How To Make Your Minor Characters Matter

Every story has its minor characters and some of them are just that.

Minor.

They exist for no other reason than to take up pages in the novel and drive the plot towards its end goal.

Minor characters may not be as important as the main character, (as their names suggest) but this doesn't mean they have to be a dull and boring addition to your novel. If your minor characters are only there for plot and plot alone your reader can be taken out of the story and lose their interest.

You don't necessarily want your minor character to outshine your main character, but giving them a little sparkle isn't such a bad thing.

How To Make Your Minor Characters Matter

Make sure you establish their relationship with the main character 

"Who are you and why do I care?"

This is the question you don't want your reader asking about your minor character. If Joe randomly shows up out of the blue, starts talking to your main character, and suddenly gives the main character the answer to the problem they're searching for…

I'm going to know they were only thrown in there for plot progression. 

You can of course have sporadic characters come and go in your story, but to make them matter assign them a title and show how they interact with the main character.

Are they a coworker, a colleague, third cousin four times removed? 

You shouldn't have minor characters appear out of thin air without showing your reader in some way who they are in relation to your main character. 

Give them a memorable trait 

Your reader most likely isn't going to remember the physical description of your minor characters unless it's really memorable, but they will remember a trait of theirs. 

Lack of communication, always bounces their leg, holds the door for everyone, and always says good morning/evening to any and every elderly person they meet.

This trait can be simple, but make it unique to your minor character to showcase it as theirs. 

Use them to show your main charters traits 

Sure you can have your main character mention they hate when someone chews with their mouth open, or you have your minor character do this and show us your character's disgust. Have them scrounge their face and have them look away.

The more you have an opportunity to SHOW instead of TELL will keep your reader immersed in their experience of the world you have built for them. 

Give them a goal to achieve 

Your main character wants to achieve their goal, it's only fair that your minor character gets to attempt to reach theirs as well. This will give your reader a stake in the minor character and will have them following along and paying attention not to just the main plot, but the minor details in your novel as well.

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Minor characters are just as important, if not more important, than your main character. Without them, your story would just be your main character stumbling through a world of nameless and faceless characters.

Best of luck and keep writing.

With love,

B.K. xo

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