Flashback
In short: A flashback interrupts the present of the action to show an earlier scene. It delivers backstory not as a report but as a lived scene – making it felt why a character acts the way they do now.
Where the term comes from
The term comes from film and moved from there into narrative theory. It means a jump back in time – a deliberate break in chronological order.
How to use a flashback
Only when the scene needs it: A flashback pauses the present. Use it where the past genuinely charges the current scene – not as mere information.
Enter and exit cleanly: Mark the shift clearly so the reader doesn't lose their bearings – and return noticeably to the present afterwards.
As a scene, not a summary: Show the memory with images, dialogue and sensory detail – not as condensed backstory.
Keep it short: The longer the flashback, the greater the risk that the present of the story falls asleep.
Flashbacks on Fireside
In short stories especially, every scene counts. If you like, the AI editorial feedback can tell you whether a flashback carries the present or slows it down.
Related terms: Exposition · In medias res · Foreshadowing
Frequently asked questions
What is a flashback in simple terms?
A jump back in time: the action pauses and shows an earlier scene that explains why a character acts the way they do now.
What is the difference between a flashback and exposition?
Exposition often delivers background briefly and by telling; a flashback shows it as a played-out scene inside the action.
How long should a flashback be?
As short as possible – long enough to land, short enough that the present of the story doesn't fall asleep.