From Caricature to Character

As novelists, we work hard to breathe life into our main characters. We even work hard to breathe life into our secondary characters.

But what about the minor characters?

The ones that make brief cameos. Perhaps for a scene or two or three. The ones that have no significant impact on the story. The ones that are simply filler.

Like the hostess who sits your protagonist at the restaurant.

Or the police officer who pulls your hero over for speeding.

Or the delivery guy who brings your heroine flower...