How to Write Side Characters

Four tips for writing compelling side characters that don’t take over your story.

Side characters can be super fun and they often become fan favourites. Think Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, Dory from Finding Nemo, and Agent Coulson from Avengers. They provide comedic relief and win over the hearts of the audience.

Side characters sometimes steal the limelight because they’re so dang sure of themselves! They also don’t have to struggle the same way your protagonist does.

So how do you create a compelling side character that doesn’t take over your whole story?
Here are four tips.

Make sure your side characters are complex.

Your side characters are human, which means they’re complex like everyone else. Just because they aren’t the focus of your story doesn’t mean they don’t have their own backstories. Their actions are still going to be dictated by their experiences of the world they live in.

For example, Luna Lovegood doesn’t have a huge role in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.* She’s the outsider who wears odd earrings and believes things no one else does. However, she has a backstory and she acts according to her values. The reader may not be aware of her history, but Luna is a striking character because of it. She is a full person when she steps on the page.

To ensure your side characters are complex characters, you can fill out a character sheet for them. That way you have all their details at hand when you need them.

Make your side characters intersting.

Side characters get to have more fun than main characters, because they usually aren’t having to make the same big life-changing decisions your main character is, so use that to your advantage. Make your side characters interesting and allow them to bring something new to the story.

One thing that Luna brings to Harry Potter is levity. The world is becoming a dark place for Harry, and Luna is a strange new presence in his life. She’s also joyful and curious. That’s not something any of Harry’s other friends are. Luna sits in stark contrast to Hermione Granger, because she believes in possibilities that Hermione does not. Luna is weird, unexpectedly positive, and kind throughout a dark storyline, which makes her an interesting and fun character to follow.

Ask yourself: What’s something my main character is lacking/can’t bring to the story? How can a secondary character fill that gap?

Make sure your side characters don’t have too much of an arc.

Your main character is going to be struggling and changing throughout your story. Don’t make them compete for that growth with someone who’s not in your main cast!

While there are some side characters who grow and change in the background of series, be sure not to let that become the focus of your novel. Everything revolves around the problems your central protagonist(s) face. Try not to lose sight of that.

Continuing with the example of Luna, she faces some extreme bullying in The Order of the Phoenix. However, the audience never sees her emotional struggle with that in any detail. Even when she isn’t doing well, the level to which the audience knows about her problems matches how involved Harry is.

To limit how much drama a side character wrestles with in your story, ask yourself what they bring to each scene they’re in for the protagonist.

Remember that each character serves a purpose.

The reality of fiction is that each character serves a purpose in your story. Specifically, each character serves a purpose for your protagonist and their problems. Everything is more focused and streamlined than in real life.

Luna offers Harry a new perspective counter to how he and his friends see the world. She shows Harry that even when something seems implausible, there is always a kernel of truth. This is important, because no one else believes Harry’s dreams are real even though he feels they are. But then no one believes Luna, and Harry knows she has been right about far-fetched ideas before. Luna offers Harry hope.

Ask yourself what your side characters do for your protagonist and how the plot would change without them. If nothing changes without them, consider taking them out or combining them with another side character.

TL;DR

Writing side characters is fun because they get to be entities unto themselves. Just remember that it’s not their story. They’re there to serve your main character and the plot.

·      Make sure your side characters are three dimensional. Side characters are people too!

·      Fill out a detailed character sheet for them to keep their backstory handy.

·      Make sure your side characters are interesting and have fun! What can they bring the story that your main character (who’s probably dealing with a lot) cannot?

·      Ask yourself what purpose they serve in the story and for your protagonist. How would the story change without them?

·      Ask yourself what their purpose is in each scene. What do they bring to the table that advances the narrative or your protagonist’s inner struggles?

If you want to chat more about your side characters and how they fit into your story, click below for your free consult call.

** I would like to acknowledge that the author of this series has harmful beliefs. I chose this example because it is one that many people are aware of. Additionally, Harry Potter is more than its author and the community around it is pretty incredible. That said, please read with care.