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Side Characters and Minor CharactersDeveloping Characters to Compliment your Hero and Villain
Though the hero and villian play the most important roles, a novel also needs well-developed side characters to add spice to the story and to move the plot forward.
Side characters play many important supporting roles in a novel. They are often necessary to impart useful information to or about the main characters. Minor players in the story also help reveal the true nature of the hero or villain. What Kind of Side Characters Work Best?The Best Friend or SidekickSherlock Holmes had his Watson to bounce ideas off of, and unless your hero is a loner, it may benefit him to have such a friend or partner to discuss his thoughts, dreams and theories with. Such a character makes the protagonist seem real and can help move the story along by putting long passages of the main character’s thoughts into active dialogue. The villain may also have such a sidekick to sound off to about his evil schemes. RivalsMost people have not only friends but also a few rivals or friendly competitors. Maybe someone always tries to beat him to the promotion or to the best deals. The villain, of course, will be the main challenge, but a minor rival for the hero at home or in the workplace can also make a story more interesting. RelativesMost people don’t live in a vacuum—they have parents, aunts, and kids— family. Creating a family for your character can make him seem real. Readers can identify with the joys and trials that come with having a meddling aunt, a problem brother or sister, or an aging parent that needs care. It is wise not to make a huge extended family unless this is part of the story-line. Choosing one “problem relative” can be enough. One or two main family members can represent the whole lot. The more names the reader has to remember, the more frustrated they will become, especially if the side characters do not move the story along. How Many Side Characters Should a Book Contain?Too many side characters can make a story confusing. Minor characters should never be introduced without a reason for their existence. For example, a meddling aunt or a drunken father that does nothing to further the plot is just excess baggage. The meddling aunt could hear something important in her eavesdropping. The alcoholic father could pick up a clue or two at the bar. Make them work by having them provide clues to a mystery. If your book is not a mystery, these side characters can serve to provide insight into how they shaped the hero’s life and made him the person he has become. But characters should never be introduced who play no part in the story and have no real purpose. Don’t let opportunities go to waste. When introducing side characters, see if some of them can be combined and do double duty. For example, when possible use the same waitress or doorman every time instead of creating multiple extra characters. These people the hero sees every day can be great imparters of clues and necessary information without being intrusive. They will also seem more real to the reader than a generic character who appears only once, and the reader will look forward to their occasional appearance. Don’t Let Side Characters Steal the ShowBecause there is pressure to make the hero perfect, a writer may find that all the good scenes and lines are being stolen by the best friend or the sidekick. The side characters can be quirky and colorful but they shouldn’t steal the limelight away from the hero. Their purpose is to complement him and highlight his character. If a writer finds a side character taking over, one of two things may be happening. The book may really be about the side character instead of the hero. If the focus of the book centers more on the minor character than the hero, a rewrite may be in order where they switch roles. The problem can also sometimes be remedied by transferring the clever lines to the hero and making the side character take a back seat. Tips to Remember:
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The copyright of the article Side Characters and Minor Characters in Character Development is owned by Vickie Britton. Permission to republish Side Characters and Minor Characters in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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