Unknown Main Characters
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More often than I'd like to count. LOL
In fact, one of my current pieces is in its rough draft stage from the POV of one person (using the term "person" loosely here) and I have a feeling I'll switch that out in the second draft. Not only because the original POV knows stuff that I don't want the reader to figure out right away, but also because the other guy can do other kinds of things that'll add tension to the tale.
Another (now abandoned) novel had so many folks wanting to be the MC that it drove me absolutely nuts. It got to the point where I said "Meh, I'll just figure out the MC once the story is done." Not that this ever happened mind you...
In fact, one of my current pieces is in its rough draft stage from the POV of one person (using the term "person" loosely here) and I have a feeling I'll switch that out in the second draft. Not only because the original POV knows stuff that I don't want the reader to figure out right away, but also because the other guy can do other kinds of things that'll add tension to the tale.
Another (now abandoned) novel had so many folks wanting to be the MC that it drove me absolutely nuts. It got to the point where I said "Meh, I'll just figure out the MC once the story is done." Not that this ever happened mind you...
Oh, gosh, yes. One of my favorite all-time characters first started off as a secondary character in a fantasy novel I wrote. Secondary isn't even a good word for it -- he was marginal at the most. And then one night, I was writing, and out of nowhere, he quipped out the most wonderful, arrogant, sarcastic line of dialogue. I have no idea where it came from, but I sat there, blinking at the computer screen, thinking, "I like this guy." From there, he blossomed into one of the leading characters in the book.
That book, btw, was the introductory volume in a series. Another character, who had a modest role, was carried over to the sequel. I wrote a scene describing his appearance by way of reintroducing him to readers and introducing him to the sequel's storyline, and for whatever reason, it occurred to me at that moment that he was a fantastic character, one I could do a lot with -- so I did. He became not only one of the principle heroes of that book, but when on to be the main protagonist of the third book in the series. And my all-time, absolute most favorite character, come to think of it, LOL.
That book, btw, was the introductory volume in a series. Another character, who had a modest role, was carried over to the sequel. I wrote a scene describing his appearance by way of reintroducing him to readers and introducing him to the sequel's storyline, and for whatever reason, it occurred to me at that moment that he was a fantastic character, one I could do a lot with -- so I did. He became not only one of the principle heroes of that book, but when on to be the main protagonist of the third book in the series. And my all-time, absolute most favorite character, come to think of it, LOL.
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I'm a beta reader too and there's a secondary character I love- much better than the 2 main characters. I'd love to see that SC in a bigger role, or if not, I'd like to see the the other 2 MCs developed as wonderfully as the SC. When I mentioned how much I liked the SC, the author said he based him on himself. Maybe that's why the SC felt so real?
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One of my works was missing something, so on a re-write I added a minor character to add a little pizzazz, then on the next re-write he became more involved. By the time the final draft was written and polished he was the main character, and the old main character became one of his clients in the story. It's strange how a tale grows and changes with each re-write. By the way, that book I'm talking about picked up an agent, but unfortunately none of the publishers agreed with the agent's enthusiasm. Then the agent got weird, and I since fired the agent and I am looking for a new agent with a new work.
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My secondary character steals the show more often than not. He's more interesting than the protagonist, and readers get more of his thoughts when they're in his POV. It balances out, though, because the protagonist has to struggle out of much bigger jams - usually of his own making.
Discovering an important character that you never planned on putting in the spotlight is one of my writing joys. It means that this peripheral character came to me fully formed and ready to go, and has something interesting to say/do. I've never had one overshadow my MC or take over the story, but their involvement certainly changed.
In my completed novel, one character started out as part of three scenes. He helped the two MC's get out of a few scrapes, then he was done. Except he kept coming back. He hung around after giving the MC's a ride, and didn't leave. Then he fell for another minor character. And then he....ad infinitum.
He never elevated above the level of supporting character, but he refused to just be part of three scenes, and every one of his actions helped advance the story forward.
In my completed novel, one character started out as part of three scenes. He helped the two MC's get out of a few scrapes, then he was done. Except he kept coming back. He hung around after giving the MC's a ride, and didn't leave. Then he fell for another minor character. And then he....ad infinitum.
He never elevated above the level of supporting character, but he refused to just be part of three scenes, and every one of his actions helped advance the story forward.
Although it's a film and not a novel, let me just jump in here with one glaring, recent example: When moviegoers are turning out in droves to see the latest Pirates of the Caribbean flick, do you think it's really Will Turner (our hero) they are turning out to see, or that rapscallion Captain Jack Sparrow? (Of course the fact that both characters are great eye candy probably doesn't hurt) 
.
Seriously, secondary characters have been upstaging main ones since time immemorial. In A Tale of Two Cities, weren't Madame DeFarge and Sydney Carton far more interesting than Charles Darney and Lucy? What about Mammy from Gone With the Wind? Yes, in some ways, the character was a sterotype, but she was also so much more; she had an inner strength and dignity that served as the perfect counterbalance for Scarlett, and leaped out as one of the book's instantly most recognizable and loveable characters.
.Seriously, secondary characters have been upstaging main ones since time immemorial. In A Tale of Two Cities, weren't Madame DeFarge and Sydney Carton far more interesting than Charles Darney and Lucy? What about Mammy from Gone With the Wind? Yes, in some ways, the character was a sterotype, but she was also so much more; she had an inner strength and dignity that served as the perfect counterbalance for Scarlett, and leaped out as one of the book's instantly most recognizable and loveable characters.
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Saraphim said:
Wow...are you me? *grin* Seriously, I had the same thing happen. I was writing a trilogy, and I ended up having to rethink the whole thing, because the secondary guy became so real to me, I could no longer relegate him to his secondary role.
Just another case of the characters doing what they want instead of obeying us writers!
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blackbird said:
Don't forget Fagin and Artful Dodger and Nancy in Oliver Twist. Don't forget Huck Finn in Tom Sawyer. Don't forget Samwise in Lord of the Rings. Don't forget Hermione and Ron in Harry Potter, etc. etc.
Sometimes the main characters are so serious and going through so much in the story, and they might not be totally lovable because so much at stack depends on them. The secondary characters can hang loose and be funny, heroic, loyal, sweet, understanding, etc. -- everything we love about a person. Of course, we like them better than the main guy who is going through life-chaning traumas or trying to figure himself out.
And that's okay. Think about what your story is really about. The main characters don't have to the most lovable, funny, interesting characters of the story, but the story must be about them.
Besides, there will always be spin-offs and sequels. Huck Finn finally gets the center stage. Hooray!
This is exactly what I'm dealing with in my novel revisions. During the first draft I wrote my character B as a real b-tch -- or, I should say I tried to write her as a b-tch, because on the read-through she's funny and smart and likeable and makes my MC look wishy washy.Jo Scott said:
*gnash gnash*
in my current novel, I started off with a scene where a character had to escape a burning house. The character was a throwaway, I had already decided and intended. He would do what I needed him to do, then die.
...except...
He turned out to be interesting and wonderful to write, he turned into the main character of the story, and the character I intended to be the main character never even materialized on the page. Neither did any of his details. This other guy just appeared. I'm okay with that.
Interesting secondary characters are wonderful. If you just had the brooding main character to read about, a book would get pretty dark and seedy, pretty quick. So while your main character is brooding and making the next plot connection, your secondary character is standing behind him, doing a soft-shoe for the reader. Great fun.
...except...
He turned out to be interesting and wonderful to write, he turned into the main character of the story, and the character I intended to be the main character never even materialized on the page. Neither did any of his details. This other guy just appeared. I'm okay with that.
Interesting secondary characters are wonderful. If you just had the brooding main character to read about, a book would get pretty dark and seedy, pretty quick. So while your main character is brooding and making the next plot connection, your secondary character is standing behind him, doing a soft-shoe for the reader. Great fun.
Sort of. I have one WIP where two lovers split up before the action starts, and the MC goes away and, essentially, grows up.Jo Scott said:
The MC's ex-lover would appear only briefly, mostly in flashback scenes. I've since come to realize that the story doesn't work well without enough context about who this guy is and how important he is to the MC--the flashbacks just aren't enough.
So I'm thinking I'll have to back up the action and put him into the book in real time.
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It's interesting you should bring up this topic, Jo. I was just reading over on my editor's blog (Anna Genoese) that she and the senior editor at Tor just gave a workshop at the RWA National convention about making memorable secondary characters and how incredibly important they are to a good book (Second paragraph of current entry). She even inserted a link to the handouts of the workshop (for people who might be interested).
I'm quite proud that reviews of our books consistently mention our secondary characters and readers often comment on "So, what ever happened to so-and-so?! We have to know!"
I love making great secondary characters--ones who steal the show. They're fodder for future books...
I'm quite proud that reviews of our books consistently mention our secondary characters and readers often comment on "So, what ever happened to so-and-so?!
We have to know!" I love making great secondary characters--ones who steal the show. They're fodder for future books...
I sometimes get carried away with secondary characters. Just the other day I was writing backgrounds for each of the characters in the graphic novel I'm working on, and I found that one of my lesser characters had twice as much history as my main character. It takes a lot of willpower sometimes for me to just focus on the main guys and let the side characters be the support.
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Jo Scott said:
Sure, it happens all the time.
That's one of the many reasons you shouldn't start to revise your book until after you've reached "The End." Until you're at that point you may have no idea what book you've written.
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James D. Macdonald said:
True. One of my unfinished novels dealt with a few characters. Eventually I found that one of the secondary characters had emerged as a more interesting, more active, more engaging character and the story really was about him. I kept writing, though. Because my narrator is 1st person, I found out that essentially I'd been writing a Great Gatsy/Mystery of Pittsburgh type of story. That was actually pretty cool. I'd like to some day finish that novel.
Okay, so my latest fantasy novel is supposed to be about a boy who becomes a great hero, but at the beginning he's still a baby, so the story follows the adventures of his mother trying to keep him safe. Well, the great warrior Helrish who his mother meets is currently trying to steal the role of MC from him- and happy to do it, too! As mommy Brianna says, he is "the most arrogant man I have ever met"... not that she's not vying for the spotlight herself, if in a less aggressive manner.
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Been there, done that.
1st appearance book-- Minor character (a voice on the phone)
Next book -- He's an important Guest Character necessary to the plot
WIP -- He's THE Major Supporting Character, plot focused on him.
NEXT WIP - His own series-- he IS the plot.
He's a b&&&& to write for, but lordy, he's fun.
glutton--try reading Lois McMaster Bujold's Barrayar and all the ones in her "Cordelia's Honor" series. That's the future hero's mama. Part of the story has to do with how she protects him before he's born. It's S/F but the concept of never come between a tigress and her cub is common to your fantasy. Oh, yeah, you want her on YOUR team during a bar fight!
1st appearance book-- Minor character (a voice on the phone)
Next book -- He's an important Guest Character necessary to the plot
WIP -- He's THE Major Supporting Character, plot focused on him.
NEXT WIP - His own series-- he IS the plot.
He's a b&&&& to write for, but lordy, he's fun.
glutton--try reading Lois McMaster Bujold's Barrayar and all the ones in her "Cordelia's Honor" series. That's the future hero's mama. Part of the story has to do with how she protects him before he's born. It's S/F but the concept of never come between a tigress and her cub is common to your fantasy. Oh, yeah, you want her on YOUR team during a bar fight!
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In the book I'm working on now, one of the characters was originally supposed to be a one chapter walk-on but has turned into a full-fledged main character. For some reason the guy wouldn't go away.
Probably because he's my favorite character in the story.
Probably because he's my favorite character in the story.
One of the novels I'm working on now only happened because a secondary character decided he wanted to take center stage, and made me dream the first chapter so vividly that I had no choice but to write it down.
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