When it comes to writing novels everyone always talks about two major characters: the main character and the bad guy. However, there are so many other characters to consider when writing a novel.
There are side characters, major or minor characters, secondary characters, however, you want to explain it.
If you think about it, your protagonist wouldn’t be where they are if it wasn’t for the help of their supporting characters.
What is a supporting character?
It’s a character in a novel who supports the main character through the plot. They’re not the main focus of the story, but they aid the story in various ways. This can be shown through major or minor characters or secondary characters. Or, maybe a passerby kind of character.
3 examples of supporting characters
The Best Friend
Your main character’s friend may have nothing to do with the plot, but they may get roped into a few things here and there. They’re the perfect opportunity to add a little friction as well. Everyone argues with their best friend and it’ll add one more annoying thing to your main character’s list.
The Mentor
The mentor or teacher is the character who, of course, guides or advises the main character. It may or may not have anything to do with the plot, but most often than not, the main character finds a way to use their teachings to push the plot forward.
The Love Interest
Everyone has a little love in their life and that includes your main character. Sometimes this goes with the plot and other times it doesn’t. Sometimes it even distracts the main character from the plot. Either way, it keeps things interesting.
Treat your supporting cast like any other character.
Supporting characters are just like any other character. The plot just isn’t about them. That’s okay though, they’re still characters who are important to the story.
With that said, be sure to:
- Give them a backstory – This doesn’t have to be too in-depth depending on how often they’ll appear in the story, but it helps.
- Give them good traits – They must be helping the main character for some reason, right?
- Give them bad traits – Everyone makes mistakes. Or, maybe they’re helping for the wrong reasons.
Supporting characters are characters too and they need a lot of attention as well.
What are some of your favorite types of supporting characters? How else do you develop them? Let me know in the comments below, I’d love to chat!
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Yes please. Look how “supporting” characters in Harry Potter started to become their own people
Exactly. They are their own people.
I’ve always liked the best friend, but second tier villains are always fun. I don’t know why, but bad guys that aren’t the main one come off with more interesting personalities. Maybe it’s because one wonders more about them being ‘evil’ and following someone. That and authors tend to make named henchmen some really oddball characters.
That’s true. It makes you wonder how they got there in the first. Are they apprenticing or something?
A very evil temp service?
That would be interesting!
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
Thanks for the share!
Welcome, Rachel – Thank YOU for the post 😀
Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Check out this great post from Rachel Poli’s blog on taking care of supporting characters in your novel
Thanks for the share!
You’re welcome. Three great days of posting in a row. Nice job.
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for posting such informative stuff, and have a great weekend. 😉
You too. 🙂
Be interesting to see you do a short list of good examples from books you like, like the guy above mentioned the supporting characters in Harry Potter. Another great example is Hannibal Lecter, who appears maybe in about 40 or so pages of the Silence of the Lambs (and about 15 mins total screen time in the movie) yet is a totally realised and complete character.
Hm, that’s not a bad idea.
I love my supporting characters and famously one of mine became the main character in my next book.
I love it when that happens. When a supporting character is so good and develops so much that he or she just needs their own storyline. It’s great.
Rachel, I absolutely adore this post! Supporting characters are so very important & often overlooked — I find that sometimes, when I don’t particularly like the main character(s) in a particular book, the supporting characters can actually make or break it for me. There’s so much opportunity, I find, to make supporting characters beautiful & vibrant & colourful, with their own backstories that can enrich the plot. Such a wonderful reminder to show our supporting characters a little more love. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us! ❤
Topaz (Six Impossible Things)
Thanks! It’s true that the supporting characters can actually make or break the story all things considered. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
When you start to like your supporting character more than the protagonist… 😉
The struggle is real, lol.
Reblogged this on Viv Drewa – The Owl Lady.
Thanks for the share.
This is a helpful post, Rachel. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 — Suzanne
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Sometimes it can be interesting if someone ends up with two protagonists as opposed to one as I have done on occasions. This can also increase the chances of enhancing the supporting characters and making them more interesting. Giving a supporting character a story as well can also add dimension to the story itsel and therefore create more elements to it.
Anything thoughts on this would be welcomed
Exactly. I have two protagonists in my mystery series and the majority of the supporting characters all have their own backstories that will be revealed overtime.
Great post and so true ❤
Thanks!