tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post3327401858157732672..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: On Writing Memorable (Minor) CharactersGabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-71417650846590494152011-12-01T09:34:08.955-08:002011-12-01T09:34:08.955-08:00For whatever reason, books tend to stick in my mem...For whatever reason, books tend to stick in my memory better. I tried to think of a TV show or movie I could use as an example, but <i>The Hunger Games</i> came to mind first. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-52333332159026123262011-12-01T09:24:32.185-08:002011-12-01T09:24:32.185-08:00For good or ill, I'm way better at picking the...For good or ill, I'm way better at picking these things out of TV and movies than books...Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-70885458768711718922011-12-01T09:14:35.397-08:002011-12-01T09:14:35.397-08:00I never watched Buffy, but I've certainly hear...I never watched Buffy, but I've certainly heard of that happening and I know I've on more than one occasion really loved minor characters in books I've read. <br /><br />Finnick Odair from <i>The Hunger Games</i> trilogy, for example, is one of my favorites. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-12501871948998182922011-12-01T09:03:14.824-08:002011-12-01T09:03:14.824-08:00Media is full of minor characters who were suppose...Media is full of minor characters who were supposed to disappear and then became fan favorites. Spike from Buffy being the example that most often comes to mind. He was supposed to die after two episodes. <br /><br />Babylon 5 also had a couple great minor characters. They didn't really impact the big plots, but they acted as observers and audience surrogates, commenting on things from without as they happened. To me that's one of the big draws of the minor character.Daniel Swensenhttp://www.surlymuse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-14979102550818432462011-12-01T05:19:23.231-08:002011-12-01T05:19:23.231-08:00You make a great point, Jessica. I suppose my exam...You make a great point, Jessica. I suppose my example was more playing on reader expectations to make them memorable rather than fleshing them out with a full background to give them depth. <br /><br />What I was mostly trying to get at was that every character provides opportunities to do something memorable--to be unexpected or funny or quirky or anything but the invisible I'm-just-a-bartender (taxi driver, bell boy, etc.) whose sole purpose is whatever job you give them. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-7366514214202474392011-12-01T00:34:40.795-08:002011-12-01T00:34:40.795-08:00What makes Holland any less flat than the other tw...What makes Holland any less flat than the other two? Because she gives Sara her number? Rachel could've flirted with Mike all night and then left Sara her number, too. Is that less flat? What if GREG left Mike his number? I'm not sure this action is more-or-less just surprising and unexpected due to social norms, rather than fleshing out the bartender with, essentially, a "backstory" (dreams, fears, etc). If you want Mike to get hit on, instead of a girl bartender, make it a boy. If you want Sara to get hit on, make it a girl. Is that any less flat, or just playing on reader expectations?Jessica Silvahttp://jessiesilva.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-41590403855131895352011-11-30T17:59:02.832-08:002011-11-30T17:59:02.832-08:00Like everything else, I'd say it requires a ba...Like everything else, I'd say it requires a balance, but I think if done correctly, the emphasis could actually add to the scene. Rather than being invisible, minor characters could add another layer of tension or conflict (or even symbolism) that would not have been there otherwise. <br /><br />Of course, there's a time and place for everything, but it's certainly good to be aware of the opportunities every character (minor or not) presents. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-56534255397556969842011-11-30T17:57:01.437-08:002011-11-30T17:57:01.437-08:00Thanks, Jen! Sometimes it's hard to see those ...Thanks, Jen! Sometimes it's hard to see those kind of flaws until someone else points them out to us. We're all probably guilty of writing a couple flat characters throughout our writing journey (I know I certainly am), and the best thing we can do is be aware of the tendency so we remember to take the time to get to know every character. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-59881427372828650812011-11-30T17:54:25.816-08:002011-11-30T17:54:25.816-08:00Absolutely! Absolutely! Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-59550605860320037442011-11-30T17:54:13.293-08:002011-11-30T17:54:13.293-08:00I've promoted minor characters as well. Someti...I've promoted minor characters as well. Sometimes they really surprise you if you give them the chance! :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-16655160144608393972011-11-30T17:26:38.787-08:002011-11-30T17:26:38.787-08:00I've never really though about that before - g...I've never really though about that before - good point.<br /><br />Although, do you think that trying to stress or show the traits and mannerism of minor characters (who really have very little part in the story) could detract from the actually story or event at hand (in this case, Mike and Sara's conversation)?nick_hightnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-20856834490882814672011-11-30T17:01:12.988-08:002011-11-30T17:01:12.988-08:00When I first submitted a novel I was told that I h...When I first submitted a novel I was told that I had carboard cut-out secondary characters. It wasn't something I fully understood until I looked around my life an analyzed the 'secondary' characters in my life. Turns out they've got quite the personalities themselves! I can't believe how much it helped in writing!!!<br /> <br />Fabulous blog!!!<br /> <br /><a href="http://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.com/2011/11/ya-tournament-of-heroines.html" rel="nofollow">YA Tournament of Heroines: Hermione is my Heroine... Care to join?</a>Jen Daikerhttp://jennifer-daiker.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-11471119677008320772011-11-30T14:07:32.325-08:002011-11-30T14:07:32.325-08:00Good point. You can really enhance a scene using t...Good point. You can really enhance a scene using this technique.South pawnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-35316042301547937052011-11-30T10:40:39.936-08:002011-11-30T10:40:39.936-08:00I promoted a minor character into a protagonist in...I promoted a minor character into a protagonist in the next book because he was cooperative with my vision.Stephen M Swartznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-13780537563299944552011-11-30T09:47:56.760-08:002011-11-30T09:47:56.760-08:00My two favorite minor characters right now are Ffl...My two favorite minor characters right now are Fflweder Fflam and Gurgy from the Prydain chronicles. They are funny, loyal, and loveable. But they also have depth which is great!Kristahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348921731053503531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-61853546870619850932011-11-30T09:16:09.927-08:002011-11-30T09:16:09.927-08:00Agreed! I think it's one of the things that ma...Agreed! I think it's one of the things that made <i>Harry Potter</i> such a popular series--even the minor characters were interesting and fully developed. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-73566230557706893212011-11-30T09:13:47.441-08:002011-11-30T09:13:47.441-08:00Great to read this. I like your idea here of missi...Great to read this. I like your idea here of missing opportunities by not knowing the minor characters well enough. They do play a role in moving the action forward - and I think the narrative feels more authentic when the minor characters aren't just puppets.Charlotte Tarrantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-41033126916814337832011-11-30T07:33:59.150-08:002011-11-30T07:33:59.150-08:00lol I didn't say it had to be a positive impre...lol I didn't say it had to be a positive impression :DAva Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-10580638573799076012011-11-30T07:31:44.857-08:002011-11-30T07:31:44.857-08:00I totally rolled my eyes when you mentioned the la...I totally rolled my eyes when you mentioned the last bartender. I guess the impression was strong enough to cause a reaction in me :)Jennifer Bennettnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-58825370382714949142011-11-30T05:34:30.930-08:002011-11-30T05:34:30.930-08:00Nice links! Thanks for sharing. :)Nice links! Thanks for sharing. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-88295404380532399302011-11-30T05:30:53.649-08:002011-11-30T05:30:53.649-08:00More goodness on this subject from my fav anonymou...More goodness on this subject from my fav anonymous fantasy critic, Limyaael:<br /><br />http://limyaael.livejournal.com/131075.html<br /><br />&<br /><br />http://limyaael.insanejournal.com/310529.htmlAlice M.http://twitter.com/notveryalicenoreply@blogger.com