How to make a side character relatable?

Chocolate 2023-05-20 00:42:18 UTC #1

Hey there! Are there any creators who have tips on writing good/great side characters? 🥰🥰🥰

DiegoPalacios 2023-05-20 01:06:02 UTC #2

Personally i write them like any other character, with good and bad qualities, but without the direct involvement in the main plot line.

Chocolate 2023-05-20 02:01:02 UTC #3

Ahhh okay thanks for the tips!

catluckey 2023-05-20 02:13:16 UTC #4

Yeah, like putting in personality "pops" of your family members! I've got lots of side characters, but they're very, very important. 4 main characters--they have their own personalities. It's kind of easy! Think of your friends at work, school, home--think of who influences you to do good or bad...teachers, people in charge. No one is the same and you don't think or even react the same way to them.

Oh, have fun with them. (Doggonit, did I play with too many dolls in my youth!)

Kuma 2023-05-20 02:19:09 UTC #5

I like having memorable characters that have recognizable speech patterns and quirks

powerplantanimations 2023-05-20 19:58:13 UTC #6

Every side character is a main character. Once you have that mindset, everything should be fleshed out. Don't be afraid to blur the lines between who the audience is supposed to be following as the main protagonist.

I've reached the point where two of my side characters have potential to take the "main character's" place. :v

cherrystark 2023-05-20 21:40:24 UTC #7

This! The side character needs to be just as fleshed out as the MC. And I don't mean relying on tropes like the MC is a good girl and the BFF is the party girl/sl*t. Especially for larger casts, every character should be playing a pivotal part in the operation, so give them the props of an MC.

I don't like using the term "relatable" anymore because it's too generic. While we all have general human experiences that bind us, what's relatable to one person isn't relatable to another. If you want to appeal to a broad audience, character building is tossed aside and you are writing trope characters.

powerplantanimations 2023-05-21 16:52:03 UTC #8

Jojo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable and Golden Wind are two of my favorite examples. People seem to criticize Giorno for taking a back seat, but I thought (aside from the force of nature/Christ allegories) that it was an interesting take to show that while YES, the show is named after him, the main character at the end of the day is technically the bloodline. Therefore you can get away with using him as a background character for the majority of the series. I also love the fact that they portray him as a gun. He's there when you need him :v