Minor Characters

Even if they're 2d I want to give the impression of 3d. For me that means they're just as complicated and diverse as main characters, only less developed in the text and static to their purpose in the plot. (Sorry if that sounds contradictory...it makes sense in my head )

Well, for one, I try to write the characters in a rounded way. Their dialog and reactions aren't clearly attached to strings that I'm moving diabolically in the background.

This kind of ineffective technique is present in, I think, Uncle Tom's Cabin, when the black characters and white characters both act as archetypes that are talking for the writer's skewed view of race relations in America, rather than being individuals. This is partly why the novel got so much flack. The white woman who wrote it knew nothing of being a struggling black in America, and used her whites simply to preach a message of tolerance that was, despite her best efforts, still racist.

None of the characters, not even secondary ones (IMO), are there to preach your message as a writer, or as an artificial plot element. They fulfill the role of obstacle or mood elevator or whatever else, but must be shown also as organic, complex humans. Each encounter with a person, however brief and undeveloped in drama, should feel like an encounter with an actual person. Mannerisms, dialog, free will, etc.

Sorry I wish I could explain it better but this is briefly my approach.

I think even secondary characters are capable of growing and changing.

The key is to give them plots of their own (where relevant) let them grow and learn from it in the same way as the MC, but on a much smaller scale.

Minor characters don't need to change, but they are still capable of independent thought and action. They have their own desires and goals which they will pursue -- and which can affect the main characters. Even a lowly pawn on a chessboard can take a queen or checkmate the king. Look at every minor character in every scene and ask yourself: what do they want? What will they do to get it? Define them by their actions.

-Derek

dpaterso said:

They have their own desires and goals which they will pursue -- and which can affect the main characters. Even a lowly pawn on a chessboard can take a queen or checkmate the king.

-Derek

Click to expand...

Every character, no matter how minor, has some kind of motivation that affects how they act within the story. Working out what that is - whether it's a crush they have on another character, career ambition, wanting to be the best at their hobby - is what helps me as the author define their autonomy from the main character/s. They stop being props whose actions are there solely to advance the plot or provide opportunity for the main character's character development.

It makes them more interesting to write and more interesting to read.

Whether a character "needs" to grow or not depends on the genre. If it is a genre that allows one dimensional characters, then maybe it is okay. Even if it is a small one, all characters should have some sort of a character arc. If it is a "prop" person, try to give them something interesting to do.

How do you make your MCs real? It's the same idea, the same process. It's not about whether or not they go through a dramatic change during the course of the story, it's about knowing your characters as real people. Everyone, no matter how minor in the story, has a unique personality, background, goals, etc. And even a character that doesn't have much "screen time" is still going to be affected by the events and people around him/her. No one is *completely* static, but character change is not always dramatic. It can be subtle.

I see minor characters as MCs-in-waiting. Not that I'll necessarily use them as MCs, but for the more major minor characters, I know almost as much about them as I do my MCs. They have motivations, life situations, that inform their behavior and reactions. I don't spend nearly as much time with them as I do my MCs, but I will stick them in a mental room together with my MC and have them talk, see what happens, what I learn from it, and that informs my writing.

For partners and friends, we need a fairly good insight into them. Why are they friends with the MC? What does the MC admire about them? If angelic Harry's best mate is an offensive lout called Bazza, that says something about Harry. Obviously Bazza needs to be a bit more than an 'offensive lout' because otherwise we're just going to think Harry's stupid for liking him.

I try and focus on their relationship with the MC and their motivations within that, also hinting at motivations outside of that.

Somewhere on AWWC, someone posted a thing about 30 questions to answer about your character. It's awesomew and some of those questions can flesh out secondary characters depending upon their relevance to the plot.

For example, in my current mss, I have Franciscan frars as important secondary characters. But, I have inserted a Dominican and it's necessary for me to show the difference. It is not only in his white habit with black frock but the way he cuts his hair. Not a big deal but I wrote something like, His shiny bald pate circled by a halo of frosted hair caught his attention.