HOW TO MAKE MINOR CHARACTERS SHINE

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Give Minor Characters Five Minutes of Fame

Some writers give little thought about minor characters. They’re written into a scene to relay information so the main character has a link to move on to the next scene. Too often filler characters do clichéd things and add nothing to the story. When they’re written in this way, it’s a missed opportunity.

To avoid minimizing the minor characters, imagine that they want to be the star of the story as if the story is about them. Let them shine though their part is small. Minor characters can add interest to the scene by helping or hindering the protagonist. For example, in the story, Cinderella, the stepsisters have minor parts, but they are unforgettable. 

Here is the link to the original story by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm: https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm021.html It’s different from the Walt Disney version and is quite interesting.  Below is a piece of it illustrating how the stepsisters were irritants to Cinderella.

 "Why should that stupid goose sit in the parlor with us?" they said. "If she wants to eat bread, then she will have to earn it. Out with this kitchen maid!"

 They took her beautiful clothes away from her, dressed her in an old gray smock, and gave her wooden shoes. "Just look at the proud princess! How decked out she is!" they shouted and laughed as they led her into the kitchen.

Later, when the prince searched for Cinderella and presented the gold shoe to the stepsisters, one cut off her big toe to make it fit. The other sister chopped off her heel. This was a shocking surprise.

The birds were also minor characters. They were Cinderella’s allies. When the stepmother made her pick lentils from the ashes, the pigeons and turtledoves helped. During her wedding, the pigeons punished her stepsisters by pecking out their eyes. This made the story memorable.

When writing about minor characters, give them dialogue, mannerisms, and descriptions

that set them apart from the other characters. If they’re too common, the reader will yawn and put down your book. I hope this post helps you write better. Let minor characters do the unexpected, giving them five minutes of fame. Sprinkle a little spice into your stories.