"Major characters emerge; minor ones may be photographed."-Graham
Greene
I
think this is an important point. I also think this is something we all
struggle with. We try to get everything about a major character out right away and the result is the beginning of our manuscript becomes summary rather than scene. Too much
of a rush. The major characters should be revealed little by little, as fits
with the story, and they should slowly emerge into complex rounded characters.
This is where SHOW instead of TELL does apply.
Minor
characters are often snapshots. They may not evolve except in a way that
promotes the advancement of story. They might just be a quick sketch that is
useful to develop main characters or story.
Beware
the manuscript that has no minor characters. If all you have are major
characters then most likely something is wrong. I’m a big believer in equality but not in fiction. If all
your characters are equal then something is probably wrong. The reader needs
main characters to focus on and identify with.
Character is
everything. If a reader identifies with a character she willexcuse a lot. But one aspect of this is understanding that a major character
will emerge through the engagement of that character with the story.
2 comments:
I agree one-hundred percent. An editor critiqued one of my early manuscripts and said two secondary characters were more fleshed out than my main character. Looking back at the manuscripts months later, I could see it. My main character had taken on an observational role, watching the story unfold instead of living inside of it.
Thanks for the comment, Dawn. Living inside of it is a good way of putting it. So important to the way language makes the reader experience what's happening.
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