Secondary Characters: All the Fun, a Lot Less Work
by Laurie Schnebly Campbell
We’ve all met secondary characters who threatened to take over the entire story from the main characters. They were just so exciting, so intriguing, so compelling that we skimmed through scenes featuring solely the protagonist because we wanted to see more of the sidekick. Or the new partner. Or the feisty grandpa. Or the loyal dragon.
And okay, maybe the sidekick / partner / grandpa / dragon wasn’t actually the star of the book...but, boy, they were sure a treat to read about! Plus, according to most of their authors, a treat to write about as well.
Why ARE secondary characters such fun to write?
First, you can make them a lot more extreme without stretching the reader’s credulity. A protagonist who’s constantly pulling pranks, cracking jokes, turning cartwheels in every parking lot would get tiresome pretty quickly. But a sidekick or brother-in-law or first-grader next door who does that can be entertaining instead of annoying: “Wow, what’re they gonna do next?!”
Same thing with a protagonist who automatically goes by Standard Procedure in every thought, word and deed with never a moment of hesitation -- they’d get a bit boring after several chapters. But a boss or bodyguard or attorney who does that can be reassuring instead of discouraging: “Whew, we can always count on good old L.J.!”
What else makes secondary characters fun to write?
They’re not as much work in terms of a character arc. Their job isn’t to grow & learn & change and emerge a wiser / happier / stronger / better person. They CAN do that, sure, especially if they’ve got their own subplot, but they can also plod (or cartwheel) through the entire book without changing their personality one bit from beginning to end.
Think of series characters you’ve enjoyed. For every Han Solo, there’s a Chewbacca. For every Scarlett O’Hara, there’s a Melanie Wilkes. For every Sherlock Holmes, there’s a Dr. Watson. For every Eve Dallas, there’s a Roarke.
And, sure, Roarke and Hermione and Granny Weatherwax have evolved a bit as their series unfold. But they haven’t changed their fundamental core. Readers know they can depend on this secondary character to deliver what we expect from them, book after book after book. They’re crucial to the story, even though they’re not the primary character. Which leads to the question of:
What MAKES a character secondary?
Their job in the book is to support the main character, whether they’re this person’s best friend or worst enemy.
They could be the silver-tongued banker who’s concerned about the loan, or the adorable toddler who brings Teddy everywhere, or the savvy co-worker who always knows where to get the best coffee. They could even be the love interest, or the villain who must be defeated, or the quirky new housemate whom nobody can quite figure out. As long as they’re supporting the story, they’re doing their job.
How can you tell whether the love interest or the villain or the housemate is a primary or a secondary character?
Think about this book being made into a movie. Think of EACH character’s actor/actress being nominated for the Academy Awards...during a year which (very conveniently) allows for more than one Best Actor/Actress and more than one Best Supporting Actor/Actress winner.
Which award will they be nominated for?
Best Actor/Actress means they’re a primary character. Best Supporting means they’re secondary. But even if they’re secondary, they’re still so important that if they were removed from the story, it flat-out wouldn’t work.
If you COULD remove ‘em, like you could replace the waitress whose only function is to say “the robber had a mustache” or the neighbor whose only function is to accidentally block the driveway, they’re a tertiary character and don’t need any development. Slap a waitress uniform on ‘em, or drop ‘em in the house next door, and they’re as complete as they’ll ever need to be.
As somewhat better-developed secondary characters, though, they’ll help drive the plot. They’ll make the main characters’ lives easier or harder. They might offer someone for your protagonist/s to talk to. They might provide helpful or harmful advice. They might inspire an action that’ll make things better, or make things worse, for the main character and maybe for themselves as well.
In short, they’re a significant asset to the story.
Even if your main characters don’t appreciate everything these secondaries do, the readers will. Maybe not consciously -- after all, you don’t often hear people raving “didn’t you love how the butler moving that telegram turned the whole story upside down?!” -- but readers do value what they contribute.
Contributions like:
- Obstacles, well-intentioned or otherwise.
- A more credible story world.
- A contrast that highlights some quality of the protagonist.
- Suggestions that make things better or worse.
- Someone to worry about or fantasize about.
- Someone to provide comic relief or a sigh of relief.
- Someone to heighten a sense of danger or excitement.
Every reader (and every writer) has secondary characters they remember with a special fondness. Characters they enjoyed more than usual. Maybe someone who appeared just once, or someone who became a regular. Maybe a best friend, maybe a villain, maybe a mentor, maybe a relative, maybe a cute kid, maybe an animal...
What secondary character do you enjoy remembering? Whether or not you remember the book title / author / character’s name, although by all means mention it if you do, what is it ABOUT this secondary character that’s stayed with you?
Opportunity:
Someone who answers will win free registration to Those Secondary Characters, my June 2-13 email class on creating those very people. Tomorrow afternoon I’ll have random-org draw a name and post it at the end of the comments -- so check back then, because class will start next Monday morning!
* * * * * *
About Laurie:
After winning Romantic Times’ “Best Special Edition of the Year” over Nora Roberts, Laurie Schnebly Campbell discovered she loved teaching every bit as much as writing...if not more. Since then, she’s taught online and live workshops, including the upcoming Those Secondary Characters, and keeps a special section of her bookshelves for people who’ve developed that particular novel in her classes. With 50+ titles there so far, she’s always hoping for more.
Featured post photo (top) purchased from Depositphotos.
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I've enjoyed so many secondary characters but one who still feels alive to me today is Boo Radley. I don't know if his character is exactly enjoyable...:-) ...but it's definitely powerful in the way it challenges our perceptions. We get to 'know' him--and form our opinion of him--through rumors and gossip but when we finally meet him we're forced to either dig into our prejudices or grow by admitting we were wrong. It's been ages since I read Mockingbird. I think I need to pick it up again!
Debora, I'd totally forgotten about Boo Radley! But you're right, he makes a HUGE impression and without him the book would be missing something important. (I reread it a few years ago and was impressed at how well it still holds together, even though now I was identifying more with Aunt Alexandra...)
My favorite to write was Mayor Felix Riley, my main character's nemesis in my Chapel Springs series. He drove her nuts and vice versa.
Ane, you (well, all of us!) gotta love someone who drives the heroine nuts...and who gets driven JUST as nuts by her. Especially when we can see that pattern repeated, with twists and turns, in various parts of the series!
A secondary character I really love isn't in a book, but is the holographic doctor in Star Trek Voyager. Watching him was really fun and intriguing--even when he was being obxoxious.And still thinking about Star Trek, there was another secondary character I loved, this time on DS9--the witty and charming Garek
Janet, secondary characters work just as well on screen as they do on the page...good thought on pulling 'em from TV series. They often get more turns at bat than book characters, given how a TV series could have 5 to 100+ episodes, so fans can enjoy them longer. 🙂
Oh, and now you've reminded me of how much I loved the shape-shifter played by René Auberjenois. You'd think I'd remember the character's name, but what I remember best is him oozing out of a locker by melting himself under the door.
Odo.
I don't think Star Trek had many badly drawn characters. I'll pick Lando from Star Wars.
Debbie, he achieved a unique status at my office when the Morning Inspiration email, which normally ends with some motivational quote by a business leader, ended with: "I'm responsible these days. It's the price you pay for being successful. ~Lando Calrissian" and we were all gobsmacked. 🙂
Meg, wow, I don't think I've seen that one but he sure sounds memorable!
Great article! Reminds me of all the great books where I couldn’t stop thinking about the larger than life secondary characters. Probably my favorites were from Janet Evonovich and her Stephanie Plum series. Her gun toting grandma was THE BEST!! snarky, fun and outlandish she made the stories so much better. There were a host of other characters like this in her series most notably the prostitute that Stephanie hired to help her crack cases. I wish I could remember the characters names but they still stuck either way me even after all these years!
Nancie, wow, I'd forgotten about Granny and Lula...weren't they fun? Definitely the kind who stick in readers' memories, along with a whole lot of other secondaries from that series. In fact, Janet Evanovich did the same thing in her series about Kate & Nick, creating larger-than-life yet credible people!
I remember Colin Craven from The Secret Garden. Both he and Mary were, at first, unlikeable characters, and Colin was such a mystery. Mary's transformational growth was instrumental in Colin's character arc.
Oh, Tracey, good call on Colin -- you're right, without him the book never really would've gotten off the ground. And it says something about (main and secondary) character depth that the two unlikable ones were more memorable than kindly, cheerful Martha and Dickon....
Thanks for this, I hadn't given enough thought to the roles that secondary characters can play! And to answer your question, in Buffalo Flats, a YA novel by Martine Leavitt, there's a secondary character whose name I wish I could remember; a friend to the main character Rebecca, who at first comes across as air-headed; a bright spot of silliness, whom we feel comfortable laughing at. Then we find she has greater depths, of course.
Ilona, wow, I just looked up Buffalo Flats, read the first scene and immediately ordered it -- that looks like a fabulous book, even before meeting the secondary character. Thanks for such an intriguing reference to what I bet will be one of the best I read all month!
For my romantic suspense "series", a secondary character in one book moves up to protagonist status in another. I agree, writing them a secondary characters is easier and more fun for all the reasons you mention.
JD Robb (Nora Roberts) has mastered secondary characters to the Nth degree in her In Death Series.
Terry, I loved seeing your secondary move up via his interview on your blog -- that was a real treat! And you're right about how beautifully J.D. Robb makes Eve's secondaries come alive in book after book; I usually wait a few years to binge on 4-5 at once and it's always a fun reunion. 🙂
I have a lot of fun writing secondary characters because there’s a lot more leeway with them. Normally if I have young kids in my stories but I wrote a teen in HIS UNLIKELY HOMECOMING. Oakley is the hero’s fifteen-year-old niece who runs away from a less than desirable home life to seek out the hero across the country. I enjoyed having her give my hero a hard time. She enjoys teasing him with things like claiming she told the town busybody that she was the daughter from his brief but scorching affair with a porn star. I had so much fun with her, I’ve included teens in two more stories.
Carrie, I like how much more you can DO with your teenage secondaries, but even the younger ones are still perfectly crafted for their purpose...and there's never been one who wasn't totally endearing. (Right now I'm falling in love with Samantha Jane!)
Dr. John Watson and Archie Goodwin are my two favorite secondary characters. To describe them as secondary is an injustice. Both characters are vital to their worlds. Sherlock Holmes and Nero Wolfe are frequently less than charming. Let's call them eccentric. Because their stories are told through Watson and Goodwin, the reader sees the main characters' good points. If Watson and Archie admire Holmes and Wolfe, we can like and admire them as well. Through the eyes (and words) of Watson and Archie, we learn that Holmes and Wolfe are good, loyal, caring friends. Beneath their bravado lurks a tender spot. Watson and Archie can brag about their genius friends. If Holmes and Wolfe bragged, it would be off-putting and obnoxious. Holmes and Wolfe would have long ago been relegated to the remainders pile. They continue to live in our imaginations because Watson and Archie are good storytellers, good friends, and infinitely likable. It is their very likability that keeps readers turning those pages. Secondary? Yes. Unimportant? Never.
Paula, what a great theme line: "Secondary? Yes. Unimportant? Never" sums up everything a great secondary character can -- and should -- be. Which makes it rewarding that they're generally easier and more fun to write, while still delivering such a rewarding payoff.
Great post, Laurie! My mind immediately goes to all the great character actors who have played secondary characters in films. For some reason “White Christmas” popped into my mind and the great Mary Wickes who plays Emma, the General’s housekeeper at the inn. And while I think of it, in the same film, Danny Kaye is also a secondary character to lead Bing Crosby. A wonderful teaming.
Nan, good point about the character actors in classic films -- seems like in that era, you couldn't get a leading man to play a secondary role but character across filled the bill beautifully. Although if anyone WOULD know of exceptions, it's gotta be those "From Beneath The Hollywood Sign" podcasters!
I have a main character (woman) in the book I'm writing who accidentally is seated on a plane next to a man with whom she then shares a very turbulent and frightening flight to the same destination. Though he's not the main character, he helps her navigate her new life when she arrives home to be with her family after having been gone for five years. He, too, is dealing with family issues but has done the opposite by moving away from his controlling father and fiance'. He and the main character become friends and share their experiences and without him in the book we wouldn't know what she's thinking and feeling since she can't talk to her family about what she's going through now that she's home. His actions ultimately impact the main character but it's their shared interactions that make up the book.
Patti, that's a wonderful example of the fine line between a Best Supporting and a Best Actor/Actress -- it's easy to envision him getting nominated for either of those awards. And it sounds like he could conceivably star in a book of his own later on, especially after going through the growth arc he'll experience in THIS book!
Speaking of detectives, one of my favorites is Nancy Drew, and I think her books have great secondary characters. Specifically, Bess and George are such different people, but they both complement Nancy as best friends. They provide a good sounding board for her with ideas she'd never think of, which I think is so necessary for a main character to have, but they also ground her as a teenage girl, instead of just a crime solver.
Amanda, I never even thought of Nancy Drew's Bess and George but you're absolutely right! It's been a kick seeing them evolve from the books my mom read to those I read to the ones my niece read and probably to those your students will read...but they've done their job the whole way. 🙂
To be honest, almost every book I read has a "best supporting character" that I watch for when reading. But sometimes it's hard to tell the supporting cast from a supportive My favourite series right now is Martha Wells' Murderbot, and ART the sentient ship is my favourite whenever he/she appears -- and of course, the kind doctor who treats Murderbot like the human he seems to be, and all of the supporting cast make this story world more credible for me. Great post - thanks for the inspiration, as always.
Marie, aren't those Murderbot people (or, er, ships) wonderful? It IS a treat when any of them appears, realizing we'll get to see more of 'em during the story at hand...and then there's the occasional twinge of disappointment when they don't show up, but that's a whole other aspect to secondaries.
I'm now reading Jane Hawking's "Travelling To Infinity", about her life with Stephen Hawking. She's actually managed to turn him into a secondary character - secondary to her describing how challenging he was to take care of. I remember him fondly for reasons unrelated to her writing, but he still counts.
Coincidentally, I'm just recently back in touch with my first college roommate, and she's catching me up on her life, via email. Her late husband was well-known and accomplished. Since she's doing the writing, and he's dead, he's become a secondary character too. I'm seeing him more dimensionally now than I did before.
Meg, what a cool discovery -- I'd never thought about lesser-known survivors eclipsing the perceived Primary Character in memoirs or biographies, but it makes perfect sense! Now you've got me thinking of all the other secondaries-turned-primaries who step up like the child of a king or queen ascending the throne...
Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's side kicks and the Wizard all have strong arcs.
Such a good article about a character that, for me, often helps make or break the book, Laurie.
One of my all-time favorite secondary characters comes from my all-time favorite book series, The Betsy-Tacy series by Maud Hart Lovelace. For those not familiar, Tib is one of a trio of best friends, along with Betsy, the main character, and Tacy.
She doesn't come along until the second book, but she quickly becomes a vital part of the story, because she's (IMO) not only the trio's comic relief in a lot of ways, but she's also the one who's the most honest. You can always count on pretty, delicate, dainty Tib to pipe up with the truth.
I love all three characters equally, but from the first few books, which are written for elementary school ages, to the later books, which takes them into adulthood and marriage, Tib was the one who always made me laugh and nod along in agreement. She's a big reason why I love this series so much. In fact, I'm re-reading the last two books as we speak!
Oh, Linda, isn't it a kick re-reading those books?! I have the last six on my shelf, and last time preceded the binge with the kids' versions which still held up remarkably well...although that might've just been because of the sentimental value. But Tib sure WAS fun to read about, wasn't she?
There are two that come to mind that you mentioned. Melanie from Gone With the Wind. (My all time favorite book). Roarke from the In Death series.
There are numerous others, too many to mention.
Deb, those are SUCH great secondaries because we can see how without their presence the story would collapse -- they're essential to the structure. And yet neither of them would qualify as a Best Actor/Actress...although, depending on the agent who handles their movie contract, they might still get nominated! 🙂
I have always thought of any character, having significant interaction with the protagonist throughout the novel, transforming or not, as a "main character." Or putting it another way, the protagonist need not be the only primary character even if there is only one protagonist.
Matthew, you're right on target in thinking there can definitely be more than one main character! Often, in a romantic suspense, there are two lovers and a villain, with each of them affecting the at least one of others. And in fantasy sagas, there can be three, five, you name it...an abundance of primaries. 🙂
Hi, Laurie. This is a great blog post. I love secondary characters. My favorite is Mr. Markham in The Chronicles of St. Marys series. He starts out as a lovable goofball and morphs into a character with hidden depths.
Steph, that's a great example of how secondaries don't have to remain the same -- they can evolve just like primaries can. (The only difference is that they don't HAVE to in order to give readers a satisfying story.) And, knowing your own secondaries, it's clear how very much you love them!
My favorite romance secondary character is Garrett, the Earl of Mayne, from an early series by Eloisa James. He was dark and broody and Byronesque, and I swear all of Eloisa James' fan club fell in LOVE with him. So much so that this guy that Eloisa had had no intention of giving his own love interest, evolves over a series of books and ends up with one of my favorite heroines, Josie. Talk about a close call in having a character that stole the show...
In a lot of fiction I usually prefer the meddling aunt or granny, who has the benefit of age to say whatever they want. Or a grandfatherly type...like a mischievous Santa matchmaker. Lady Violet from Downton Abbey, hands down, hilarious and brilliant.
Kids can be funny occasionally but I'm not a big fan of them unless Eloisa James does it because she makes them annoying and funny, which feels more plausible.
Fran, good thought on how "annoying and funny" secondaries can be a lot more credible than those who are just one or the other. Like Lady Violet who's both strong & demure, both wise & passionate...and the feisty relatives who are well respected but say & do things the protagonists NEVER could.
Laurie, I love this blog post!
And I love secondary characters!! I wrote a short story just to give myself a better idea of my WIP protagonist's emotional wound, and wow! my secondary characters nearly stole the show - two of them, begging and pleading for their own stories
As I am new to writing fiction, this totaled surprised me... but in such a great way. Did I mention I love secondary characters???
Jennifer, what a delight when some secondary character tries to steal the show -- it's a clear sign that you've created someone with a life of their own who'll be all kinds of fun to write about. (Maybe challenging as well, since they don't necessarily behave as expected, but ALWAYS entertaining!)
I just recently started reading Katie Reus, and the secondary characters in her Redemption Harbor series stand out to me. Of course, as is often the case in romance, the secondary characters become protagonists in future books. But the relationships the main characters have with a core group of people provide meaningful stakes to the adventure plots she writes. We care what happens to them.
Natalie, I love your summary: "We care what happens to them" embodies the very best of what a secondary character can be. That's a great definition of a good one, whether they emerge into their own starring role or remain supporters throughout an entire series...either way, we CARE about those characters!
Love this post! It actually clarified something for me. Secondary characters are SO fun, but you’re right that they don’t change like main characters so they can’t take center stage until they get their own story arcs and accompanying character arcs to change! A secondary character I enjoy remembering is Samwise from Lord of the Rings. His loyalty has stayed with me and brings tears to my eyes when I read it or watch it again. It’s unerring and wonderful to feel. Another secondary character I’ve always loved is Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet. His wit and charisma outpace Romeo’s! And Willow on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She’s loyal and always plays second (or third) fiddle, but she’s got a lot going on and the show wouldn’t be right without her!
Brenda, wow, three great examples of classic and wonderful secondaries -- each one conveys an instant picture of a character with a genuine personality, a perspective on life that affects the protagonist's journey, and a highly useful purpose in the story even though they never get one of their own.
Hi Laurie! I just caught a comment sneaking around the spam folder for some reason. We both know Patricia...her comment is above Amanda's, if you need to go browsing.
I love secondary characters, and mine often try to take over (so I super appreciated this post!).
Jenny, thanks for the alert -- going back up and browsing I found others I'd missed as well! And congratulations on creating secondaries who DO try to take over; you gotta love characters with such a strong personality that they're not gonna let themselves be directed by what some random author tries to dictate. 🙂
Excellent! You've got some fantastic comments here!!
Isn't that a kick? Putting a bunch of creative people to work on a "books" question constantly amazes me -- I don't think I've ever come away from one of these blogs without a whole lot more I want to enjoy remembering, reading again, or read for the first time! <3
Hi Laurie. You're so right. Secondary characters are so much fun... both to read and write! I just finished reading the memoir of a legendary cop in Mumbai (title: Mumbai's Most Wanted) and it struck me that some of the most interesting characters in the book are the petty criminals. There's one guy who is a pickpocket and he specializes in stealing wristwatches right off the wrist of the person wearing it. So when he gets caught, and his stash of expensive watches is confiscated by the police, he begs and cries for just one watch - it's a cheap, old watch that most people would throw away. Turns out that his wife had gifted it to him. Later when the cop returns it to him, after his time in jail is done, he is so overwhelmed by the cop's generosity that he helps the cop crack a crime that has gone cold. This character is just one of many in the book but it kind of sticks out!
So yeah, secondary characters can be memorable that way, even if they have a teeny-weeny role to play.
Adite, now you've got me wanting to read that book -- it sounds so cool! And knowing your gift for screenwriting, I wonder if you might wind up doing something similar for a movie one day...?
Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice, Mrs. Smith in Persuasion, and Harriet Smith in Emma.
Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's side kicks and the Wizard all have strong arcs.
Denise, wasn't Jane Austen amazing with secondaries? It was especially cool how she used Charlotte to show the difference between what Elizabeth was expected to do and what she actually DID wind up doing...making Charlotte a perfect example of a foil!
Wizard of Oz. Dorothy's side kicks and the Wizard all have strong arcs.
Karen, you're right about all four of those characters and I never would've thought of them -- in fact, didn't one of 'em wind up winning the Best Supporting Actor award that year? I couldn't tell you which, but that's sure a good illustration of how strong each secondary WAS.
One of my favourite secondary characters is the Stariel estate in AJ Lancaster's "The Lord of Stariel."
Lancaster made the estate grumpy, picky,slyly humourous and amazingly idiosyncratic without ever saying a word.Loved it! As per your article, the book wouldn't have been the same without that character.
Moya, thanks for an example of how secondary characters don't need to be human! I'd thought of traditions, or villages, or animals, or diseases, but an estate is VERY cool because it's so naturally a part of every scene in the story...what a lovely choice. 🙂
I'm partial to Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings". He's a powerful and mysterious character (I've even heard him described as a demi-god) and could easily act alone. Yet, he has heart enough to help small, ragtag bands complete their quests. He's a mentor and guide, helping the other characters learn and grow. I guess maybe the reason I connect with him so much is that I'd love to be like him.
From an author's POV, he's handy at getting the main party past challenges which would otherwise be too much for them. His age and wisdom are another asset when keeping characters on the right path or helping them grow. His abilities can also patch over difficulties the author doesn't want to, or doesn't have the time to, explore. And all of that while being a kind, caring person.
Heather, Gandalf is a fabulous example of a mentor secondary -- Tolkien had such a great sense of legendary mythology that he imbued it into his characters just beautifully. And there are a lot of ways we see Gandalf contributing to the plot...I sure get the appeal of being like him!
Acheron, the boss in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter books. I enjoyed his dry wit and found his hinted-at-yet-not-fully-defined powers intriguing. I was glad he ultimately got his own book.
Loki in Marvel's Avenger series is always good for a laugh and a bit of trouble.
And, of course, who doesn't love Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies. He provides obstacles (causing a rift between Frodo and Sam, luring Frodo into trap), intrigue (clearly suffering from multiple personality disorder so you never know which persona you'll get), and comic relief with both his speech and his antics.
I'm a huge fan of ensemble pieces and enjoy how the secondary characters often 'team up' to form a complete whole (Mind-Body-Spirit, Brain-Brawn, etc.). But I can also appreciate when a secondary character exists solely to help the hero learn a life lesson (by either mirroring the path hero is on or choosing a different one which forces hero to reevaluate what he really wants out of life).
Looking forward to your class. Having attended other classes you've given, I've no doubt I'll come away with some great tools for my own series.
Lee, you're gonna see a lot of these character names in the class -- I'm keeping a list of choices, because each one will strike recognition with whoever's met that particular secondary. And you're right that they can be equally effective as team members or soloists...although anytime one can fill additional functions, as yours often do, so much the better!
Noteworthy (good) article. When I finished my first novel, one thing which surprised me is that Beta readers mentioned particularly enjoying one of my secondary characters, Mitch, and ex-Navy SEAL whose tendency to make fast, good decisions (borne of his training and experience). Although separated from the ensemble cast through most of the story, he exhibited loyalty, some empathy, and enjoyed making small private jokes only he (and the reader) would get. He had no character arc. He was just who he is.
It was a lesson for me, so in book two he is back working with the original ensemble, and supporting the main plot. Moreover, I became more aware of the power of these secondary characters–of which I have many.
Some of these new characters were originally created for background or world-building scenes meant to reflect actions taking place away from, yet important to advancing the (overall) tetralogy's story line. A few of these, however, immediately stood out for me, when writing. These went from being one scene throwaway characters to being active integral parts to my second book's main plot. And, again, when getting Beta feedback, one reader singled out liking one secondary villain as one they warmed up to toward the end of the book (he reveals a hidden good side), although he is basically unchanged.
So, I heartily agree it is fun writing these secondary characters. If you give them just a little love, you never know which one will turn into a gem.
Jerold, I like your observation "If you give them just a little love, you never know which one will turn into a gem" -- that's sure part of the fun, discovering who the gems will be! And it's sure handy when background or world-building secondaries evolve into primaries on their own.
All right, now that my browser is no longer refusing to let me see the site...
I'm going to nominate Nadine, the teenager from Jennifer Crusie's Faking It. She's quirky, fun, takes to running confidence games like a duck to water, and even has a little bit of her own story arc. She's also the one who gives the speech on muffins and donuts...
Michael, hurray that you made it in -- now you've got me wanting to reread Faking It; that's been a while! (Although the muffins-doughnuts was a good reminder.) And snarky teenagers DO have an advantage as secondaries, because they can have the same loose-ness as feisty elders. 🙂
PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENT
Thanks to everyone who posted about memorable secondaries – I’m gonna list all those character names in the June 10 lecture of my class (in the bio) to illustrate what a wide range of “great”s there are!
And with so many posts, I had random-dot-org draw TWO winners of free registration to Those Secondary Characters from June 2-13. Congratulations to #7 (Ilona Bray) and #4 (Debbie Vilardi)...just email me via my website in the bio with the address to send your GroupsIo invitation.
Laurie, thinking random-dot org was very fond of single digits this time around – go figure!
I have a fondness for Charlotte Lucas from Pride and Prejudice. She is cast n the best friend role and shares some characteristics with Elizabeth. She uses her head to find a husband because she doesn't want to burden her family and have her own home. She accepts that she will need to make the best of her marriage which is a direct contrast to the heroine. Elizabeth won't settle for anything and as a result her marriage is the opposite of Charlotte's.
Tracey, you just made Charlotte one of the secondaries who got more than a single mention...and she deserves it. It's cool seeing a secondary who easily fills more than one role in the story; and as a best friend AND contrast to Elizabeth, she's definitely doing her job. 🙂
Now this is tricky because with the trend of multiple POV characters, sometimes it's hard to say who's the main and who is secondary. But I will go with Marcellus in Remarkably Bright Creatures. I fell in love with him and was inspired to visit not one but TWO aquariums after reading the book.
Glad to see I'm not the only write whose secondary characters try to hijack the story!
Lissa, I'm with you in dithering over whether Marcellus would be a primary or secondary...either way, it's clear the story would collapse without him. Although it's hard to envision him winning EITHER Best Actor or Best Supporting, although the award could sure go to whoever does the voiceover if it's ever made into a movie.
I loved the character "Suds" from Five Smooth Stones. He was a secondary character when David was in college and was arguably David's best friend. From David's early life, I loved both his grandfather and the Professor as secondary characters.
Mica, I'd been trying to remember who recommended Five Smooth Stones and I'm so glad to see it was you! Good call about all three of those secondaries; they each had their own unique contribution to the story and they all helped make David's world that much MORE credible.