort as the cook's only child. Everything changed when they first saw somewhere that was not home. They wanted to bring one person back home. They feared goodbyes of any kind. Their secret: they kept a bag packed under the bed for years. Then one day an old skill came back when they least wanted it.
They grew up on a narrowboat that never stayed a season. Everything changed when the animal they had raised went missing. They wanted to own the place that had turned them away. They feared becoming someone their younger self would hate. Their secret: they practised their confident walk in private. Then one day two strangers came separately with one question.
They grew up in a suburb with both parents on the school staff. Everything changed when they ran away and nobody came looking. They wanted to be forgiven without having to ask. They feared being pitied. Their secret: they knew where the missing money went. Then one day they woke up and the old ambition was gone.
They grew up in a wizard's tower as the ward nobody explained. Everything changed when they ran away and were found within the hour. They wanted to pass the test that had beaten them twice. They feared someone reading what they had written. Their secret: they kept a bag packed under the bed for years. Then one day they found the missing half of a torn picture.
They grew up in a dragon-scarred village raised by everyone. Everything changed when the work that fed the household dried up. They wanted to be asked what they thought. They feared deep water and anything that lives in it. Their secret: they made a rule and watched it hurt people. Then one day an official came to check papers they did not have.
They grew up in a hedge witch's cottage as the seventh of seven. Everything changed when they were sent to relatives they had never met. They wanted to know every secret and keep their own. They feared being laughed at by a whole room. Their secret: they knew where the missing money went. Then one day something they had buried was dug up.
They grew up in a wizard's tower as the ward nobody explained. Everything changed when they learned a skill in secret and got good. They wanted to be invited instead of tolerated. They feared someone reading what they had written. Their secret: they kept a coin from the first thing they stole. Then one day their oldest rival proposed working together.
They grew up in foster homes that each had different rules. Everything changed when they ran away and nobody came looking. They wanted to watch one person apologise in public. They feared dogs that were bigger than they were. Their secret: they were homesick every day and never said so. Then one day a teacher they once let down came asking for help.
They grew up in a lighthouse with a father who rarely spoke. Everything changed when they kept quiet about something they had seen. They wanted to know every secret and keep their own. They feared finding out they were capable of cruelty. Their secret: they knew where the missing money went. Then one day their old diary turned up in a stranger's bag.
They grew up in a port boarding house run by their mother alone. Everything changed when they were mistaken for someone important. They wanted to be the one who got out. They feared being recognised by someone from before. Their secret: they knew which adult was stealing from the rest. Then one day the last person who knew them young moved away.
They grew up in a dome colony as the first child born there. Everything changed when they learned a skill in secret and got good. They wanted to keep moving and travel light. They feared running out of time to go back. Their secret: they wrote for years to a friend they had to drop. Then one day a message arrived addressed to their old name.
They grew up in a grand house as the housekeeper's child. Everything changed when they told a small lie and had to keep feeding it. They wanted never to need anyone again. They feared being asked a direct question about home. Their secret: they were never as brave as the story made out. Then one day two strangers came separately with one question.
They grew up in a seaside guest house full of paying strangers. Everything changed when they were sent to relatives they had never met. They wanted to master what they had been told they never would. They feared being found out as a fraud. Their secret: they knew where a missing person had gone. Then one day someone offered to buy the one thing not for sale.
They grew up on a merchant caravan with parents in two tents. Everything changed when someone everyone thought dead walked back in. They wanted to be owed a favour by everyone who mattered. They feared lying so well that they forgot the truth. Their secret: they made a rule and watched it hurt people. Then one day the thing they feared most simply happened.
They grew up on a generation ship three lifetimes from landfall. Everything changed when they refused an order and someone else paid. They wanted to return something they should never have taken. They feared dogs that were bigger than they were. Their secret: they once swapped places with someone unnoticed. Then one day someone came looking for who they used to be.
They grew up in a library's back rooms with a forgetful aunt. Everything changed when the person who raised them fell ill one winter. They wanted to keep the younger ones out of it. They feared deep water and anything that lives in it. Their secret: they wrote for years to a friend they had to drop. Then one day their name was cleared ten years too late.
They grew up in a library's back rooms with a forgetful aunt. Everything changed when the person who raised them took work far away. They wanted their name on something that would outlast them. They feared a knock on the door after dark. Their secret: they walked past someone who needed help. Then one day a stranger arrived wearing something of theirs.
They grew up in a dwarven hold with two stern fathers. Everything changed when they were blamed for something they did not do. They wanted to know every secret and keep their own. They feared needing someone more than they were needed. Their secret: they told the truth exactly when it would hurt. Then one day a map arrived with one corner torn away.

Next step Design how they look today Start the story they walk into

Grew up: all 75 upbringings

Fantasy worlds 15

in a border fort as the cook's only child Knows every back stair. At ease in kitchens and stiff in great halls.
in a castle town above their uncle's pawn shop Prices everything at a glance, including what people try to hide.
in a dragon-scarred village raised by everyone Greets the whole street by name. Checks the sky before the weather.

Show all 75 upbringings (72 more)

Fantasy worlds, continued

in a dwarven hold with two stern fathers Squints in daylight. Judges stonework without being asked.
in a griffin rookery with a mother on patrol Old scratches on the forearms. Looks up when a shadow crosses.
in a haunted inn run by their cheerful grandmother Unbothered by cold spots. Sets an extra place at the table from habit.
in a hedge witch's cottage as the seventh of seven Clothes handed down six times. Knows which plants sting.
in a players' wagon with six loud cousins Projects their voice without meaning to. Can sleep through anything.
in a river mill with a mother who talked to water Still nods to rivers when crossing them. Never in a hurry near a bridge.
in a royal stable as the farrier's ward Strong forearms and a calm way with anything that kicks.
in a stilt village with a ferryman father Steps lightly on any floor and steers from the back of any group.
in a temple orphanage where nobody stayed long Travels light. Everything they own fits in one bag and they know where the bag is.
in a wizard's tower as the ward nobody explained Ink on the cuffs. Reads the label before touching anything.
in an elven court as the only human child Careful manners and a habit of looking up at whoever is speaking.
on a merchant caravan with parents in two tents Reads two moods at once. Packs in under a minute.

Modern day 15

above a bakery as the youngest of five Awake before dawn without an alarm. Draw flour on hand-me-down sleeves in flashbacks.
above the family's failing restaurant Carries four plates at once. Flinches at the sound of a dropped tray.
behind a petrol station on a road nobody used Watches vehicles leave. Knows the sound of every engine.
in a big house with parents who were always abroad Closer to the housekeeper than to the portraits. Collects postcards.
in a caravan park with an older sister in charge Cooks three cheap meals well. Defers to nobody except her.
in a hospital town as the child of two surgeons Unshockable at the dinner table. Keeps very clean hands.
in a pub raised by the regulars as much as anyone Can talk to anybody over fifty. Knows when to stop listening.
in a seaside guest house full of paying strangers Polite to strangers by reflex. Has never had a drawer that was only theirs.
in a suburb with both parents on the school staff Never got away with anything. Sits at the back now on principle.
in a terrace house shared with three generations Never had a room alone. Finds silence suspicious.
in a tower block flat with a night-shift mother Learned to be quiet in daylight. Still closes doors softly.
in army housing in a new town every two years Makes friends fast and keeps few. The accent belongs nowhere.
in foster homes that each had different rules Reads a room's rules in a minute. Asks before opening a fridge.
on a narrowboat that never stayed a season Ties knots without looking. Has no answer to where are you from.
on a remote farm with a silent grandfather Comfortable with silence and useless at small talk. Good with gates.

Science fiction 15

in a clone cohort of twelve who shared a birthday Works hard at one small difference: a haircut or a scarf or a walk.
in a dome colony as the first child born there Everyone knew their name before they did. Hates being watched.
in a failed colony's last dome with a grandmother Wastes nothing. Mends clothes with whatever colour thread is left.
in a floating market city in a family of fixers Knows a person for every problem. Never pays the first price.
in a lab compound as a child on a visitor pass Still reaches for a badge that is not there.
in a robot-run orphanage with very fair rules Expects rules to be consistent. People keep disappointing them.
in an orbital hotel as the night manager's child Knows the service corridors. Perfect manners and no awe of the rich.
in the lowest levels of a city that never saw sky Pale. Once outside they keep looking up, so draw the neck craned.
on a courier ship with a father always mid-route Measures distance in days. Sleeps best when something is humming.
on a farm moon with an aunt and a repair robot Says thank you to machines. Fixes before replacing.
on a generation ship three lifetimes from landfall Tends things they will never see finished. Patient to a fault.
on a mining station in a nursery of nine Shares without thinking. Counts heads whenever a door closes.
on a quarantine world where visitors never stayed Waves at departing ships. Washes their hands twice.
on a salvage tug with a mother who trusted no port Checks exits on arrival. Can name a ship from its wreckage.
on a terraforming outpost with scientist parents Labels everything. Dinner talk was soil chemistry.

Any world 15

in a big noisy house as the quiet middle child Draw them at the edge of group scenes. They notice who is missing.
in a border town that changed flags twice Speaks two languages and trusts neither flag. Keeps papers in order.
in a crowded lane with a stepfamily of seven Eats fast and guards the plate. Generous once the plate is safe.
in a grand house as the housekeeper's child Knows both staircases. Can vanish from a room without leaving it.
in a graveyard cottage with their grandfather At ease with endings. Reads dates on everything.
in a hill village as one of identical twins Turns when the other name is called. Dresses to be told apart.
in a library's back rooms with a forgetful aunt Self-fed and self-taught. Knows a little about far too much.
in a lighthouse with a father who rarely spoke Watches the horizon out of habit. Says a lot with very few words.
in a mining town raised by an uncle Dust never fully leaves the knuckles. Distrusts anything called safe.
in a monastery after being left at its gate Early riser. Folds everything square and owns almost nothing.
in a port boarding house run by their mother alone Judges a guest by their luggage. Rarely wrong.
in a schoolhouse as the teacher's only child Perfect handwriting. Took years to learn how to be in the wrong.
in the shadow of a prison as a guard's child Notices locks and counts keys. Walks on the outside of any corridor.
on an island of forty people who shared a surname Bad at strangers and fiercely loyal. Finds cities too quiet somehow.
under the counter of the family market stall Quick sums and a loud selling voice saved for emergencies.

On the move 15

above whichever workshop had hired their aunt Half-trained in five trades. Picks up tools the right way round.
among travelling tinkers who were all cousins Mends small things while talking. Family is whoever is in earshot.
backstage in a touring theatre raised by the cast Knows everyone's lines. Most honest in a costume.
between two households that refused to speak Carries messages by instinct and edits them on the way.
following the harvest with parents paid by the day Sun on the neck and a working knowledge of six kinds of fruit.
in a fairground family that wintered in a barn Loud in summer and patient in winter. Can fix anything that spins.
in a new capital each year with a diplomat parent Four languages and no slang in any of them.
in a string of inns with a fiddle-player father Can sleep through any noise. Knows the mood of a room before the door has shut.
in a travelling circus as the only one with no act Can do a little of everything and is still looking for the one thing.
in army camps as the quartermaster's child Counts supplies for comfort. Knows what an army runs out of first.
on a river barge with grandparents who sang Hums while working. Walks slowly on land as if it might tip.
on a trading ship under a captain mother Steady on any moving floor. Calls her captain even at supper.
on pilgrim roads with a mother keeping a vow Good boots and sore feet. Counts journeys by shrines passed.
on the road with a preacher father and one tent Knows how to hold a crowd and doubts every word of it.
one town ahead of their parents' debts Learned new names quickly. Sits facing the door.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every entry joins a place to a household, because where a character grew up and who raised them share one part on this page. The definition the page relies on (a backstory is the events that make up a character's past) was checked on 2026-09-19 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstory. The notes on how each upbringing still shows in a drawing are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

What shaped them: all 65 shaping events

Losses 13

a fire took the house and everything in it Owns nothing older than the fire except one thing. Decide what it is.
a promise made to them was quietly forgotten Writes promises down, other people's as well as their own.
the animal they had raised went missing Looks twice at every stray. Keeps a collar or a lead for no reason.

Show all 65 shaping events (62 more)

Losses, continued

the one adult who believed in them died They wear or carry something of that person's. Make it slightly too big.
the person they looked up to was disgraced Slow to admire anyone since. Took one good habit from them anyway.
the person who raised them fell ill one winter They learned to cook early. Draw capable hands on a young figure.
their best work was destroyed overnight They now make two of everything and hide one.
their closest friend moved away without a goodbye Still writes letters they never send. Give them a drawer of envelopes.
their home was sold to pay someone else's debt Reads anything before signing it. Dislikes the word temporary.
their name was left off a list that mattered Checks lists. Arrives early in case there is a queue.
they lost a year to a long illness A year behind their friends and far ahead in patience.
they lost their place to someone better connected Learns names and who knows whom. Smiles at the right people now.
the work that fed the household dried up Counts coins twice. Keeps food in their pockets.

Lucky breaks 13

a distant relative left them a locked box The key hangs round their neck. Decide whether they have opened it.
a locked door was left open just once Tries handles as they pass. It paid off one time.
a stranger paid for their schooling unasked Studies every older face for a resemblance.
a teacher told them they had a gift Remembers the exact words. They have that teacher's way of holding a pen.
a visiting expert offered them an apprenticeship Tools older than they are and handed down with instructions.
someone famous remembered their name Tells the story too often. Kept the ticket or the programme.
they found a purse of money and nobody claimed it Generous in sudden bursts. Uneasy about luck.
they found the one thing they were best at Everything in the pose relaxes when they are doing it.
they walked away from an accident unharmed Convinced they are on borrowed time. Either reckless or very careful.
they were chosen for a role nobody expected The costume did not quite fit and they altered it themselves.
they were mistaken for someone important Learned how differently a room behaves. Can still do the walk.
they were picked first for once Stands a little straighter in that one setting and nowhere else.
they won a prize meant for someone else Keeps the prize out of sight. Works twice as hard to deserve it.

Mistakes and blame 13

they broke something that could not be replaced Careful hands now. Holds cups with both.
they cheated once and it worked perfectly Nobody knows. They overprepare for everything now.
they gave away a secret that was not theirs Famous for discretion since. People confide in them, which is worse.
they kept quiet about something they had seen Talks a great deal about everything else.
they laughed at the wrong moment and it stuck Covers their mouth when amused.
they ran at the moment they should have stayed Plants their feet now, sometimes when running would be wiser.
they refused an order and someone else paid Follows rules to the letter, or none at all. Pick one.
they stayed at the moment they should have run A scar or a limp or just a dislike of closed doors.
they told a small lie and had to keep feeding it Rehearses before speaking. The pause is visible.
they took the blame for something a friend did The friend still owes them. Draw the two avoiding each other's eyes.
they were blamed for something they did not do Keeps receipts and witnesses. Hates being alone with anything valuable.
they were caught stealing and quietly forgiven Cannot stand to be in debt to kindness. Pays for everything at once.
they won a fight and hated how good it felt Keeps their hands in their pockets during arguments.

Departures and arrivals 13

a lodger moved in and taught them a trade Holds the tools the lodger's way, which is not the local way.
a newcomer took their place at the table Arrives first and sits down early.
everyone their age left and they stayed Knows the place better than anyone. Wonders about it daily.
the household moved overnight without warning Keeps shoes by the bed. Owns nothing that cannot be carried.
the person who raised them took work far away Judges affection by post. Keeps every envelope.
someone everyone thought dead walked back in No longer believes in endings. Leaves doors on the latch.
their first real friend arrived from far away Picked up that friend's phrases and one of their gestures.
they came home after a year and nothing fitted Clothes from away worn at home. Stands in doorways.
they left home a year too early Older than their face. Bad at being looked after.
they ran away and nobody came looking Independent to a fault. Never tells anyone where they are going.
they ran away and were found within the hour Knows they are loved and finds it a little stifling.
they were sent away to be schooled by strangers A trunk with their name painted on it. The accent changed.
they were sent to relatives they had never met Formal with family and relaxed with strangers.

Discoveries 13

they discovered how easily they could lie An open and friendly face, which is the problem.
they first saw somewhere that was not home Keeps a picture of it. Every outfit since has borrowed from that place.
they found papers with a different name for them Signs slowly, as if choosing.
they learned a skill in secret and got good Calluses nobody has asked about yet.
they learned the rules did not apply to everyone Either a rebel or a lawyer. The posture is the same.
they learned the story of their birth was made up Collects true stories and checks them.
they learned who had really been paying the bills Looks at one familiar face differently. Says thank you oddly often.
they met someone who had escaped the same life Proof it could be done. They kept something that person gave them.
they overheard what the adults thought of them Proving it or disproving it has shaped every choice since.
they read the one book they had been told not to Carries a copy. The spine is cracked at one page.
they realised theirs was the poor household Looks after clothes with great care. Notices other people's shoes.
they saw someone they admired do something cruel Watches hands and not faces.
they worked out the adults were frightened too Became the calm one. Shoulders carried too high for their age.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every event is written to fit any setting and any household, so none names a parent, a sibling or a landscape. The notes suggest what the event left behind that a drawing can show, and are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

What they wanted: all 65 early wants

To belong 13

a best friend who stayed Holds on too tight or not at all.
a household that ate at the same table Lays a table properly even when eating alone.
a nickname that was kind Gives other people good nicknames.
a seat saved for them without asking They save seats for other people now. Draw the coat on the empty chair.

Show all 65 early wants (61 more)

To belong, continued

to be asked what they thought Has an opinion ready on everything, just in case.
to be invited instead of tolerated Waits at thresholds until told to come in.
to be missed when they were away Announces arrivals and departures.
to be needed by someone First to volunteer. Carries other people's bags.
to be somebody's favourite Brings small presents. Remembers birthdays.
to hear their name said properly Corrects people once and politely. Remembers who got it right.
to hear well done from someone who meant it Shows finished work to one person first and watches their face.
to pass for someone who had always lived there Copies local habits a beat late.
to stop being the new one Learns the in-jokes quickly and laughs slightly early.

To prove something 13

a uniform that meant something Looks after buttons and boots. Stands straight even in borrowed clothes.
their name on something that would outlast them Signs their work somewhere hidden.
to be remembered by people they would never meet Keeps a journal written for a reader.
to be taken seriously before they were grown Dressed older than their age. Some of that stiffness stayed.
to be the best at one thing The tools of that one thing are the best-kept objects they own.
to be the first from home to get anywhere Sends word home about every small success.
to be trusted with the keys Jingles slightly when walking. Locks up last.
to beat the older children at their own game Still plays to win against people twice their size.
to finish what the last generation started Works from someone else's notes, in someone else's handwriting.
to master what they had been told they never would Practises in private. Performs as if it were easy.
to pass the test that had beaten them twice Keeps the two failed papers.
to prove one particular person wrong They still picture that face whenever something goes well.
to win honestly where others had cheated Strict about rules in games. Insufferable about it.

To get away 13

a life nobody at home would recognise Dresses like nobody from where they came from.
a new name and nobody who knew the old one Answers to the new name a fraction late.
a room with a door that locked from the inside Checks the lock first in any new room.
enough money to stop counting it Still counts it.
never to be cold again One layer more than the weather needs.
never to owe anybody anything Pays at once and in full. Refuses gifts badly.
one whole day with nothing expected of them Terrible at rest. Sits down as if waiting to be called.
to be the one who got out Keeps a ticket stub from the day they left.
to keep moving and travel light Good boots and a small bag.
to leave before anyone asked them to stay First out of any door and awkward at farewells.
to live where nobody knew their household Vague about the past in a practised way.
to see what was past the edge of the map Owns more maps than clothes.
to sleep without listening for the door Sleeps facing the entrance.

To put something right 13

to apologise to one person in particular Has written the apology many times. Draw the drafts.
to be forgiven without having to ask Does quiet favours and hopes they are noticed.
to bring one person back home Sets out an extra cup.
to buy back what the household had lost Knows the exact price and how far off they are.
to clear a name that was not even theirs Carries old documents in a waterproof case.
to find out what really happened that year Asks old people questions. Keeps notes.
to keep a promise nobody else remembered Wears a reminder on the hand they work with.
to keep the younger ones out of it Stands between trouble and whoever is smallest.
to make sure it never happened to anyone else Steps in early, sometimes too early.
to make the person who raised them proud Dresses up to visit home.
to mend the thing they broke Became good at repairs in general. Glue and thread are always on them.
to repay a kindness they could not afford Overtips. Holds doors.
to return something they should never have taken It is wrapped up and travels with them.

Control and payback 13

the last word in every argument Pauses at the door on the way out. Every time.
never to be the one waiting outside again Walks in without knocking.
never to need anyone again Carries everything themselves even when it is too much.
to be feared just a little Practised an unreadable face in the mirror and kept it.
to be owed a favour by everyone who mattered Generous with help and precise about remembering it.
to be the one who made the rules Rewrites the rules of any game within an hour of joining.
to be too important to punish Collects titles and badges and wears them all.
to decide who stayed and who went Holds the door and chooses when to let go of it.
to earn more than everyone who had laughed Clothes that cost too much and are worn carefully.
to know every secret and keep their own Asks good questions and answers none.
to own the place that had turned them away Keeps a picture of the building.
to take it all back with interest Keeps accounts going back to childhood.
to watch one person apologise in public Patient in a way that should worry people.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. These are wants from the character's past and not goals for the plot, so each one is small enough for a child or a young adult to have held. The notes suggest how an old want still shows, and are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

What they feared: all 63 old fears

Being left 12

being forgotten by everyone who had left Writes first. Writes again.
being more trouble than they were worth Apologises for taking up room. Draw them making themselves narrow.
being replaced by someone easier to love Works hard at being useful. Rarely rests in company.
being sent back Keeps a bag half packed. Never fully unpacks anywhere.

Show all 63 old fears (59 more)

Being left, continued

being the last one chosen Volunteers before anyone can pick.
being the reason someone left Agrees too quickly. Keeps the peace at their own expense.
coming home to find nobody there Calls out on entering any building.
goodbyes of any kind Slips away from parties. Coat already on in the last panel.
needing someone more than they were needed Keeps one foot out of the door in every friendship.
outliving everyone they cared about Keeps friends much younger than they are.
that every kindness would come with a bill Turns gifts over looking for the catch.
that nobody would come if they called Never calls. Solves everything alone and badly.

What they might become 12

becoming someone their younger self would hate Keeps a childhood drawing or a list of vows.
finding out they were capable of cruelty Gentle with animals and small children. Watchful of themselves.
going soft and being caught unready Trains in all weather. Sleeps lightly.
lying so well that they forgot the truth Writes the real version down somewhere and locks it up.
needing what they swore they would never need Refuses help until it is nearly too late.
settling for the life laid out for them Flinches at the words sensible and steady.
that the rumours about them were true Behaves impeccably in public. It looks like effort.
that their best year was already behind them Tells one story too often.
their own temper Hands clasped behind the back in arguments. Speaks slowly.
turning into the person who raised them Catches their own gestures in the mirror and stops.
turning out ordinary after all One deliberate eccentricity kept carefully alive.
wasting the one talent they had Practises daily and enjoys it less every year.

Being found out 12

a debt coming due at the worst moment Pays in advance whenever they can.
a knock on the door after dark Two locks and a lamp left burning.
anyone in uniform holding a list Crosses the street early. Knows the back ways.
being asked a direct question about home Changes the subject with a compliment.
being found out as a fraud Overprepares. Carries more papers than anyone needs.
being laughed at by a whole room Makes the joke first and makes it about themselves.
being pitied Chin up and answers short.
being praised for something they had not done Looks at the floor during applause.
being recognised by someone from before Hat brim down in crowds. Changed their hair.
being seen to cry Looks up and blinks. Blames smoke or wind or onions.
someone reading what they had written Writes small and in a code of their own.
their old accent slipping out Speaks carefully when rested and differently when tired.

Small and specific 14

being late for anything at all Arrives absurdly early and pretends they were passing.
bells rung at the wrong hour Goes still and counts the strokes.
crowds that all face the same way Stands at the back near the way out.
the dark at the top of any staircase Carries a light and goes up sideways.
deep water and anything that lives in it Walks on the inland side of any path.
doctors and the rooms they work in Treats their own cuts. Not well.
dogs that were bigger than they were Still puts a gate between themselves and any dog.
high places with low railings One hand on the wall. Looks at the horizon and never down.
rooms that lock from the outside Props doors open with a foot or a book.
the sight of an empty larder Keeps a store of food nobody else knows about.
silence at mealtimes Talks through every meal, mostly nonsense.
the smell of smoke in a closed room Opens windows on arrival.
storms that arrive without warning Reads the sky every morning. Carries a coat on fine days.
their own reflection caught by surprise No mirrors at home or only a very small one.

The future 13

being poor again Coins sewn into a hem.
being proved right about people Tests friends with small trusts first.
being put in charge Stands at the second row in every group portrait.
choosing wrong when it finally mattered Asks three people before deciding anything.
the day their luck would run out Small rituals before anything risky.
dying in the same place they were born Always has the next move planned.
getting what they wanted and feeling nothing Slows down as the goal gets close.
growing old somewhere they never chose Never hangs pictures on a wall.
having nothing left to run from Invents errands and keeps busy.
inheriting the trade they were raised for Good at it and joyless. The apron hangs by the door untouched.
letting down the one person who believed in them Carries that person's letter, folded small from rereading.
losing the one skill that made them useful Protects their hands or eyes or voice with great care.
running out of time to go back Checks the date often. Keeps a calendar with one day marked.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. The fears are ordinary human ones and none is a medical condition. The notes suggest the habit each fear left behind, which is easier to draw than the fear, and are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

Secret: all 65 secrets

Things they did 13

they broke the heirloom and buried the pieces Knows exactly where. Avoids that corner of the garden or the hold.
they cheated on the test that made their name Avoids being examined on anything.
they forged the signature that got them out Writes in two hands. Draw one hand in each of two letters.

Show all 65 secrets (62 more)

Things they did, continued

they left the gate open that night Closes every gate they pass, including other people's.
they lied about their age to get their start Vague about birthdays. The numbers never quite add up.
they lost the contest on purpose A second-place medal they are oddly proud of.
they once swapped places with someone unnoticed Can do one other person's walk perfectly.
they ran away once and were back before breakfast Knows the road out by heart.
they read the letter before passing it on Reseals things very neatly.
they saw it happen and told nobody Looks away a moment too soon whenever the subject comes up.
they started the rumour that ruined a friendship Goes quiet when other people gossip.
they took the money and someone else was blamed Lends freely. Never asks for it back.
they wrote the unsigned note people still discuss Disguises their handwriting on anything important.

Things they knew 13

they found a hidden room and never told anyone Taps walls in old buildings.
they knew a respected neighbour's old name The neighbour is very kind to them. Draw the kindness as wary.
they knew the contest had been fixed Claps a little slowly.
they knew the map everyone trusted was wrong Carries a corrected copy and shows nobody.
they knew the proud family story was invented Smiles through the family speech and studies the tablecloth.
they knew the way out long before they used it Notices exits and counts the steps to them.
they knew the will had been changed Polite to lawyers and never alone with one.
they knew what was buried under the back step Steps over it. Every time and without looking.
they knew where a missing person had gone Sends a parcel once a year with no return address.
they knew where the missing money went Dislikes handling other people's cash.
they knew which adult was stealing from the rest Keeps their own purse on a cord.
they knew who had really done it and never said Meets one person's eye slightly too long.
they overheard a confession not meant for them Announces themselves loudly on entering rooms.

Who they really were 13

they could read long before they admitted it Reads upside down across desks.
they envied the life they made fun of The mockery is detailed. They had clearly looked closely.
they had a talent they were told to hide Gloves or long sleeves or a hum that stops when people come in.
they hated the trade they were praised for Beautiful work and a flat expression while doing it.
they learned their accent from someone they envied Sounds a little like a person the viewer has not met yet.
they practised their confident walk in private The walk is slightly too good. It slips when they are tired.
they were afraid of the thing they were known for A deep breath before every performance of it.
they were expelled and called it leaving Tells the leaving story the same way every time, word for word.
they were happier away than they ever admitted Letters home were short. The sketchbook from away is full.
they were homesick every day and never said so One small object from home, worn smooth from handling.
they were left-handed and trained out of it Writes with the right hand and catches with the left.
they were never as brave as the story made out Looks uncomfortable beside their own statue or poster or legend.
they were the favourite and knew it Expects the best chair without noticing that they do.

Things they kept 13

they kept a bag packed under the bed for years The bag is gone now. The habit of looking under the bed is not.
they kept a coin from the first thing they stole Turns it over in their fingers when tempted.
they kept a drawing someone threw away Flattened out and creased. It is the reason they started drawing.
they kept a list of everyone who had been kind A small book with a few names. They add to it rarely and gladly.
they kept a list of everyone who had laughed A small book with many names. Some are crossed out.
they kept a map with one place circled Soft at the folds. The circle has been inked over more than once.
they kept a promise that cost them a friendship Does not regret it. Draw them not regretting it with some effort.
they kept every letter and answered none A tied bundle with the newest on top.
they kept the key to a house no longer theirs On the same ring as their real keys. They never explain it.
they kept the name of the stranger who helped them Asks after that name in every new town.
they kept the one thing they were told to burn Wrapped in cloth at the bottom of the bag.
they kept their first wages and never spent them Still in the original envelope or pouch.
they wrote for years to a friend they had to drop Ink on the writing hand on the same day each month.

Harm they caused 13

they broke a rival's chances and called it luck Flinches at the word lucky.
they burned the only copy on purpose Uneasy near open fires. Keeps their own papers in a metal box.
they enjoyed the revenge more than they expected Avoids the chance to do it again. Mostly.
they left someone waiting who waited for years Never gives a time. Says soon.
they let someone else be punished and felt relief Generous to that person ever since, and it is never enough.
they made a rule and watched it hurt people Reluctant to lead and very good at it.
they never delivered a message entrusted to them The message is still in a coat they no longer wear.
they sold a friend's secret for a way out Never confides in anyone. Knows what a secret is worth.
they tipped off the authorities for the reward Spent the reward fast. Kept nothing it bought.
they told the truth exactly when it would hurt Proud of being honest. Draw the pride as a raised chin.
they took credit for a quieter friend's work Praises other people loudly now, a little too loudly.
they turned a whole room against one person Charming in groups. Watch who they stand next to.
they walked past someone who needed help Stops for everyone now. It makes them late.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Every secret has already happened, so none contradicts the upbringing dealt beside it. That a backstory is usually revealed partially or in full as the main narrative unfolds was checked on 2026-09-19 against https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backstory, and it is why each note offers one visible trace instead of an explanation. The traces themselves are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

Turning point: all 65 turning points

Letters and messages 13

a bill arrived for a debt they never took on A very long piece of paper and a very short chair.
a map arrived with one corner torn away They already know what was on the missing corner.
a message arrived addressed to their old name Open on the hands holding it. The old name is the only thing in focus.

Show all 65 turning points (62 more)

Letters and messages, continued

a parcel came addressed in their own handwriting Draw them comparing the label with a note they wrote that morning.
a stranger's will named them and nobody else A lawyer's office. Everyone else in the room is looking at them.
a summons arrived with an official seal The seal is broken in the second panel. The face says what it said.
a warning arrived meant for the previous tenant Addressed to a stranger and far too specific to ignore.
an invitation arrived that had to be a mistake They check the envelope for someone else's name. Twice.
an old friend sent three words and no signature Let the viewer read the three words. Do not explain them.
the message they had waited years for finally came Draw it unopened on the table for a whole panel.
their name appeared on a list of the missing They read it on a public wall with people all around who know them.
their own obituary appeared by mistake They read it over breakfast. It is quite flattering.
word came that the person who raised them was ill Packing in the first panel. They take too much or too little.

Visitors 13

a child arrived claiming to be family The child has a note. The note is in a hand they know.
a collector came for a debt that was not theirs Large and patient and sitting in their chair.
a rival from the old days moved in next door Two people carrying boxes stop and look at each other.
a stranger arrived wearing something of theirs A coat or a ring or a scarf. Draw it identically on both figures in flashback.
a stranger asked for them by a childhood nickname Show the back of the stranger and the front of the reaction.
a stranger retold their past and got it wrong They almost correct it. Draw the mouth open and then closed.
a teacher they once let down came asking for help Older and smaller than they remembered. They stand up without meaning to.
an official came to check papers they did not have A clipboard and a polite cough. Their hands stay very still.
an old friend turned up needing somewhere to hide Rain and a doorway and one bag.
the person who raised them arrived without warning They tidy the room in one panicked panel.
someone came looking for who they used to be Holding an old picture that barely resembles them now.
someone they had wronged walked in smiling The smile is the frightening part. Keep it warm.
two strangers came separately with one question Same question and different hats. The second visit is the worrying one.

Offers and summons 13

someone entered them in the contest they once fled Their name on the board in someone else's writing.
someone offered to buy the one thing not for sale A purse on the table and their hand flat on the object.
their oldest rival proposed working together Opposite sides of one table. The rival brought food.
they were asked to go back home and fix it Draw home small and far off, framed in a window.
they were asked to speak at a funeral back home Formal clothes that no longer fit. A blank page.
they were asked to teach what they never finished A room of students looking up and a book held a little too tightly.
they were chosen by lot for a duty nobody wanted The short straw held up. Everyone else has stepped back.
they were given one week to leave Seven marks on a wall and the first one crossed.
they were handed the keys and told good luck A large ring of keys and a rapidly emptying building.
they were named guardian of a child they never met Two people of very different heights deciding about each other.
they were offered a pardon with conditions The paper is mostly conditions.
they were offered the job they had stopped wanting A handshake held out. Their hand has not moved yet.
they were promoted over someone who deserved it The new badge and the other person's face behind it.

Endings 13

the job they had held for years ended at noon A box of belongings and the sun directly overhead.
the last person who knew them young moved away They wave off a cart or a bus or a shuttle and stand there too long.
the lie they had lived on finally ran out One person in the crowd is not applauding.
the one who kept their secret died At the back of the funeral and watching who else came.
the place they had hidden in was sold New owners measuring the room around them.
the road home was closed for good A barrier and a sign. They read the sign twice.
their lucky object broke cleanly in two Both halves in an open palm.
their name was cleared ten years too late An official letter and a face ten years older than it should be.
their savings vanished along with a friend An empty hiding place and a note that says sorry.
they lost the argument they had always won The other person is as shocked as they are.
they were recognised in a place they felt safe A finger pointing from across a crowded room.
they woke up and the old ambition was gone The trophy shelf or the wall of plans seen from the bed.
the thing they feared most simply happened And they are still standing. Draw the surprise.

Finds and returns 13

an old skill came back when they least wanted it The hands moved before the mind did. Draw them staring at their hands.
something they had buried was dug up A hole and fresh earth and other people's footprints.
their old diary turned up in a stranger's bag The stranger has underlined things.
they found a door in a wall they knew by heart Their hand is flat on it, the way you check a thing is real.
they found the missing half of a torn picture The two halves do not show what they expected.
they found the note they were never meant to read Folded small inside something they were given years ago.
they found their own face in an old portrait Gallery or attic. Match the pose by accident.
they gave a child the advice they once hated Hand over their own mouth a moment too late.
they heard a tune only one other person knew Stopped mid-step in a busy street with the head turning.
they returned a borrowed thing twenty years late On the doorstep rehearsing. The thing is carefully wrapped.
they saw a stranger wearing a lost friend's ring A close view of the ring and then of their face.
they went back and found nothing had been moved Dust on everything and the cup still where they left it.
the thing they lost as a child turned up for sale Small and cheap and priced by someone who does not know.

How this list was compiled: Original list written for Draw This Next, September 2026. Each turning point is the last event of the past and the first of the plot, written to fit any setting. The notes suggest the opening picture, and are our own suggestions. Licence: own work

How it works

This backstory generator deals a character's past in six parts: where they grew up, the event that shaped them, an early want, an old fear, a secret and the turning point that starts the story. It is text only.

Read the full guide

A past that shows

A backstory is everything that happened to a character before the plot begins, usually revealed in parts as the story unfolds. Every entry below carries a note on the trace it left. A character raised in foster homes that each had different rules still asks before opening a fridge. Draw the trace and leave the explaining out.

Fit it to your world

Only the first part names a setting. The other five never name a parent, a sibling or a landscape, so a secret cannot contradict a childhood. For a villain, reroll the want into Control and payback and the secret into Harm they caused. To use it as a tragic backstory generator, reroll the event into Losses and the fear into Being left.

Running a tabletop game? Print 30, let each player pick a past, then have neighbours swap one part.
Lock the fear and the secret first. They decide the face, and the rest decides the clothes.
Want an OC lore generator? Lock a Grew up that fits their world, then draw them the year everything changed.

Questions and answers

What should a character backstory include?

Enough to explain how the character behaves when the story opens, and no more: here, six short parts. Actors do the same job for a role, inventing a past that goes beyond the little a script tells them.

Does this character backstory generator write the story for me?

No. It deals six short past-tense clauses from fixed lists and joins them into one paragraph to copy. The sentences in between are yours, and so is the drawing. Treat the result as a first draft to argue with.

How many backstories can it make?

Over 84 billion: 75 upbringings, 65 events, 65 wants, 63 fears, 65 secrets and 65 turning points, none naming a published character. Used as a character trauma generator, the shaping event is the wound: it stops at loss, illness and blame, with nothing graphic.