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Monday, May 23, 2011
Secondary Characters - More Important Than You Think
I often compare writing a book to building a house. Which is one of the reasons some writers’ processes amaze me. How can you build a house without blueprints? Or build the roof before you’ve put up the walls? NOT that anyone’s process is incorrect, but it’s interesting how our process must suit how our brains work. And my brain works with blueprints and in a linear fashion.
Anyway, in building a house, you need tools. Some big, some small. Power tools are always good, but a simple hammer can be just as important. To build the best house, you need a full toolbox, and the same goes for a writer. I did not create the concept of a writer’s toolbox, but I have embraced it with gusto. I must have my tools or I’m lost!
A few days ago, Hellie and I were talking about how to get information to the reader without using too much internal dialog. My method of choice is regular old spoken dialog, but unless you want your characters to come across as lunatics talking to themselves all the time, they need someone to talk to.
This is where secondary characters come into play.
I admit, no character should be created solely as a sounding board for your main characters. But when you write stories without car chases, flying bullets, and explosions, you need action and that comes from interaction between the characters. All of the characters.
In Romance, the majority of interaction is between the hero and heroine, but not all of it. I suppose you could strand them on a deserted island (as Vicki Lewis Thompson did in the original Nerd book) and then they’d have to talk only to each other. Or do other things, as Vicki’s characters did. But most character, regardless of the time period or genre, need to interact with someone besides their love interest.
So what purpose should secondary characters serve? I’ve come up with three basic rules guidelines. Options, if you will
1.) Foil – According to Wikipedia (where else?) “a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight various features of that other character's personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper focus." In my first MS, I needed someone for my heroine to talk to while pondering her situation with the hero. Hence Charlotte the tuxedo cat was born. Charlotte is moody, stand-offish, and clueless to her own faults. Why yes, these terms would also describe my heroine.
2.) Confidant – Sometimes our characters need to get something off their chests. They can’t keep the secret anymore or realize they really are in love and must tell someone. These are not things they could ever tell their potential mate. For one, this would make for a very short story. For two, someone has to talk them out of telling their potential mate. The confidant can advice the main character to either do the right thing or do the wrong thing, but they are usually there to say what the main character can’t or won’t.
3.) Support – Secondary characters are often referred to as supporting characters, and for good reason. By adding more relationships, we add more dimension to our characters and our stories. I’m going to use Gilmore Girls as an example. The main story is about the relationship between mother and daughter. Lorelei and Rory are a great example of an extremely close parent/child relationship. But other relationships include Lorelei and her parents, Rory and her grandparents, Lorelei and Luke, Rory and her best friend Lane. Throw in Rory’s boyfriends, her crazy, overbearing friend Paris, and the tangled mess of Lorelei, Rory and Rory’s father, Christopher. All of these relationships (in addition to the stellar writing) are the reason this show stayed on the air for so many years. And why millions of us die-hard fans still watch the show in syndication.
But the number one, best thing about secondary characters is that YOU get to create them. Make them goofy or crazy or too serious or make them wear funny hats and speak in nothing but haiku. Your main characters may be the focus, but when you need someone for them to talk to, reach into your toolbox and pull out the perfect secondary character. Or maybe the imperfect one, it’s all up to you.
Your turn. Who is your favorite secondary character? It can be from books, television, or movies. Or all three. Why is that character your favorite? And have you manage to use secondary characters to their full potential? If not, what are you waiting for??
Anyway, in building a house, you need tools. Some big, some small. Power tools are always good, but a simple hammer can be just as important. To build the best house, you need a full toolbox, and the same goes for a writer. I did not create the concept of a writer’s toolbox, but I have embraced it with gusto. I must have my tools or I’m lost!
A few days ago, Hellie and I were talking about how to get information to the reader without using too much internal dialog. My method of choice is regular old spoken dialog, but unless you want your characters to come across as lunatics talking to themselves all the time, they need someone to talk to.
This is where secondary characters come into play.
I admit, no character should be created solely as a sounding board for your main characters. But when you write stories without car chases, flying bullets, and explosions, you need action and that comes from interaction between the characters. All of the characters.
In Romance, the majority of interaction is between the hero and heroine, but not all of it. I suppose you could strand them on a deserted island (as Vicki Lewis Thompson did in the original Nerd book) and then they’d have to talk only to each other. Or do other things, as Vicki’s characters did. But most character, regardless of the time period or genre, need to interact with someone besides their love interest.
So what purpose should secondary characters serve? I’ve come up with three basic rules guidelines. Options, if you will
1.) Foil – According to Wikipedia (where else?) “a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight various features of that other character's personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper focus." In my first MS, I needed someone for my heroine to talk to while pondering her situation with the hero. Hence Charlotte the tuxedo cat was born. Charlotte is moody, stand-offish, and clueless to her own faults. Why yes, these terms would also describe my heroine.
2.) Confidant – Sometimes our characters need to get something off their chests. They can’t keep the secret anymore or realize they really are in love and must tell someone. These are not things they could ever tell their potential mate. For one, this would make for a very short story. For two, someone has to talk them out of telling their potential mate. The confidant can advice the main character to either do the right thing or do the wrong thing, but they are usually there to say what the main character can’t or won’t.
3.) Support – Secondary characters are often referred to as supporting characters, and for good reason. By adding more relationships, we add more dimension to our characters and our stories. I’m going to use Gilmore Girls as an example. The main story is about the relationship between mother and daughter. Lorelei and Rory are a great example of an extremely close parent/child relationship. But other relationships include Lorelei and her parents, Rory and her grandparents, Lorelei and Luke, Rory and her best friend Lane. Throw in Rory’s boyfriends, her crazy, overbearing friend Paris, and the tangled mess of Lorelei, Rory and Rory’s father, Christopher. All of these relationships (in addition to the stellar writing) are the reason this show stayed on the air for so many years. And why millions of us die-hard fans still watch the show in syndication.
But the number one, best thing about secondary characters is that YOU get to create them. Make them goofy or crazy or too serious or make them wear funny hats and speak in nothing but haiku. Your main characters may be the focus, but when you need someone for them to talk to, reach into your toolbox and pull out the perfect secondary character. Or maybe the imperfect one, it’s all up to you.
Your turn. Who is your favorite secondary character? It can be from books, television, or movies. Or all three. Why is that character your favorite? And have you manage to use secondary characters to their full potential? If not, what are you waiting for??
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Bo'sun's Babblings (Terri)
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34 comments:
Hee, hee. My fav secondary character be... JOSHAMEE GIBBS!
When Jack needed to talk a bit about Angelique and why he was doing what he was doing...Gibbs was there. A very good example of being there to help the viewer understand his actions.
Time and again in the movies, he's been there to enable Jack to talk. About the only one he does talk to regularly...and he explains for Jack, too!
He can be all of the three you've mentioned. A foil, as his supposed denseness contrasts well with Jack's quickness. Confidant, as I said before. Support...well, he adds and speaks for Jack...
Yup. My favorite secondary character...
At least you're consistent.
Great post, Terri.
Secondary characters can also bring another bit of conflict into the story, to keep things lively, since each character has their own goals and motivations. If the story is big enough, they can even become a subplot.
OR, they can even become their own book! :)
Oh yes, I should have including "Add to this list" at the bottom there. I only picked three but there so many things they can do. A secondary love story, a set up for their own future story.
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
Hermione is literally their walking, talking information fact checker. "In Hogwarts: A History..." and is constantly filling them in on stuff they need to know. She's also the best person at spells. She can explain people's behaviors (an armchair psychologist)--like when she's explaining Cho Chang's crying jag and how girls think. Hermione is my favorite.
Ron is a great comic relief secondary character. He gets some of the confidant stuff and supporting role; and there are times he really steps up and shows how awesome he is. He's more funny than Hermione is, mainly because he's not as perfect and it shows terribly. *LOL* Ron is also good about encouraging Harry into more danger. *LOL* The Midnight Duel in the first book; flying to Hogwarts in the second.
PS, I love Hermione and Ron. LOL! What a great couple. Talk about Yin and Yang.
Ok, I hate to keep harping on tis class but, well, here goes....
Carol Hughes says there are four types of secondary characters and that secondary characters should be used to shine a light on the different things the main characters should be feeling.
There's the Emotion Character and the Logic Character. The emotion one would represent the chaos, the logic one representing order. (Star Wars, Chewbacca is the chaos, Leia is the order). Then there's the Skeptic Character and the Allies/Sidekicks. (Skeptic is Han Solo, Allies are R2D2 and C3PO).
These characters are trotted out when the main characters need someone to point out to the reader/watcher that the main characters are aware of certain circumstances. Han Solo is used to point out the dire situations. He shows us that Luke is aware, but without having Luke come off as the cynical one. Sort of a way to deflect while acknowledging the feelings of the reader.
If I'm thinking as a reader, "this plan's never going to work" having a character say that same thing (expressing my reader skepticism) we make the world more believable.
Does that even make any sense?
To use Hermione... She's the logic in the story, to Ron's emotion. And, I think they even function as the other two. Hermione as the skeptic, Ron as the Allie/Sidekick.
Hermione gives the reader background information, without the author having to give us an info dump.
Kiddo and I have been watching non-stop HP movies (thanks to ABCFamily) and I am quickly falling for Ron. He totally cracks me up. When Hermione does explain that crying jag and he's amazed one person could feel that much at once. And Hermione tells him he has the emotional capacity of a teaspoon. LOL! Maybe I should read the books. :)
When Hermione does explain that crying jag and he’s amazed one person could feel that much at once. And Hermione tells him he has the emotional capacity of a teaspoon. LOL! Maybe I should read the books.
That IS in the books. It's one of my favorite parts of book 5. *LOL* Hermione has some kick ass lines where Ron is concerned. *LOL*
Oh Ter. The books are sooooo much better than the movies. If you're not ready to take on all 7, start at the 4th. The first two are kinda basic, I think. Though necessary for some backstory, you'd probably be able get the idea (if you've watched the movies) without the first three.
I think it would be cool for Kiddo and I to read these together. She's never been into them before, but she's starting to get into broader stories. Perfect time to throw these in the mix.
I do love any character who can make me laugh. In the series Gilmore Girls, their sleepy little town, Stars Hollow, is populated with the quirkiest characters. Kirk is just weird, Miss Patty and Babette, and then Taylor Dosey who drives them all crazy. I love characters with odd quirks.
Marn - I forgot to address your ecourse stuff. You said one character can fill more than one role? I'm going through your list and assigning roles to the people in my head. The cynic of this book becomes the heroine of the next one. Does this teacher explain how to transition them from one role to the next? Maybe?
Absolutely. The skeptic/cynic in my book right now is going to be the hero in my next book.
And I have characters who play more than one role. This skeptic is also the logical one.
You don't have to have all of them, just the ones that you need. It's hard for me to explain without the pages of info that she gives us, honestly. I think the bottom line is that the purpose of secondary characters should be to offset the main characters. To bring things to their attention, to highlight events or reactions to events. Stuff like that.
Maybe this isn't the epiphany for everyone else that it was for me. I'd never thought of the role they play for the reader, honestly. Like having the emotional character react without thinking of consequences (like when Chewbacca gets angry and almost strangles that guy in Empire Strikes Back). Here we're seeing the emotional element to Han being frozen and taken away from Chewy and Leia, even as Leia relies on her logic to try to stop that from happening. Or when Leia tries to convince Han not to go looking for Luke, in the beginning of Empire Strikes Back, that it's too cold outside and he could die, we're seeing the logic and the possible peril, even while Han defies her and follows his emotions. (Though in true cynic/skeptic fashion, when told his mount will freeze, he says, "Then I'll see you in hell")
It sort of gives all the range of emotions without having one character feel all the emotions.
I think I knew all the character had to serve a purpose, but I didn't know what that purpose was, or how to find it. I like assigning them roles, like assigning them jobs. Very organized. We can delegate tasks to these characters and they become brand new tools in the toolbox.
Must take that class.
I'm good with figuring out the "what". I have a helluva a time with the "how".
I like assigning them roles, like assigning them jobs. Very organized.
You're such a capricorn.
That class is offered in August. I'm SOOOOO taking it.
I just finished a post for H&H and I used Heaven, Texas by SEP as one of my examples. I went to Amazon to refresh my memory on something, and the first chapter of the book is posted there. It's from the POV of a secondary character and it's SO well done, because it gives all kinds of info about the hero that wouldn't have been as good, or entertaining, if it came out in a different way. Check it out.
I do a lot of critiquing (longtime member of Critters). When I'm discussing secondary characters I point out that the protagonist is defined by the company he/she keeps. So, in this regard, if the secondary characters are flat and poorly developed, so too is the protagonist.
Technically, there are always secondary characters, even when the protagonist is alone on a desert island. In that case, the island-its flora, fauna and weather--becomes the secondary character, of sorts.
Harry Potter has terrific secondary characters, Hermione and Ron, but also Snape and even Draco. Peeta and Gale, from The Hunger Games, are also faves of mine. Carla, from War for the Oaks, is another (rare case where a UF heroine has a solid female friendship). And while the series has run out of steam, Evanovich's over-the-top cast in The Stephanie Plum series is terrific.
I fall short in that area, Pat. Bringing the setting to life and actually making it feel like a character. Though I received a crit this week where the feedback said I'd totally brought my little town to life and she felt as if she'd lived there.
So maybe I do this and don't know it? I thinkI do a lot of things and don't know it. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
But your comment makes me think of that Tom Hanks movie where he talked to the soccer ball. Winston was his name, I think. Can't remember the name of the dang movie. (Too lazy to go look it up.)
Castaway.
new = knew
*sigh*
That's it! I kept thinking shipwrecked and new that wasn't it.
Hey, I am consistent. Except when I'm not. I have to agree with the Ron/Hermonie example. I may not have read all the books, but that is a given.
House has Cuddy and Wilson. Bones? Her FBI guy.
And I realize I need to insert some specific dialogue into my present book for the same reason the "This is never going to work." comment was vocalized in Star Wars...
Now...where?
You got your crit back? Sounds like it went well!
I did and it went very well. I emailed. :)
Lots of fun characters on Bones. Hodgins is one of my favorites but Sweets is also funny. They're all very unique people.
That's another important factor, make the characters unique. I think it was Crusie who said every character, even if it's only the pizza delivery guy, should have a backstory and a life inside your head. They are real whether on one page or a hundred pages.
My problem with secondary characters is limiting them. I'd be happy with a cast of thousands. Or a cast of 8075, the population of Gentry, Georgia, plus assorted citizens of Ethan's Gap, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee. LOL
As a reader, I want context. I don't think people live in vacuums, and when I encounter an H/H who have no family or friends, I don't trust them.
Yes to the Rowling example. Hers is a world filled with great secondary characters. Even those who have a limited run are memorable. Think of all the Weasleys, forexample. Each is a distinct personality. And there's McGonagall, Trelawny, Mad Eye, Rosmerta, Colin Creevy, and hosts of other minor characterswho add their bit to the full story.
You can't help that they all come to live for you, Janga. There are worse problems, I imagine. At least you never have to worry about a story coming up short. :)
Did you get that town first, the people first, or just the first two main characters and then the rest? My main characters show up first and the others are slow to arrive.
*makes note to work more on her secondary characters so Janga will trust her*
Well, a little untruthworthiness isn't a bad thing... ;-)
Excellent blog, Ter. Every secondary character I've loved fills all the requirements that everyone has brought up.
I'm like Janga in that "the more the merrier" as far as I'm concerned. I love to learn about all the inhabitants in the H/H lives, right down to their dog or cat. I've never realized it before but after reading everyone's posts I believe it's because they all tell so much more about the characters and make them come that much more alive for me.
ITA with Hermione and Ron and all the wonderful characters in the Harry Potter world. I've also become a huge fan of Gilmore Girls, Ter. My daughter started taping it about 6 months ago and now we watch it together and it is so much fun - mostly due to the colorful cast of characters.
Donna, is your post up yet at H&H about Heaven, Texas? That is one of my favorite SEPs. I can't wait to see what you write about it.
Irish - I had a cat in the first one, but I have a dog in this one. I'm writing in my dog that I lost a few years ago and because I keep typing his name, I keep calling my cat Bumblebee Dozer. LOL! It's really messing with my head, but I'm loving bringing Dozer back to life.
Aren't Gilmore Girls fun? I watched it back when it was still airing new episodes and watching the end was so painful.
Yeah, we saw the last episode a couple of weeks ago and both cried! In fact, my daughter avoided watching it for a week. Now we're starting the series all over again. I came in during the last season and she's seen a season or two before that but neither of us has seen it from the beginning.
Oh, that's 5 my time, not sure if it's on at 4 over there. :)
It's so odd to go back and see the first season, but ABCFamily shows them every weekday at 5pm and they're showing season 1 right now.
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