The number of characters in a story?

Diamond-Raven · Nov 20, 2008

Greetings from a newbie! I was referred to this wonderful site by someone and I'm so happy to have found it.

I just finished outlining a story I've been wanting to write for a long, long time and everything looked good. Then I actually started writing and realized the story isn't going where I thought it would, mostly because I have too many characters.

My story focuses on exploring the lives of characters of various sexual orientations. The reason I feel so passionately about this story is because I feel that there are many misconceptions about people who are something other than heterosexual. My question is this: In order to bring across my point, is it best to include all possible angles (ie including each 'type' of person), or should I focus on a few characters? TV shows about such subjects always make sure to include one of everybody but I'm wondering if the constraits of a novel would leave the story very choppy if I did the same thing.

Any thoughts would be appreciated

scarletpeaches · Nov 20, 2008

Perhaps you could amalgamate some characters into one?

Or 'disappear' them in the next draft. I'm going to do that with mine. I have an ensemble cast in one chapter and a few names will have to be dropped; they don't do anything.

Failing that, and this is my personal favourite, if you want to explore sexuality in your novel, make everyone bi.

Works for me.

Diamond-Raven · Nov 20, 2008

scarletpeaches said:
Perhaps you could amalgamate some characters into one?

Hmm...this is a very intriguing idea. Two of my characters are very similar anyway, so one could do with some tweaking. However, most of the characters I choose have such differing personalities that I couldn't easily meld them and make them realistic. But this idea has definitely made me start thinking.

scarletpeaches said:
Failing that, and this is my personal favourite, if you want to explore sexuality in your novel, make everyone bi.

Works for me.

Heh...I've spent many years writing fanfic, where nearly all the characters are always bi. Oh, such fun. It's so annoying to return to original fiction where most people are so boring and fussy with their bed partners' genders. I tell you, this world would be a better place if everybody were bi.

KTC · Nov 20, 2008

Why not trying to write a story with such characters where it is not a part of the storyline, but just a matter of course. To highlight such differences is to spotlight and preach. To make the story around them while just accepting these differences as normal/natural, is to put the reader into that mindset. There's a thin line between pushing such a thing on a reader and simply telling the story of a character who just happens to be like this. I'd be more prone to read a story with bi-sexual characters if the story wasn't about their bi-sexuality. Sexual preference as an issue could very quickly become preachy. I bi-sexual character in a story that isn't about his bi-sexuality would reach a broader audience. Just something to think about.

Bufty · Nov 20, 2008

Beware.

Diamond-Raven said:
In order to bring across my point.....

CaroGirl · Nov 20, 2008

I agree with KTC. Characters should represent people, not labels. A novel needs to tell a story, not just have a theme.

Nakhlasmoke · Nov 20, 2008

I'm slightly concerned from how you describe it that this might come across not as a novel, but rather as a vehicle for you to push an agenda (even when it's an agenda I agree with, I hate being preached at)

Tell a damn good story, and if some or all of your characters happen to be gay or bi, so be it.

What KTC said. Let the story be about the people. People are not their sexuality. I don't introduce myself to people as a bi man in a woman's body or a heterosexual mother of two. I have a name, and interests - hobbies, things I'm passionate about, and they make up more of my personality than my sexuality does. I think this goes for most people, although i may be very wrong.

Danthia · Nov 20, 2008

Simply exploring a theme risks a MS that rambles, especially if there are a lot of characters and no protaganist. KTC makes an excellent point about preaching. I'd suggest identifying your story and then picking the characters that tell that story best. Find the story problem, stakes, goals, etc for that character/s. Once you do that, it'll be a lot easier to trim out unneeded characters because you'll have a defined storyline to work with. If they advance that storyline they stay, if not, they go.

Diamond-Raven · Nov 20, 2008

*headdesk*

Wow, what a wake up call your posts have been! Thank you!

I've never before tried tackling an issue in a story that's so intensely personal to me and thus I forgot one of most important rules writers have to follow: Tell a story and the message should be brought across by itself.

*shakes head at self* Wow. KTC - thank you for getting me back on track and off the so dreaded preaching-wagon that I unwittingly leapt on.

*heads off to delete the outline and start again*

Thanks again! You've all been a big help!

James D. Macdonald · Nov 20, 2008

If you have two characters that serve a similar function in your story: Combine them.

Stunted · Nov 20, 2008

How many characters do you have? Do they ever meet? Is there a plot besides "Check out these cool gay people"?

Anyway, obviously, I know very little about your WIP, but here's my two cents anyway. I, personally, like it when there are only three or four main characters, but a lot of very distinct minor characters that are all important to the plot. If you decide to eliminate characters, instead of having an MTF and an FTM, or a gay guy and a lesbian, you might just need one of each category.

Good luck.

Inkyhoof · Nov 20, 2008

You have to delete the whole outline? I'm guessing if you've already done that much work on it, then perhaps you could just... add the storyline to it and manipulate it that way...?

If I'm making any sense, sorry if I'm not. But anyway, good luck

M.C.BROWN · Nov 20, 2008

I have alot of characters in a story I am writing. I just make sure to give them emotions and reason. Sometimes I neglect my main character. I find him boring compared to others. I think I have around 25 or so. But they are all aliens so sex isnt an issue. I agrre about this site. I stumbled across it in my po dunk Georgia town. Its nice to now so many people are being creative.

Captain Ian · Nov 20, 2008

Good advice here, I pretty much agree.
If you feel that you have overpopulated your story with characters, it may be the first sign of a bulky, sagging plot. Needless characters are the kind that do little to move your story forward. Examine which ones you can reasonably sacrifice with no harm done to the plotline. You will see if you have too many, as well as know more about their importance. Because, contrary to your initial post, your story is not about exploring their lives. Dostoevsky explores characters' lives, that's why nobody reads his drivel.

Your story about seeing their feelings change as they go through conflict towards their goal. You can do without the characters who do not have any goals, conflict, change and feelings related to your plot. Good luck!

Kalyke · Nov 20, 2008

You said story, and did not specify the length. If it is a full blown novel, you can have hundreds. I think I have 9-10 characters, up to 15 with speaking roles for my 50K NaNo. I try to stick with 2-3 mains and 20 or fewer secondaries with one "MC" who is the reader's alter-ego in the story. My story now has 2 mains (character and best friend both male) Each of them have various family and other friends. Then their work place and "the broader world" has a bunch more, so there are little circles, the "inner and outer" circles. Sometimes what happens on the outside is important, and sometimes not.

Gillhoughly · Nov 20, 2008

What Uncle Jim said.

I had two characters, one was the brains of the team, the other carried out the violence--but neither of them could carry any dialog. I combined them and got one heck of a dynamic bad guy that everyone loved.

In order to bring across my point,

"If you want to send a message, call Western Union." --Sam Goldwyn

Write a good story, don't worry about making a point or teaching people things they should know. Have your characters grow and learn and take the reader on their journey. The moment you try to make a point to a reader you'll chase them off.

A favorite mystery writer of mine spent 400 pages on the message that this political party was GOOOOD, and that political party was EVULLLLL.

I didn't agree or disagree with him, but stopped reading. I wanted a mystery, not a message. Twenty pages in I threw the book across the room and never picked up another he wrote.

MentalChaos · Nov 20, 2008

I have a LARGE number of characters. With that being said, many were only mentioned by name- one dimentional. If I had done more with them, it would have brought attention away from where it needed to be; the MC. Personally, I have found it easier to keep only a few on the stage at a time.

amber_grosjean · Nov 23, 2008

I have to ask this---is your story fiction or non-fiction?

One of my stories has a lot of characters but they aren't in the story from beginning to end. Each chapter, I introduce new people in different ways so that it doesn't become dull or flat. But its also fiction.

If you are comparing these different "types" of people in sexual nature, it sounds a little like non-fiction. Research would help that by combining all the same natured people in one chapter and comparing their personalities in that way.

If its fiction, you may want to include a piece of the story for us to get a better idea as what you're trying to say. If you're struggling with that many people, maybe you should take out the ones who don't move the story forward one way or another. Remember, its easier to take away than to add so try writing the story and then through edits, take out what you don't need or what doesn't make sense.

Editing makes the story better, not writing it. I hope I make sense. Sometimes I think something and then don't get it all out which is why I edit more than most lol. Good luck with your writing. Hope you find your edge.

Amber

Akuma · Nov 23, 2008

Kill your babies and don't be disturbed by the number of dead babies you accumulate. As long as you're honest with what needs to go and what needs to stay, you'll be able to move forward.

EndlessDestiny · Nov 23, 2008

I've got a variety of characters in the story I'm writing. There are four women who are interested in women and a bisexual girl. There's also a girl who dates demon men. I prefer writing stories that involve women loving women.

As far as amount of characters, and I'll only go with the main ones, I have six. If I add in the others, some of which play larger roles than others, I get a number closer to twenty.

The number of characters in a story?

Diamond-Raven

scarletpeaches

Diamond-Raven

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Bufty

Where have the last ten years gone?

CaroGirl

Living the dream

Nakhlasmoke

yes

Danthia

Diamond-Raven

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

Inkyhoof

M.C.BROWN

Captain Ian

Kalyke

Gillhoughly

Grumpy writer and editor

MentalChaos

amber_grosjean

AW Addict

Akuma

Rare Writer Pokemon

EndlessDestiny