Secondary characters: The Good, The Bad, and the Quirky!

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about secondary characters. Why? One reason would be because I’m giving a workshop at RWA National later this month with my friend and fellow romance writer, Winnie Griggs (her first Love Inspired Historical is coming out in Feb. 2009!), titled Secondary Characters: The Good, the Bad and the Quirky. In that workshop, we explore the many functions of secondary characters and how they add depth to novels, movies and plays.

For example, my family pulled out our DVD of GONE WITH THE WIND last weekend. GWTW may be Rhett and Scarlett’s story, but can you imagine this classic without Mamie? Without Melanie or… Ashley (said with the breathy sigh Scarlett always had in her voice)? It wouldn’t be the same classic we love, would it?

The best secondary characters highlight the flaws of the hero and heroine, add conflict or comic relief, up emotional drama, advance the plot, and give wise counsel when our lead character needs direction. Secondary characters can be the villain, a sidekick, a red herring, a sacrificial lamb, or an ally when the chips are down. No matter what role they play in the story, secondary characters give color and life to the stories we love. Sometimes they even steal the show. Captain Jack Sparrow anyone??

I’d never really considered how I wrote my secondary characters until the first reviews for my books started coming in. Readers were commenting on how much they loved my secondary characters! What a pleasant surprise! About my debut release TO LOVE, HONOR AND DEFEND, an Amazon reviewer said, “I think the final thing that sealed this book as a keeper is the way the author handles the motivations and personality of secondary characters. There are NO cardboard characters here. No scapegoating, NO sugar coating.” Needless to say, I was thrilled to hear my characters made such a positive impact.

Sometimes, secondary characters will spawn sequel books. I know I love to follow up on characters I’ve met in earlier books. I feel like I’m visiting again with old friends. The heroine of my July Silhouette Romantic Suspense release DUTY TO PROTECT, Ginny West, started out as a secondary character in DANGER AT HER DOOR (August 2007 –SRS). Ginny was so sassy and brash, so intriguing to me as I wrote her, I knew she needed her own story told.

The fiction world is full of great memorable secondary characters. Who tops your list of favorites?
Take care and happy reading!

Beth C

Beth Cornelison- www.bethcornelison.com
DUTY TO PROTECT- Silhouette Romantic Suspense- July 2008
RANCHER'S REDEMPTION- Silhouette Romantic Suspense- Oct 2008