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Posted by storymonger on Jun 4, 2015 in Characters | 11 comments
Last week, we talked about some of the pitfalls that arise when incorporating a big honkin’ cast of characters into your story.
But sometimes, you just need a big honkin’ cast. Maybe you’re writing a heist novel starring a team of talented specialists, along with a complex side-cast of cops, shady underworld characters, and family members. Maybe you’re writing an epic fantasy or space opera that delves deep into the cultures and traditions of several different races and civilizations. Perhaps you’re the next James Michener or Ken Follett, and you have the hankering to write a story that spans centuries and features a gazillion charactersj; knights, priests, orphans, and a cow named Clovis, each with their own complicated backstory.
More power to ya.
A large and diverse cast of characters can make for an exciting, layered, satisfying story. It can also be very very hard. Here are some things to think about before you begin pushing all your actors onstage.
It was a sunny day in Melbrook. Katie walked down the sidewalk arm-in-arm with her best friend Elvis, who was an accountant. They waved to Olaf and Boork, who appeared to be having a burping contest in the middle of the street.
A tall dark man with a sinister smile passed in front of them. “Hello, I’m Vladmir Kamazam,” he said, and waved. “I’ll be very important later on!” He disappeared into a dark alleyway, leaving behind the echo of his chilling laughter.
Then the giant cake on the sidewalk exploded, and Snickety Sam burst out of it on the back of a cow named Clovis.
Don’t feel pressure to let us know about all your characters within the first few pages, or even the first few chapters. Take your time, let your reader have a little quality time with each character before you throw new ones at him.
When you bring in a character who will play a big part in coming story events, do it with a flourish! The first glimpse of this person should accomplish two things:
Firstly, it should make it completely impossible to forget this guy/gal or confuse them with another character. Secondly, it should give us a pretty good idea of what kind of person they are.
I’m a fan of the first scene from Secondhand Lions– the elderly uncles whooping while they drive an airplane like madmen. (“Do a flip! Do a flip! “)
One of the things I like about heist stories is the chemistry between a team of very different individuals working together to achieve a goal, whether it be stealing an ancient artifact or assassinating a corrupt dictator. Each character has a job defined by their own unique skill set; the forger, the acrobat, the hacker, the guy who punches people.
Even if you’re not writing a heist novel, think in terms of assigning each character a job. The love interest. The wingman. Even the old woman walking her dog in chapter two should have a job—maybe she’s the catalyst for your protagonist’s decision to confront his corrupt boss.
It doesn’t matter if a character is exploding off the page with personality, if they aren’t furthering the story in some way, either find a way for them to do that, or say your goodbyes and drop them off on a nameless road in the middle of Arizona.
Two characters with similar names can cause a huge amount of confusion for your poor reader. Look out for names beginning with the same letter, especially if they are around the same length.
If you already have a cow named Clovis and a cop named Cletus, you might want to think twice before you create a career counselor called Curtis Cooper.
Many authors dispense POV scenes among their characters like benevolent monarchs scattering coins to their subjects. A POV for every character! No one shall leave this story without narrating a scene!
This seems like a nice and philanthropic thing to do, but quite often it’s a mistake. Adjusting to a new character voice every few pages can be a tiring experience for the reader. An inordinate number of side POVs can also distract from the arcs of your central characters.
Before giving another character a POV scene, ask yourself if they are really the best narrator for this occasion. Clovis the Cow may be chewing his cud in the same field in which your protagonist and antagonist are having their final showdown, but that doesn’t mean he’s the best viewpoint through which to see it.
Sorry, Clovis. Your day will come, buddy.
photo credit: Château de Vincennes – Sainte Chapelle – 14-12-2014 – 16h11 via photopin (license)
K.M. Weiland June 4, 2015 I’ve got a Mr. Monarch and a Mr. Madoc in my story right now. I *know* I’m going to have to change one of them, but it’s a toughie, because I like both names so well. Nothing’s worse than having to change a character’s name after you start writing them. But I always end up with a few characters for whom I have to do just that. Reply Katherine Rebekah June 6, 2015 I know that I know nothing about your story, but personally Madoc sounds super cool. 🙂 Reply Suzan Robertson June 8, 2015 Coincidentally, I have a character with the last name of Madoc in my novel in progress! How funny! Reply
I’ve got a Mr. Monarch and a Mr. Madoc in my story right now. I *know* I’m going to have to change one of them, but it’s a toughie, because I like both names so well. Nothing’s worse than having to change a character’s name after you start writing them. But I always end up with a few characters for whom I have to do just that.
Katherine Rebekah June 6, 2015 I know that I know nothing about your story, but personally Madoc sounds super cool. 🙂 Reply
I know that I know nothing about your story, but personally Madoc sounds super cool. 🙂
Suzan Robertson June 8, 2015 Coincidentally, I have a character with the last name of Madoc in my novel in progress! How funny! Reply
Coincidentally, I have a character with the last name of Madoc in my novel in progress! How funny!
R.G. Nairam June 4, 2015 Hello, I’m Vladmir Kamazam,” he said, and waved. “I’ll be very important later on!” He disappeared into a dark alleyway, leaving behind the echo of his chilling laughter. dialogue gold Reply CJ June 4, 2015 Amen! Reply
Hello, I’m Vladmir Kamazam,” he said, and waved. “I’ll be very important later on!” He disappeared into a dark alleyway, leaving behind the echo of his chilling laughter.
dialogue gold
CJ June 4, 2015 Amen! Reply
Amen!
christiannahellwig June 4, 2015 It’s too bad Diana Barry, Anne Shirley’s Bosom friend from “Anne of Green Gables,” couldn’t read this post. Anne complained that Diana’s stories had too many murders in them because Diana had a habit of creating giant casts and then having to kill most of them off halfway throughout the story because she didn’t know what to do with them! But, anyhow, excellent tips. I shall keep them in mind as I write since my cast is a little on the larger side! Reply
It’s too bad Diana Barry, Anne Shirley’s Bosom friend from “Anne of Green Gables,” couldn’t read this post. Anne complained that Diana’s stories had too many murders in them because Diana had a habit of creating giant casts and then having to kill most of them off halfway throughout the story because she didn’t know what to do with them! But, anyhow, excellent tips. I shall keep them in mind as I write since my cast is a little on the larger side!
Hannah June 5, 2015 Thank you so much for the tips in this post, Braden! Absolutely wonderful! I couldn’t agree more. 😀 Reply
Thank you so much for the tips in this post, Braden! Absolutely wonderful! I couldn’t agree more. 😀
Kori June 6, 2015 I started reading this with some trepidation, because I am writing a book with a rather large cast. But I am already doing pretty much everything you said, so yay! my characters are safe! Reply
I started reading this with some trepidation, because I am writing a book with a rather large cast. But I am already doing pretty much everything you said, so yay! my characters are safe!
Gabrielle Massman June 26, 2015 Thanks for this post. I have a relatively large cast in my novel, so your suggestions really made me think. Especially, the one about giving every characters a job. I will need to check back though my work-in-progress now. Also I love your example from Second Hand Lions. That whole movie is just the best! Reply
Thanks for this post. I have a relatively large cast in my novel, so your suggestions really made me think. Especially, the one about giving every characters a job. I will need to check back though my work-in-progress now. Also I love your example from Second Hand Lions. That whole movie is just the best!
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