So many minor characters in stories are simply a walk-on cardboard characters, but every now and again, the reader comes across quirky secondary characters who take over the story. I love quirky characters, but too many quirks tend to dilute out the primary character, which in turn, leaves the reader ambivilent about the H/H and their potential relationship.
I finished judging a contest about a month ago that had so many secondary characters which were more interesting than the heroine. It could be the author was trying to show the reader how reticent the heroine was, but quirk took over the story. I connected with the quirk, NOT the main character. And if this story was published, I'd be tempted to read it for the quirky secondarys and not the main love story.
The problem is to keep the secondary characters in their place. The author doesn't want the secondaries to take over the story. I've listened to many authors grip about this phenomena where the characters insist upon a starring role when their job is of the supporting actor.
--promise them they will get their own story and shove them into a cardboard box and duct tape it closed until you have the time to write their story.
End of Story. :-) That's how to deal with the quirky characters who insist upon taking over the story.
So, what about the boring, cardboard secondary characters?
The key is to give each secondary their own agenda.
It doesn't have to be much, but it adds depth to their responses to your MC.
Everyone has an agenda from the bartender who flirts with the frumpy old woman to the unhappy teenager working at Incredible Pizza. There is always a reason for the way a character acts and reacts. It doesn't have to be much, but its like adding a touch of seasoning to dinner. A little thought goes a long way.
Write on!
In movies, it's the secondary character who often has the quirks. Maybe that's why Meg Ryan was so good in romance movies. Her natural quirky character shined through and the best friend character couldn't outshine her.
ReplyDeleteI try not to have too many characters in the first scene. It gets confusing.
I think writers need to be careful of their secondaries. One must use them sparingly or they will outshine the primary characters. I think that's what happens to many story, and thus the "rule" of not opening a novel with too many characters.
ReplyDeleteThen again, that secondary character may be trying to get your attention for a reason. Do you remember the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes? In my opinion, THE best comic strip of all time. When Bill Watterson submitted his original comic strip for syndication, Calvin was a secondary character. They suggested he doff his main character and make Calvin, and his stuffed tiger, the focal points. The result was one of the best cartoons in history. So.....listen to those secondaries, they may know something you don't!
ReplyDeleteTrue, Jody, but sometimes they need to wait their turn.
ReplyDeleteMy current WIP begins with someone who was a secondary character in my debut novel, PULL - a villain, actually, but I did end up promising himhis own story so her would keep in line during that book.
ReplyDeletePULL itself began when the brother of the main character in one of my other novels refused to stay on the sidelines because, as he told me, "I have a reason why I'm so quirky." I had to write his story to appease him. In other words, my secondary characters are out to run my life.
That's wonderful, Barbara! See you appeased him to keep him in line for the one book, and he's rewarding you with another story.
ReplyDeleteWin-win, if you ask me. :-)