Hello Side Characters, Where Did You Come From?

I don’t know about you, but I have a small issue with my side characters that involves forgetting that they’re there. Oops? At least it’s only a real problem during my first drafts.

For the most part.

Admittedly, I have a lot less writing experience than my fellow Inkettes. And during a first run through a story I have severe tunnel vision. I stick to my main character like super glue and move us along from point A to B to C with very little interruption. My first drafts are like oddly detailed schematics of plot and character growth/change peppered with little comments about things I think will engage the reader and/or throw my character through a loop. It’s my organic post-outline product.

I’m not sure if this issue is lack-of-experience quirk or not.

Source.

Of course, in my tunnel-vision state, I forget that the world is full of other people unless a scene calls for direct interaction. Don’t get me wrong, during the initial planning stages of a story I flush out my cast, sometimes to extreme detail. Depending on the length and style of the story, I know as much about my supporting cast as I do my protagonist. I also note the significant aspects of my periphery people. I simply have a tendency to leave them off the board until I hit a scene where I need them or I remember they’re there.

For instance, my current short story project is supposed to have crows play an integral part in the story. They’re not allowed to just fly overhead in a scene. My pair of birds are relevant to my antagonist, not just my protagonist. They serve a legitimate role and are important for my foreshadowing. Trying to recall that while creating did not go well. Every once in a while I’d remember they were present so some feathers would rustle –ok, I think I used rustle 10 times– and they kuh-cawed once. Maybe twice.

That’s it.

I’m in the early stages but I am notorious for allowing this problem to persist until I’ve tweaked my main character and their part of the story just right. I don’t want to do that this time around. I’ve fashioned a plan of action to help my cause. It may be a bit of extra work, but I intend to draw up and draft my crows’ arc because they do have their own goals beyond my protagonist that counter my antagonist’s. I’m then going to join that with my main story arc and look for the overlaps where the crows can really shine in my story. Then, they shouldn’t move like pawns that I use when I need filler.

I’m anticipating a richer subplot if nothing else. Wish me luck!

Source.

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