How to Develop Side Characters that Enhance Your Story's Depth

After you've created the most relatable protagonist that readers will root for, and after you've created your antagonist that readers will love to hate - you're done, right? 

Wrong. 

Side characters are next, and they're IMPORTANT, because side characters can help carry the entire story if they're done correctly. My favorite thing in the world is when side characters take on lives of their own within the subtext of the story (that's how fanfiction is born - the ultimate compliment) and bing-batta-boom, you've got a fully functioning cast.

Creating relatable side characters is essential for enriching your narrative and supporting your protagonist. Secondary characters should be more than just background noise; they should add depth and texture to your story, making it more engaging and realistic. In this blog post, we'll explore how to develop side characters that are compelling and contribute meaningfully to your narrative.

The Role of Secondary Characters in Enriching the Story

Secondary characters provide different perspectives and layers to your narrative. They can add subplots, introduce new themes, and offer a break from the main storyline. For example, Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings is a classic secondary character whose loyalty and courage add depth to Frodo's journey, making the story richer and more complex.

A common mistake that writers make with side characters is believing that side-characters should always be expendable. If you approach your side characters with this mentality, you may find that they are automatically one-dimensional, boring, and no-one cares about them when it's time for them to leave the narrative. That's why taking the time to develop your side characters as though they were main characters is crucial. 

Although it should be obvious that they are not the MC, they should feel like a main character in their own stories. For example, Cassian from A Court of Mist and Fury is a side character, but Sarah J. Maas did such a good job developing him that readers wanted to hear his story, too - and he took on a main character role later in the books. 

Another good example from classic literature is the character named Falstaff in Shakespeare's Henry IV. Audiences loved Falstaff's comedic relief so much in this narrative that later on, Shakespeare wrote his own plays to explore this character's foibles in The Merry Wives of Windsor. 

Supporting the Protagonist

Side characters often serve to support or challenge the protagonist, pushing them toward growth and change. Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series is not only a friend but also a source of knowledge and moral support for Harry. She helps Harry navigate the challenges he faces and often provides crucial assistance in critical moments.

Like I said earlier, however, Hermione is so well-developed as a character that I think we often forget she's a side character. (I forgot - and when I was going over my notes for this article, I had to double-triple-quadruple check my notes for this point). Because she is so well-written, she takes on a life of her own inside the heads of readers, spawns fanclubs, creates fanfiction (looking at you, Dramione) but doesn't overwhelm the story or steal the plot out from under Harry (no matter how much we want her to). Although Harry Potter uses limited POV to a rigid extent (we mostly see the story from Harry's eyes, save for a few exceptions) Hermione's presence feels like she's a main character most of the time. She supports Harry but doesn't steal the show - and we can't even tell. 

Creating Arcs for Side Characters

Secondary characters should have their own arcs and motivations. This makes them feel real and independent of the main plot. In Game of Thrones, Tyrion Lannister's complex backstory and personal growth make him a standout character, even as he navigates the larger conflicts of the series. Giving side characters their own goals and conflicts ensures they are more than just plot devices.

What's the problem with side characters being used solely as plot devices? Well...everything. Although not all of us go to a story for the realism (there are some fundamentally unhinged works out there, and we love them for it) when we see a character whose only role is to move the plot, we make fun of it. We don't take it seriously. It usually becomes a meme. 

For most of us, becoming is meme is a bad thing. 

The plot-device-side-character usually reflects laziness on behalf of the author, even if that wasn't at all the case behind the scenes. When you're writing a novel, you want to build up a certain level of trust with your readers, and the plot-device-side-character is one way to break that trust. You might get away with it in the first novel, but don't even try to sell a second one at that point. 

Creating an arc for your characters - even small ones - is not just satisfying, but necessary, because it keeps the trust with the reader that no matter where the story goes, it will, in the end, pay off. This is one of the best ways to guarantee a non-DNF.

Balancing Screen Time

It’s important to ensure that your side characters are well-developed without overshadowing the protagonist. J.K. Rowling manages to balance numerous side characters in the Harry Potter series while keeping Harry's story central. Each character, from Ron Weasley to Professor Snape, has a distinct personality and role that contributes to the overall narrative.

How do we do it, though? Below are five practical tips:

1. Define Character Roles and Importance: Clearly define the roles and importance of both your protagonist and secondary characters. Understand what each character contributes to the story and how their arcs interweave. Prioritize giving more screen time to secondary characters who significantly impact the plot or the protagonist’s development.
2. Use Subplots Effectively: Develop subplots that involve secondary characters and allow them to shine in their own right. These subplots can intersect with the main plot, enriching the story and providing balance. Ensure that these subplots are relevant to the main storyline and contribute to the overall narrative.
3. Create Shared Scenes: Design scenes where multiple characters, including the protagonist and secondary characters, are present. This allows you to showcase interactions, conflicts, and relationships among characters, providing a natural way to distribute screen time and highlight the importance of secondary characters.
4. Employ Point of View Shifts: If your narrative structure allows, use point of view shifts to offer glimpses into the lives and thoughts of secondary characters. This technique can deepen their roles and provide readers with a more rounded view of the story world without overshadowing the protagonist.
5. Maintain a Balanced Narrative Pace: Monitor the narrative pace to ensure that the story doesn’t become too focused on any one character. Alternate between scenes featuring the protagonist and those highlighting secondary characters, keeping the story dynamic and engaging. Use pacing to create suspense and maintain interest in both primary and secondary characters.

By implementing these strategies, you can create a well-rounded story that respects the significance of all characters and keeps readers invested in the entire narrative.

Diversity in Secondary Characters

Diverse side characters can add richness to your story by bringing in different backgrounds and perspectives. In The Hunger Games, characters like Rue and Finnick Odair bring unique experiences and viewpoints that enhance the narrative. Including characters from varied backgrounds can also reflect the real world more accurately, making your story more relatable. Here are five tips to effectively incorporate such characters:

Develop Detailed Backstories

Take the time to create detailed backstories for your side characters. Even if all details don’t make it into the final story, understanding their pasts will help you write more convincingly. Consider a character who grew up in a rural village but moved to the city for a better life. Their speech, attitudes, and behavior might reflect a blend of rural and urban influences.

How to Implement:

• Questionnaires: Use character questionnaires to explore their childhood, education, family life, and significant events. (If you don't have one, you can grab the free character creation sheet here)
• Flashbacks: Occasionally, include flashbacks or snippets of their backstories through dialogue or internal monologues.

Show, Don’t Tell

This is a classic and well-beaten tip, but showing is far more important than telling anything in a story. Instead of stating a character's background, show it through their actions, speech, and interactions with other characters. A character who speaks multiple languages might occasionally use phrases from those languages in conversation, revealing their multicultural background.

How to Implement:

• Dialogue: Use authentic dialogue that reflects their unique background.
• Habits: Show their cultural habits, such as specific ways of greeting, cooking, or dressing.

Integrate Their Backgrounds into the Plot

Make their varied backgrounds relevant to the main plot or subplots. This ensures they are not just included for diversity’s sake but serve a purpose in the story. A character’s expertise in herbal medicine, stemming from a traditional upbringing, becomes crucial when the protagonist needs healing.

How to Implement:

• Skills and Knowledge: Use their unique skills and knowledge to solve problems or create obstacles in the story.
• Conflict and Resolution: Let their backgrounds influence key conflicts and resolutions.

Avoid Stereotypes

Ensure that your characters are multi-dimensional and avoid reducing them to cultural or social stereotypes. Instead of portraying a character from a certain ethnic background only through stereotypical traits, show their individuality and complexity.

How to Implement:

• Research: Do thorough research on the cultures and backgrounds you are portraying.
• Character Depth: Give each character personal motivations, flaws, and strengths beyond their cultural identity.

Use Diverse Settings

Place your side characters in settings that highlight their backgrounds and create opportunities for meaningful interactions with the main characters. A market scene where vendors from various backgrounds sell goods can introduce side characters and their cultures.

How to Implement:

• Varied Locations: Set scenes in diverse locations that naturally bring out the cultural aspects of your side characters.
• Community Events: Include community events or cultural festivals as settings for character interactions.

Integrating side characters with varied backgrounds can enrich your novel and make it more engaging. By developing detailed backstories, showing rather than telling, making their backgrounds integral to the plot, avoiding stereotypes, and using diverse settings, you can create a vibrant and authentic world. These characters will not only add depth to your story but also resonate with readers on a deeper level.

Relatable Traits and Flaws

Side characters should have relatable traits and flaws to make them more engaging. Jane Austen's Mr. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice is lovable despite his flaws, making him a memorable character. Readers connect with characters who feel real, complete with strengths and weaknesses. Although this topic deserves a blog post of its own, here are three tips to integrate relatable traits and flaws into your characters, side character or not.

One: Balance Strengths and Flaws:

Ensure your characters have a realistic balance of strengths and flaws. No one is perfect, and relatable characters often have a mix of admirable qualities and noticeable weaknesses. A character might be incredibly intelligent (strength) but struggle with social interactions (flaw). When outlining your character, list their key strengths and pair each with a corresponding flaw. This balance makes characters feel more human and relatable.

Two: Show Flaws Through Actions and Consequences

Instead of simply telling readers about your character's flaws, show them through their actions and the resulting consequences. A character who is overly trusting might lend money to a friend who never pays it back, causing financial trouble. Create situations in your plot where the character’s flaws lead to specific outcomes. This not only reveals their weaknesses but also drives the story forward and adds depth to their development.

Three: Let Characters Grow

Allow your characters to grow and evolve over the course of the story. Relatable characters learn from their mistakes and work on their flaws, showing personal growth. A character who starts off as selfish might gradually learn the value of generosity through their experiences. Develop a character arc that includes moments of self-reflection and change. Show how the character’s experiences force them to confront their flaws and grow as individuals.

What's Next?

If you're ready to take the next step in your character-creation process, then it's time to check out The Character Deep-Dive Guide. Here is everything inside: 

• Positive Character Arc Planner: Unlock your character’s potential with this planner that helps you shape a journey of growth and transformation, ensuring they end up as a more empowered, self-aware individual by the story's conclusion.
• Negative Character Arc Planner: Guide your character on a downward spiral with this planner that focuses on their descent, helping you create a believable path of corruption, moral decline, or tragic failure.
• Flat Character Arc Planner: Perfect for characters who don’t undergo traditional growth but still impact the story, this planner helps you focus on how your character influences the world and other characters without changing their core beliefs.
• Character Goals Worksheet: Clarify your character’s desires and drive by identifying their internal and external goals, ensuring their actions always align with what they truly want—whether it's success, love, or vengeance.
• Character Creation Template: Build your character from the ground up with this easy-to-use template that helps you define essential details like appearance, personality, and backstory, while leaving plenty of room for creativity.
• Psychological Profile Worksheet: Dive deep into your character’s psyche with this worksheet that explores their mental state, fears, motivations, and coping mechanisms, making them more realistic and complex.
• Character Relationship Worksheet: Develop dynamic relationships between characters by outlining how they interact, influence one another, and grow together or apart throughout the story.
• Character Flaw Finder: Give your character depth and authenticity by identifying their flaws—whether emotional, moral, or physical—and exploring how these flaws shape their journey and relationships.
• Goals, Fears, and Motivations: Align your character’s fears and motivations with their actions and decisions, ensuring that each choice is deeply rooted in what they truly need, want, and fear.
• Dialogue Development Worksheet: Bring your character’s voice to life with this tool designed to help you craft authentic dialogue that reflects their personality, background, and unique way of seeing the world.
• Point of View Selection Guide: Choose the best narrative perspective for your character, whether it's first-person, third-person limited, or omniscient, to ensure their story is told in the most compelling and fitting way.
• Backstory Builder Guide (Bonus): Create a detailed and emotionally resonant backstory for your character, filled with pivotal events and formative experiences that shape who they are and how they react to the world.
• Character Transformation Tracker (Bonus): Monitor your character’s development throughout your story, capturing key moments of internal or external change to ensure their arc feels organic and impactful.
• Voice & Speech Patterns Guide (Bonus): Make your character’s dialogue stand out by defining their unique speech patterns, tone, and vocabulary, adding authenticity and nuance to their voice in every scene.
• Character Archetypes Workbook (Bonus): Explore traditional character archetypes and learn how to subvert or deepen them to create characters who feel familiar yet fresh, drawing readers in with their complexity.
• Internal Conflict Map (Bonus): Visualize your character’s inner turmoil with this guide, helping you track their emotional and moral struggles throughout the story, and ensuring their decisions are driven by compelling internal conflicts.

Ready to take the next step? You can check out The Character Deep-Dive Guide here.