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May 15, 2022 · Learn what a supporting character is and why they matter in storytelling. Explore common archetypes such as supporters, antagonists, mentors, and more with examples from films and TV shows.
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A supporting character is a character in a narrative that is not the focus of the primary storyline, but is important to the plot/protagonist. Learn about the definition, examples, and spin-offs of supporting characters in various media.
Nov 14, 2021 · How to Write Supporting Characters. Hobbits Pip and Merry in The Lord of the Rings, the Artful Dodger in Dickens’ Oliver Twist, and Professor Dumbledore in Harry Potter are all stellar examples of secondary characters in literature.
Jun 26, 2023 · Learn how to create and write supporting characters that add depth and complexity to your story. Find out the definition, role, archetypes, and impact of supporting characters with examples from iconic literature.
- Balancing Character Traits
- Tormenting Your Hero
- Fleshing Out The Supporting Cast
- Naming Supporting Characters
- Introducing Minor Characters
- Adding Authenticity
- GeneratedCaptionsTabForHeroSec
An amateur sleuth needs a friend or relative with access to inside information—a police officer, a private investigator or a crime reporter will fit the bill. A character who’s arrogant and full of himself needs a character to keep him from taking himself too seriously, maybe an acerbic coworker or a mother. You might want to show a hardboiled poli...
Every protagonist/mystery sleuth needs an adversary, too. This is not the villain, but a good-guy character who drives your sleuth nuts, pushes his buttons, torments him, puts obstacles in his path, and is generally a pain in the patoot. It might be an overprotective relative or a know-it-all coworker. It might be a police officer or detective who ...
A supporting character can be anyone in your sleuth’s life—a relative, a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a professional colleague; the local librarian, waitress, town mayor; even a pet pooch. A supporting character may get ensnared in the plot and land in moral peril, or even take a turn as a suspect. In a series, supporting characters return from ...
Give each supporting character a name to match the persona, and be careful to pick names that help the reader remember who’s who. Nicknames are easy to remember, especially when they provide a snapshot reminder of the character’s personality (Spike, Godiva, or Flash) or appearance (Red, Curly, or Smokey). Throwing in some ethnicity makes a characte...
Minor characters should make an impression when they come on the scene, just not a big splash. Here’s an example from Devices and Desiresby P.D. James. With a flash of description, action, and dialogue, Manny Cummings makes his debut: The door was already closing when he heard running footsteps and a cheerful shout, and Manny Cummings leapt in, jus...
Remember that the world of your novel will also be full of walk-on characters who provide texture and realism. Each one may also have some small role in facilitating the plot, but for the most part, walk-on characters are there to make scenes feel authentic. Your protagonist takes a stroll, the street needs pedestrians; she goes to the bank to with...
Learn tips on how to create and develop supporting characters in fiction, such as balancing character traits, tormenting your hero, naming supporting characters, and more. See examples from mystery novels and explore the roles and functions of supporting characters in storytelling.
Learn how to create and develop supporting characters for your story, such as antagonizers, supporters, and informers. Find out their roles, examples, and tips to make them three dimensional, memorable, and unpredictable.
Supporting characters are not just narrative devices – they’re individuals painted with strokes of complexity and contradiction. We jump into their motivations, their secrets, and their idiosyncrasies, ensuring viewers find them as compelling as the leads.
