Side characters: arguably even harder to write than main characters. Why? Because we spend far less time on the side characters than we do on the main character, and sometimes it can be tricky figuring out how much screen time and character development to give these side characters.
For a long time, I struggled with writing side characters. They would turn out okay, but I always felt like something was lacking —the oorah that makes a character seriously compelling and memorable. So I started to ask myself: what is the missing ingredient here? And after stumbling upon some amazing truths about the fundamentals of storytelling, I realized what my side characters were missing:
Importance.
They didn’t really matter to the story. And that’s why they felt so lackluster.
You may have written some side characters in the past that feel the same way to you — bland, unimportant, and forgettable. Maybe you tried your hardest to develop them and used all the worksheets, character questionnaires, and STILL aren’t thrilled with how they’ve turned out. And now you’re reading this post and probably thinking, “HOW EXACTLY do I make my side characters important?”
That’s what I’m here to talk about right now. There is a super simple 4-step process to crafting POWERFUL side characters.
Today I’m going to share with you…
- the 4 things ALL side characters MUST HAVE
- the ONE question you can ask yourself to see if your side characters matter or not
- why these “must-haves” work for any side character
- how Jane Austen pulls off some great side characters in one of her best-loved novels
Let’s talk.
Let’s talk side characters! First, who are some of YOUR favorite side characters in fiction or film? (bonus points if you choose something Jane Austen! jk but not really) Have you ever struggled with writing side characters? Who is your favorite side character that YOU’VE ever written??
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