I find that when I have trouble coming up with a backstory, brainstorming with other players helps a ton. Experienced RPers can also give advice on what 'traps' to avoid - things that normally cause drama in RP, like something being too OP or going overboard with the past traumas in a group that mostly does casual, light-hearted RP, for instance. Plus, talking to people about your character can help get them interested in them, so it never hurts to try. If you're new, try to be open to criticism, though, and if you're a veteran, try not to be rude just because you've seen that concept done dozens of times. The newbie likely hasn't.
