tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post6901632487766166794..comments2024-03-28T12:40:14.627+00:00Comments on MOODY WRITING: Should Secondary Characters Change?mooderinohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-78556366800300590842014-05-22T00:44:43.894+01:002014-05-22T00:44:43.894+01:00I love it when characters are complex and interest...I love it when characters are complex and interesting without being contrived. That's such a task for the writer and when characters and their relationships are done well, the reader can fall into the story and just be there, enjoying. Ah. Yes. Please. <br /><br />For me, I have limited ability to keep track of where those characters are and what they're doing, so I have to keep the numbers down. I love three and no more than four at a time.<br />cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-83227492317857211522014-05-19T23:54:35.785+01:002014-05-19T23:54:35.785+01:00The very first story I wrote has dozens of charact...The very first story I wrote has dozens of characters. I learned this lesson the hard way. I must say all of your examples always leave me wishing for more. You are the only person that makes me miss writing stories.Al Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107619009321980764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-9242002342445714142014-05-19T18:13:29.643+01:002014-05-19T18:13:29.643+01:00@mike - yeah, not sure that's always a good id...@mike - yeah, not sure that's always a good idea. I like a story to be about who it's about.mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-61223836171747280972014-05-19T17:19:44.959+01:002014-05-19T17:19:44.959+01:00In fantasy epics, secondary characters can become ...In fantasy epics, secondary characters can become major ones when the major ones get killed off. I think this really prolongs a story and I'm not sure I'm a fan of the never-ending fantasy epic.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-64966284877132627242014-05-15T22:07:12.276+01:002014-05-15T22:07:12.276+01:00@crystal - a fun character gets away with it somet...@crystal - a fun character gets away with it sometimes, i think.<br /><br />@Misha - it's hard to care when you go too deep into other characters' lives.<br /><br />@Ken - my bag is stuffed full. Always room for more though. mooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-85039207125648369342014-05-14T21:30:05.779+01:002014-05-14T21:30:05.779+01:00Ah, another thing to add to my bag of writing tric...Ah, another thing to add to my bag of writing tricks. I'm going to have to get a bigger bag soon. Thanks.Chemist Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738272332470397248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-9392917303651234262014-05-14T14:27:11.389+01:002014-05-14T14:27:11.389+01:00Sensible advice. It's better to keep everythin...Sensible advice. It's better to keep everything swirling around the story, or else it looks unfocused.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-74983085534464791392014-05-14T14:08:18.997+01:002014-05-14T14:08:18.997+01:00I totally believe that secondary characters should...I totally believe that secondary characters should be evolving along with the main characters, but in a less pronounced fashion. Yes, they should change, but slower. Static characters kind of drive me batty. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-56464347954108711272014-05-14T09:20:24.063+01:002014-05-14T09:20:24.063+01:00@alex - a series is certainly worth exploiting in ...@alex - a series is certainly worth exploiting in the manner you describe.<br /><br />@Diane - finding the right balance is never easy but great when it feels right (after all the tweaking).<br /><br />@Al - this is one of the confusing aspects of this subject, that we all like characters in stories that we don't want to see change.<br /><br />@LD - also worth considering that in some cases it will work fine as is, if the character is entertaining enough.<br /><br />@Jamie - yes, in your head they should be fleshed out either way.<br /><br />@Lilith - although a good zinger every time they turn up can help you get away with murdermooderinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01523337588830695638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-33233955386928751282014-05-14T02:09:30.163+01:002014-05-14T02:09:30.163+01:00Very interesting. I guess it is hard to set the mo...Very interesting. I guess it is hard to set the mood for a really interesting minor character. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10304701332216772385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-77292006557095842672014-05-13T22:25:46.624+01:002014-05-13T22:25:46.624+01:00Agreed; it's all well and good wanting to fles...Agreed; it's all well and good wanting to flesh out a subsidiary character (and you should, at least in your head, if you want a well rounded world), but they need to bring the focus in on your MC and your main narrative to be of interest to the reader.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-85718279639935360802014-05-12T22:42:31.404+01:002014-05-12T22:42:31.404+01:00You've got me mulling over what to do with one...You've got me mulling over what to do with one of my characters. He was pretty much who and where I wanted him to be from the beginning. Didn't leave enough room for growth. Got to revisit.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-31323835528925675322014-05-12T21:37:20.436+01:002014-05-12T21:37:20.436+01:00This reminds me of a secondary character in Monste...This reminds me of a secondary character in Monster Hunter Legion Series. He doesn't change but one tends to look forward to when he appears. It is just the chemistry between him and the main character that makes things so funny.Al Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107619009321980764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-48275620655171769172014-05-12T20:26:43.003+01:002014-05-12T20:26:43.003+01:00I'll likely be making change happen in one of ...I'll likely be making change happen in one of my secondary characters. This is because he had caught the interest of a few in my writing group. If a character stands out like that, I like to play with it a bit and see what comes of him.<br /><br />It's exciting to have more than one character involved in the plot, but I agree, two many details can get hairy and pretty annoying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15901684621715980573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1061937348591302555.post-24635174220656382592014-05-12T18:04:15.156+01:002014-05-12T18:04:15.156+01:00I think their interactions with the main character...I think their interactions with the main characters is one of the best ways to show changes in growth in minor characters. And if you're working on a series, those minor characters have even more room to grow.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com