Why Supporting Characters Matter
So you've created your heroine. She's a complex, dynamic character with believable flaws and fears. You've sketched out the plot and decided what the message of the story will be. But something's missing.
Where are your supporting characters?
Unless your protagonist is the lone survivor of the apocalypse, they have to interact with other characters. The same applies to the central couple in a romance: no one can exist in a cocoon of bliss. Whether they're family, friends, enemies or passing strangers, supporting characters are an urgent addition to any novel.
Here are the top five reasons why supporting characters matter:
1) They bring out different sides to your protagonist
A protagonist who skips around being sweet and lovely to everyone is sick making; likewise, an unrepentant heel is one dimensional and unlikeable. No one behaves exactly the same way in every situation or with everyone they meet.
Perhaps the hardass boss regresses to childhood whenever she's near her domineering mother. Perhaps the man who seems like a feckless layabout is devoted to his niece and nephew. How does your hero treat his inferiors? Are they genuine or patronising, empathetic or indifferent? Which of these facets is the "real" them? Or, as is usually the case, are they all of these conflicting behaviours at once?
2) They're memorable
Think of your favourite film franchises. When you recall Back to the Future, which character comes to mind? Who do you quote from Pirates of the Caribbean?
While we're not suggesting that Marty McFly or Will Turner are boring (well, perhaps Will is), they are standard protagonist characters, i.e. the ordinary guy who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. You could stick almost anybody in their position and still make the story work.
This is where a lovingly imagined supporting cast comes in. Unlike the hero(ine), they're very specific to that scenario: you can't pop Doc Brown into a serious movie, though bless you for trying! Dickens had this formula sussed long before cinema. Whereas his idealistic young men are roughly similar, Miss Havisham could only exist in the bittersweet setting of Great Expectations - and Fagin in the pulpier Oliver Twist. This understanding led to some of the greatest supporting characters in the literary canon.
3) They give you a break from the primary plotline
Following the same story thread for 400 pages is a noble goal in theory but rarely works in practice. If a reader doesn't warm to the protagonist or care about the arc, they become fatigued and dump the book. To prevent this outcome, multiple plot lines can and should be employed, using your supporting cast.
Are your main characters going through an acrimonious divorce? Have a subplot examining its effect on their teenage kids; it'd be a nice touch if they manage to keep it together while their parents act like babies. Or if your lead is a rookie who worships their mentor, show how unworthy the old timer is of their trust. Their complicated feelings towards their fallen idol lends the conflict extra depth and drama.
4) They're comic relief
One of the most underrated yet valuable attributes of side characters: they can come out with the witty one liners or engage in screwball antics that your protagonist can't or won't. Nobody wants to read a book that's unmitigated doom and gloom. Even tense thrillers have their light moments - probably to put you in a receptive state of mind for the next scare!
5) They're like us
In stories where the lead has almost superhuman capabilities - James Bond, Indiana Jones, Ellen Ripley, Lisbeth Salander - the supporting roles are reminders that ordinary Joes exist in this parallel universe. They're the friends, partners and associates of these marvels.
The companions in Doctor Who are audience surrogates, sharing the Time Lord's adventures through time and space. Wonder Woman is loved by the brave but extremely human Steve Trevor. He is ambivalent about dating a goddess, as any sane person would be. Vampire slayer Buffy Summers' best friend is Xander, notable for his complete lack of superpowers. Yet he has saved the world on several occasions and, most importantly, is a loyal ally and sounding board.
Does that make them less interesting? Of course not. Every character, no matter how minor, gets their chance to shine.
Where are your supporting characters?
Unless your protagonist is the lone survivor of the apocalypse, they have to interact with other characters. The same applies to the central couple in a romance: no one can exist in a cocoon of bliss. Whether they're family, friends, enemies or passing strangers, supporting characters are an urgent addition to any novel.
Here are the top five reasons why supporting characters matter:
1) They bring out different sides to your protagonist
A protagonist who skips around being sweet and lovely to everyone is sick making; likewise, an unrepentant heel is one dimensional and unlikeable. No one behaves exactly the same way in every situation or with everyone they meet.
Perhaps the hardass boss regresses to childhood whenever she's near her domineering mother. Perhaps the man who seems like a feckless layabout is devoted to his niece and nephew. How does your hero treat his inferiors? Are they genuine or patronising, empathetic or indifferent? Which of these facets is the "real" them? Or, as is usually the case, are they all of these conflicting behaviours at once?
2) They're memorable
Think of your favourite film franchises. When you recall Back to the Future, which character comes to mind? Who do you quote from Pirates of the Caribbean?
While we're not suggesting that Marty McFly or Will Turner are boring (well, perhaps Will is), they are standard protagonist characters, i.e. the ordinary guy who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances. You could stick almost anybody in their position and still make the story work.
This is where a lovingly imagined supporting cast comes in. Unlike the hero(ine), they're very specific to that scenario: you can't pop Doc Brown into a serious movie, though bless you for trying! Dickens had this formula sussed long before cinema. Whereas his idealistic young men are roughly similar, Miss Havisham could only exist in the bittersweet setting of Great Expectations - and Fagin in the pulpier Oliver Twist. This understanding led to some of the greatest supporting characters in the literary canon.
3) They give you a break from the primary plotline
Following the same story thread for 400 pages is a noble goal in theory but rarely works in practice. If a reader doesn't warm to the protagonist or care about the arc, they become fatigued and dump the book. To prevent this outcome, multiple plot lines can and should be employed, using your supporting cast.
Are your main characters going through an acrimonious divorce? Have a subplot examining its effect on their teenage kids; it'd be a nice touch if they manage to keep it together while their parents act like babies. Or if your lead is a rookie who worships their mentor, show how unworthy the old timer is of their trust. Their complicated feelings towards their fallen idol lends the conflict extra depth and drama.
4) They're comic relief
One of the most underrated yet valuable attributes of side characters: they can come out with the witty one liners or engage in screwball antics that your protagonist can't or won't. Nobody wants to read a book that's unmitigated doom and gloom. Even tense thrillers have their light moments - probably to put you in a receptive state of mind for the next scare!
5) They're like us
In stories where the lead has almost superhuman capabilities - James Bond, Indiana Jones, Ellen Ripley, Lisbeth Salander - the supporting roles are reminders that ordinary Joes exist in this parallel universe. They're the friends, partners and associates of these marvels.
The companions in Doctor Who are audience surrogates, sharing the Time Lord's adventures through time and space. Wonder Woman is loved by the brave but extremely human Steve Trevor. He is ambivalent about dating a goddess, as any sane person would be. Vampire slayer Buffy Summers' best friend is Xander, notable for his complete lack of superpowers. Yet he has saved the world on several occasions and, most importantly, is a loyal ally and sounding board.
Does that make them less interesting? Of course not. Every character, no matter how minor, gets their chance to shine.
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