Character Archetypes: Secondary Characters

Last month we looked at sidekicks and how they support the hero on their journey. This month we're going to be looking at the broader type of secondary characters. Most stories have them and they're more necessary than you might think. So let's go ahead and look at secondary characters.

Who is a Secondary Character?

Secondary characters help fill and populate your novel, but show up enough that they aren't just background characters. They don't have as much page time as the main character, but they might have their own arcs and story goals. They can perform many roles, from sidekick to mentor, parent to student. Sometimes they can be even more loved than the main character (although that's not the preferable option).

Another way term for them is supporting characters. Their goal is help us learn more about the protagonist, whether that is by opposing them or helping them. Everything they do supports the hero in their journey.

Types of Secondary Characters

• Best friend. The best friend is a classic in all types of stories. While this character can sometimes also be the sidekick, they can also be a separate character. They can be a new or old friend to the protagonist and often provide help and support.

• Parent/mentor. In YA novels, parents and mentors are prevalent. They provide wisdom and guidance that someone their own age can't. Plus, most parents are around a lot, so you can use them to the advantage of your story.

• Opposition. They may not be the main villain, but plenty of supporting characters can provide opposition to your hero. They might just want the same spot on the cheer squad or the class president ship. Or they may have an old grudge. Whatever it is, they stand against the main character and provide growth.

• The Fool. Not actually a funny character necessarily. Instead, these are the characters that tell your protagonist what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. They speak the hard truths and are sometimes kind of mean.

• Informant. Many supporting character are also there to provide information. They know things the protagonist doesn't, and so can give them help. They'll probably only show up in one spot, and the protagonist often seeks them out.

Characteristics

• Useful. All secondary characters need a purpose for being in the story, or else why are they there? They all need to pull their weight in the story.

• Foil. Some characters are used as foils, to highlight a trait of the main character by holding opposing views. They don't have to be against the protagonist, but they do often show their negative traits.

• Personal goals. Many secondary characters have their own goals in a story. They want things too, and they're working to get them, even if we don't get to see much of it. These goals can make for good subplots.

• Interesting. You don't want boring supporting characters. They get too much page time for that. If you find them boring, the reader probably does too. They either need to be cut or changed.

To Avoid

• Extraneous characters. You do not want to go crazy and create a thousand secondary characters with names and purposes. (Some authors can do this, but probably not you.) If you find you have too many, consider cutting the ones with no point, or combining some to make one super powered character.

• Cliches. Supporting characters are where the majority of cliche characters are. Because they need a bunch of extras, stories get filled with air head cheerleaders, brooding baddies, and Maniac Pixie Dream Girls. Your supporting characters are people too, and need to be treated as such.

• Overpowering. Another pitfall to avoid is making a side character more interesting than the main character. It's a fine balance, but if you're giving a side character more page time than the hero, you've got a problem.

• Forgettable. On the flip side, you don't want your characters, their names, and personalities to be so bland you forget them. Give them interesting quirks, names that you can remember, and their own lives.

Writing a Secondary Character

Like with the sidekick, you again want to start by building your secondary characters. You don't need to do as much work as for a hero character, but you do need to know something about them. (I have a secondary character questionnaire if you'd like to check it out.) Find them a name that stands out, but not too much, and give them their own mini arcs and goals in the story.

Then you need to decide their role in the story. Many side characters will only show up in one or two locations. School friends only show up at school, while parents stay at home. The hero's librarian friend will always be in the library. It helps the reader keep things straight. You might also consider writing a subplot involving one or two of your secondary character for extra depth.

One extra tip: don't give them names that sound too similar. For example, in Miss Peregrine's there are two boys named Horace and Hugh, and I'm always confusing them because their names are too similar in look and sound.

Example Characters

Princess Leia- Star Wars

The Ninjas- The Lego Ninjago Movie

Angelica- Alex and Eliza

Legolas- Lord of the Rings

Lancelot- Merlin

Peeta- The Hunger Games

Do you have any tips on writing supporting characters? Do you have any favorites in fiction? Tell me in the comments.

Suggested Posts:

Character Archetypes: The Hero

Character Archetypes: The Villain