What would be an acceptable length for one of the main character's back story?

[Guest]

Morning Guys. Some feedback if you will...

I have finally embarked on my first novel (I have previously self-published a dystopian short story around 7000 words, and a children's bedtime story, both ebooks) and am wondering, what would be an acceptable length for one of the main character's back story?

I have recently been told to give each "player" their own chapter, however to me this sounds a bit excessive to me.

What's your view/workflow on this?

[Jerry]

That doesn't sound good advice to me. Better to uncover each character gradually as the story progresses. You can give a little back story to your main character at the start of the novel, as in The Shipping News, by Annie Proulx, but to give a chapter to each character would hold your story back. Don't force feed your reader.

[Laura]

Whatever works for the story. You don’t have to listen to all the rules or advice.

[Barbara]

Give it a go and see what works; don’t add unnecessary details…