Fiction Tip: Give Secondary Characters Agency
Side characters are more than props for your protagonist’s journey or to make them look good. They’re individuals with their own lives, goals, and motivations. Giving them agency adds depth to your story, which would otherwise be quite flat without them.
Think of them as major players in the story, albeit in a less “front and center” way. Letting your secondary characters take meaningful action allows them to drive the plot forward, challenge the protagonist, or provide a new view of the situation.
For example, in Tootsie, one of my all-time favourite films (and if you haven’t seen it, please find it and watch!) — Dorothy Michaels (Michael Dorsey in disguise) is the protagonist, but the secondary characters, like Julie and Ron, are anything but passive. Without them, there isn’t much of a story in comparison. Julie’s struggles with relationships and self-worth give her a rich inner life that goes beyond being Michael’s love interest.
By giving secondary characters their own goals, challenges, and a li’l time in the spotlight, you create several relationships that will enrich your story. A side character’s decision to act, succeed, or fail should feel as real and impactful as the protagonist’s, even if it’s on a smaller scale. It’ll often have a big impact on the story, too.
So let your supporting cast surprise you. Let their choices ripple through your story, molding the protagonist’s journey and the world around them. Readers will remember your secondary characters not just as part of the story but as essential pieces of its heart. Like dear Melanie Hamilton. Anyone who’s even heard of Gone With the Wind without watching it knows something about feisty Scarlett. But those of us who have read the book and/or watched the film can never forget Melanie either.
I mean… as just one example, the “slutty red dress” moment at her party when Rhett was furious with Scarlett… what Melanie did in that scene was unforgettable!
Just for fun … if you don’t know the story or the scene, Scarlett was in love with Ashley Wilkes forever, but he married Melanie Hamilton. Scarlett wouldn’t let it go, even after she was married to Rhett Butler. She was always trying to get Ashley to leave Melanie or notice her or say he loves her. His sister, India, who despises Scarlett, catches her throwing herself at Ashley and can’t wait to tell everyone.
When Rhett finds out, he forces Scarlett to go to the birthday party Melanie is throwing for Ashley that evening. He wants to humiliate her in front of everyone, as she has done to him by always chasing Ashley. And he wants to give Melanie the chance to rip a strip off Scarlett. However, it doesn’t go exactly as he’d planned (video is only 2:36):
Video courtesy of Amarcord at YouTube
See how much power a supporting character can have? Melanie drove the story in many ways.
Side note: Vivien Leigh’s Oscar-winning performance as Scarlett O’Hara is considered one of the greatest performances of all time.
This is one of my favourite films (and one of my three favourite books). Hm. Haven’t seen it in a year or so. Time to watch it again!
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