Word Triggers, Dialogue, and Background Information

Another way to weave background information into your prose is using organic word triggers.

Let's say you want to establish that your main character, your hero, is fatherless. How do you get that tidbit of information in your story without imposing yourself as God The Author Making It So?

Word triggers.

Look for a natural, organic way to introduce that information. This is easily done through dialogue, for example.

Donkey: Why are you blocking?
Shrek: I'm not blocking!
Donkey: Then why do you have a problem with everyone?
Shrek: It's not me who has a problem with others! It's everybody else who has a problem with me! (sigh) They judge me before they even know me.

Ah, see, in that scene from Shrek (that I rattled off from memory so no guarantees of accuracy), we establish that Shrek is actually quite sensitive and frustrated. He appears angry because he feels he's misunderstood.

So dialogue is an easy, organic way to introduce background information. Someone asks the questions, the other one answers.