Writing Convincing Background Characters
So you've got an exciting plot, a compelling main character, and a badass antagonist...
You build up some minor characters to support your M.C. and a few to back the bad guy...
Perfect! Now you're ready to rock & roll. Or so you thought... Until you're writing a scene and throwing in random background people to fill some void..
Penciling in a few faces in a crowd..
the bus driver your MC has a short convo's with every time
the cronies working under the mob boss
BUT, who are these people?
source is this awesome artist from pixabay.com
How do you introduce these sub-characters to your readers without sounding like filler content or worse, flat characters!?
Sub-characters create depth to your story. They build stronger connections with you reader by highlighting your main guys strengths or weaknesses. All of my favorite authors create believable and fluid background characters and I want to do the same, everyone should do it! So here’s some of the knowledge I’ve gained through trial and error during my first novel.
Build Strong Character Connections!
- Create a list/diagram starting with your MC and branching out - think of it like that 7 degrees of separation game. Just focus on a name and what the connection is - that's it!
- Once you know the connection to your main character you can weed out which are heavy background characters and which are light
- Heavy characters - lots of dialog and visibility, prime for sub-plots
- Light characters - stand ins, extended families, community members
Keep an Ongoing and Up to Date “Light Characters” List
- Make a document just for your light characters so if need be you can easily reference their role and either cut them or weave them into an amazing subplot!
- Create a list - and most importantly keep it updated! Once you write down that random name to fill a random need add them to that list! - Oh you think you’ll remember it now but 35k words in you’ll be thanking yourself for this!
- Just name, rough age, their “one line”/main purpose/point in the plot they will be needed
- Or maybe you don’t even reference a name - maybe it that old man in the black hat who falls down and your MC helps him up - well jot that shit down
Create a Timeline for Your Plot line
- Don't confuse who did what and when - make a timeline! I draw mine out by hand but I also use Timetoast.com. It’s relatively helpful and sort of user-friendly (it’s my favorite of all the bunches of apps out there at least lol)
- Timelines help you visualize the entire story and gain a better understanding of which characters/events are necessary
Know Who to Cut Back and Who to Grow
- Write a background story for each and every light character (it goes without saying you’d write one for your main and heavy characters)
- Don’t get overwhelmed! Write a small history for each one - a few sentences outlining relationships, perspective and persona
- Use a character template if you need some inspiration. There are a quadrillion different kinds on the interwebs!
- Let the subplots reveal themselves! Define who you can use and when. Make sure the sub-plots drive your main plot forward and aren’t too far off the theme
- Don’t be afraid to trim back characters you once thought would be heavier and bring in a former lightweight. Each character and scene should be beneficial to the story as a whole - if it’s not trim it down or cut it out altogether.
And lastly...
Get back to writing already! The books not gonna write itself, you know!
Don't spend all your time building characters and forget to actually write the book.
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writing books takes experience and often reads, because reading will make the mind stronger to write. @amariespeaks
you're very right @fairusyusri reading is most of the most important things an author does (other than writing lol ) Thank you for reading my post!
Thank you for this post. I have often sat down to write then get stuck because I didn't write out a timeline for myself and have trouble in the middle. Very good advice!
Thank you @joanneparr ! the further I got into this novel the more I realized how important documenting timelines, little plot ideas, vocabulary and dates really are !
This is great advice...I'm mired in a story right now that I'm not sure how to get out of...but, I haven't written a timeline or any of those other important things that I should probably have done before I started writing. Thanks!
@mwoodall it's never too late to start! In fact, starting out just writing might be the best way. Then once you have that foundation you can really start to build a cohesive timeline and character histories. Good luck with your story! Writing a story is like pushing a bruise.. you just gotta do it - even though it hurts! LOL
I have devoted almost NO time to it in the last few months because of work and family pressures...I'm hoping to be able to take a week of holidays and get some serious writing done!