The Gist
When we think about a great story, our minds often jump straight to the main character—the hero, the protagonist, the person whose journey drives the plot forward. But what about the side characters? Those supporting figures, the ones in the background, are crucial to a story’s richness and believability. In fact, a well-crafted side character can add depth, complexity, and realism to your world, making the reader more invested in the narrative. The question is: how do you make side characters both complex and relatable, rather than flat, one-dimensional figures?
Why Side Characters Matter
Think about your own life. Are the people around you any less important to your story than you are? In some ways, their personalities, quirks, and relationships with you shape your world as much as your decisions do. The same goes for fiction. Side characters give your main character someone to react to, learn from, or even clash with. They can represent different perspectives or reflect aspects of the main character’s internal struggles.
Relatable side characters can also make your world feel more authentic. When every character in your story has depth, it’s easier for readers to immerse themselves in the narrative. They’ll see these supporting figures as real people, not just plot devices used to push the protagonist forward.
Start with Motivations
One of the simplest ways to make a side character more complex is to give them a clear motivation. What do they want? Why are they in the story? Even if they’re not the main focus, every character needs a reason for being there. For example, consider Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series. She isn’t the central figure, but her desire to prove herself, her love for knowledge, and her loyalty to her friends make her much more than just “the smart one.”
Ask yourself: what drives your side characters? Is it ambition, loyalty, fear, or something else entirely? By giving them a goal—whether it aligns with the protagonist’s or not—you create a character with their own agenda, making them feel more real.
Flaws and Strengths: Balancing Relatability
No one likes a perfect character, right? The same goes for your side characters. Flaws are what make people human, and giving your side characters both strengths and weaknesses helps them feel genuine. Consider Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes stories. He’s brave and loyal, but he’s not nearly as clever as Holmes, and that’s okay. His imperfections make him relatable, and his struggles to keep up with Holmes endear him to the reader.
Similarly, think about your own side characters. Are they too perfect, always helping the hero without any internal conflict? Or do they have moments of self-doubt, mistakes, or personal issues? Giving them flaws—whether big or small—allows the reader to connect with them on a human level.
The Importance of Backstory
While you don’t need to write a full biography for every side character, knowing a bit about their past can add layers to their personality. Why do they act the way they do? What experiences shaped their view of the world? Even if this information doesn’t all end up on the page, understanding a character’s backstory helps you write them with consistency and depth.
Take Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings as an example. He’s not just Frodo’s loyal companion. His backstory as a humble gardener who has never left his home gives context to his bravery and steadfastness throughout the journey. Knowing where your side characters come from makes their decisions and actions more believable.
Let Them Evolve
Side characters shouldn’t be static. Just like your protagonist, they should have room to grow, change, or reveal new facets of themselves as the story progresses. A side character’s arc may be smaller than the main character’s, but that doesn’t mean it’s less important. Think about Han Solo in Star Wars. He starts out as a self-serving smuggler, but through his relationships with other characters, he evolves into a hero who’s willing to risk his life for others.
Ask yourself: how will your side characters change throughout the story? Do they grow closer to the protagonist or become a foil to their journey? Letting your side characters evolve makes them feel like dynamic, living people instead of background props.
Real-Life Examples of Relatable Side Characters
Consider your own experiences. Think about the people in your life who have influenced you—friends, family, coworkers. They likely have a mix of strengths, flaws, and motivations that affect your life in subtle ways. Bringing that same complexity to your side characters will mirror real relationships, making your story feel more authentic.
For example, if your protagonist is going through a tough time, a side character might offer support but struggle with their own doubts. Maybe they give advice but can’t take it themselves. Real people are complicated, and reflecting that in your writing helps readers see themselves in your characters.
Take Action: Bring Your Side Characters to Life
As you work on your creative writing, take a moment to think about your side characters. Do they feel like real people with motivations, flaws, and backstories? Are they changing throughout the story? Don’t be afraid to spend time developing them, even if they don’t have as much page space as your protagonist.
Remember, side characters can elevate your story, making it richer and more engaging. By giving them depth, you’re not only adding complexity to your narrative but also providing your readers with a world full of personalities they’ll care about. Take what you’ve learned and apply it to your own writing, giving those supporting characters the attention they deserve.
Expand Your Vocabulary
- Protagonist: The main character in a story, usually the one the reader follows most closely. In everyday life, you might say, “She’s the protagonist in her own success story, overcoming challenges to reach her goals.”
- Side Characters: Supporting characters in a story who are not the main focus but still play an important role. For example, “In group projects, there are often side characters who help behind the scenes but don’t get much recognition.”
- Relatable: Something or someone you can connect with or understand. In daily conversation, you could say, “His struggles in the movie were so relatable because they mirrored my own experiences.”
- Motivation: The reason why a character does something or wants something. It can be used in real life like, “Her motivation to succeed comes from wanting to provide for her family.”
- Flaws: Imperfections or weaknesses in a character. In everyday use, you might hear, “Everyone has flaws, but it’s how you handle them that matters.”
- Backstory: The history or background of a character that explains their behavior. “Understanding her backstory made me more empathetic toward her choices.”
- Authentic: Genuine or real. In a sentence, “His performance felt authentic because it came from personal experience.”
- Arc: A character’s development or change throughout a story. “In our own lives, we all have arcs as we grow and learn from different experiences.”
- Perspective: A character’s viewpoint or the way they see the world. For instance, “Seeing the situation from his perspective helped me understand his actions.”
- Foil: A character who contrasts with another, usually the protagonist, to highlight certain qualities. “In some ways, my colleague acts as a foil to me, being more cautious where I take risks.”
Let’s Talk
- Think about a side character from a book or movie that really stood out to you. What made them feel relatable or important to the story? Could you apply those traits to your own writing?
- In your own life, who are the “side characters” that have influenced your journey? How do their motivations, strengths, or flaws affect your personal story?
- How can a well-developed side character enhance the depth of a main character’s arc? Are there any real-life relationships that mirror this dynamic?
- When writing or reading a story, how important is it to understand a character’s backstory? Do you find that knowing more about someone’s past helps you relate to them better?
- Consider how different perspectives influence the way a story is told. How might seeing the world through a side character’s eyes change the way we understand the main narrative?
Quiz
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