Creating A Convincing Backstory?

[Mermaid Morgann]

I've been a writer for some time, but typically when it comes to writing I'm more of a fan of dark realism. Unfortunately this does not translate well into being a mermaid at a young child's birthday party! Go figure. So I'm trying to come up with an interesting and believable backstory to tell the children.

It would be easy if I was on the coast, but being not only completely landlocked but living in a desert, it's hard to think of just why a mermaid would want to go out there and leave her beautiful ocean home. I'm thinking of something along the lines of, "I wanted to see the world and teach it about my ocean home, because the oceans need help too." Thoughts?

Any other suggestions are also greatly appreciated!

<3 Merin

[PearlieMae]

You are in the desert because, secretly, all water is connected. Only mermaids know the secret passageways. (a reverse 'all drains lead to the ocean' deal! ;) )

[Mermaid Morgann]

Ooh, I do quite like that! That does sound like quite a lot of fun. c; The secret underground waterway networks of the mermaid world! Thank you for the idea!

[Odette]

Maybe my back story can help.
" I lived in Quimper France my mother named me after the Odet river, but because that's a more masculine name, I was named Odette. When I was 13, I was playing in the river and discovered that my legs had turned into scales and fins, I was terrified beyond belief, as i curled up into a ball on the side of the bank, my legs returned. After a few years, i got used to the changes and accepted my new mermaid identitiy, but one day, A few talent scouts from the circus heard about me and stole me off to perform in the circus. I performed with them for several years traveling across europe and i learned english. the circus then started a tour to the united states and while we were in Arizona, the truck hit a rough bump and my tank flew out of the truck and onto the burning sand. I was thankfullly rescued by a kind man name angus mcdoogal who brought me to valley of the moon and i stayed there till i could get on my feet, i now perform for the arizona area with my newly found fairytale friends as my new family."

So maybe you traveled here or were eager to see this place called "desert". Also, certain deserts were once a prehistoric ocean, the sonoran was. maybe you are perhistoric.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Mine is, I didn't know I was a mermaid till very late in life, so I have bad eyesight like some humans and have to wear special eyes to see underwater.

IRL, I have very bad astigmatism and short sighted so bad, I can't read the street sign from across the road!

[PearlieMae]

You are in the desert because, secretly, all water is connected. Only mermaids know the secret passageways. (a reverse 'all drains lead to the ocean' deal! ;) )

You are 'moist' welcome! ;)

[Slee]

I got netted into doing a birthday party for a friend of a friend's kid yesterday. Man those kids had a million questions. These are great ideas, but it's hard to come up with the answers on the fly.

[Slee]

(ironically, I'm working on a story about displaced mermaids, you'd think that would have helped when the kids asked questions, but i'm all... 0.0)

[malinghi]

I imagine after a couple gigs you must get used to the questions. Professional mermaids, do all kids typically ask the same questions?

[Nyx]

But how do you handle kids that you can't even understand?
The couple times I've gone to public pools there is usually at least one very very little kid who talks on and on and on, and it's adorable! But I don't understand what they are saying? How do I even respond to a babbling bundle of joy?

Also, I JUST got this idea, what if for the sake of fast replies to inquisitive kids you just take your own life and replace everything human-y into mermaid-y.
It might be a little less exciting than a whole detailed back-story, but it might be useful for those really unexpected questions!

[PearlieMae]

I had a very convincing back story and thought I had a quick answer for every question...

Then one kid asked my name and I forgot to say Pearlie Mae and told her my real name! :doh:

[Seatan]

But how do you handle kids that you can't even understand?
The couple times I've gone to public pools there is usually at least one very very little kid who talks on and on and on, and it's adorable! But I don't understand what they are saying? How do I even respond to a babbling bundle of joy?


I have special needs kids who talk like that. You just smile like you understand them, nod, and go 'Oh yeah!' and 'That's right!' They're usually too hyper to realize you have no idea what they are saying.

[shimmygoddess]

Yea is usually my answer to those I cannot understand. Or I will just ask them a questions, then say' ok lets all swim to the other side' LOL. I also tend to use real stuff when answering, like my parents names, ect. The more elaborate I would make it, the easier to forget. LOL


But how do you handle kids that you can't even understand?
The couple times I've gone to public pools there is usually at least one very very little kid who talks on and on and on, and it's adorable! But I don't understand what they are saying? How do I even respond to a babbling bundle of joy?

Also, I JUST got this idea, what if for the sake of fast replies to inquisitive kids you just take your own life and replace everything human-y into mermaid-y.
It might be a little less exciting than a whole detailed back-story, but it might be useful for those really unexpected questions!

[Nyx]

I have special needs kids who talk like that. You just smile like you understand them, nod, and go 'Oh yeah!' and 'That's right!' They're usually too hyper to realize you have no idea what they are saying.


Yea is usually my answer to those I cannot understand. Or I will just ask them a questions, then say' ok lets all swim to the other side' LOL. I also tend to use real stuff when answering, like my parents names, ect. The more elaborate I would make it, the easier to forget. LOL

I'm definitely going to remember that! Thank y'all for the advice. <3