DFWCon 2026

The most compelling characters are shaped by what happened to them before the story begins. But how do writers reveal trauma without overwhelming the narrative? In this session, we’ll explore how memory, flashbacks, and emotional triggers can be used to build layered, psychologically authentic characters. Participants will learn how trauma realistically appears in behavior and relationships, when to introduce backstory, and how flashbacks can move the plot forward. Through a trauma-informed lens, writers will learn techniques for integrating memory and past experience in ways that feel organic, emotionally resonant, and dramatically effective. Participants will leave with practical tools for crafting characters whose past continues to shape the choices they make in the present.