All great heroes and heroines have them, sidekicks, best friends, or lovable accomplices. Batman had Robin, the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and where would Lucy be without Ethel?
Secondary characters flesh out our writing. What better way to build back story than with a conversation between friends. “Hey, Joe, remember spring break in Cancun? Did your rash ever clear up?”
Sage secondary characters help our main characters grow and accomplish their goals. When all seems lost, who do they seek for advice? An experienced coworker? A wise wrinkled grandparent? A stranger on the bus reading the New York Times?
Add a bumbling sidekick and you’ve instantly added humor. Ralph Kramden’s life would have been uneventful without upstairs neighbor Ed Norton. Together, they made comedy history.
Lacking tension or conflict in your writing? That can be solved simply by having a best friend cross a line. Flirting with the hero, taking an important document, or any risky behavior by the secondary character will force the hero/heroine into action.
Keep in mind, too many secondary characters can bog down the story. You shouldn’t need a scorecard to keep track. Also, don’t let the secondary characters hijack the story. Remember, the action revolves around the main characters. All others have a supporting role.
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Great post, Donna. Many times I've liked the secondary character as much or more than the main character in a story (or play).
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