The Question(s):
I was wondering if you could provide information on character
development.
At what point during the writing process do you create the secondary
characters?
Should a writer work all the specific details out about each
character-style of dress, talk, personality details, annoying habits
etc-or can some of the minor personality details develop during the
writing process?
Many thanks for your time and
consideration.
-Audra
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Hi Audra! Glad to have you with us.
It’s a weird thing about secondary characters. For the most part
(for me at least) they just show up. Of course it’s important to do
a bit of planning and tweaking, but I find that these folks want to
be a part of the story and their personalities and attributes (even
their names!) come as part of a package.
That said, there are certain characters who *have* to be there, for practical purposes, but once I’ve determined they need to be there, they’re happy to help
out. It’s the way my subconscious works, I guess. It might be different for the others (and probably is) but I find that the secondary characters come and take on a life of their own —
sometimes much more or less than I would’ve thought. Of course I
have the right to tell them they’re *not* allowed to do certain
things or look a certain way (or they have to change for plot reasons) but for the most part they stay how they arrive.
Perhaps it comes this way the more you write, so be prepared! These characters can get very bossy when it comes to who they are.
~Judy
by Judy
on March 18th, 2006 at 9:01 am
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Hi Audra,
Thanks for writing (and asking)!
When I start a book, I usually have a good idea of secondaries. In the Nina Quinn series, I knew all about Nina’s immediate family and the about Tam and Kit at TBS. But others creep in. Who knew Nina had an Uncle Giuseppe? I didn’t until I started writing Trouble in Spades.
However, with A Hoe Lot of Trouble my editor had wanted me to add more gardening… Suddenly there was this whole scene with Nina doing a mini for an old English teacher. Now I can’t get rid of Brickhouse Krauss–she’s everywhere.
I think you just need to go with the flow. For some reasons, characters just make themselves known.
Good luck with your writing!
~Heather
by Heather
on March 18th, 2006 at 10:56 am
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Audra–Great question! I’ve planned some important secondary characters; others have just “walked on” to the stage in my imagination; and still others have become more important as my series has evolved.
For example, Sally (Josie’s cousin) and Cherry (Josie’s friend) started out as very minor secondary characters. Cherry was just sort of an annoying person in background in DEATH OF A DOMESTIC DIVA; Sally played a minor role in DEATH BY DEEP DISH PIE. I had no plans for them to show up again. But as I wrote DEATH IN THE CARDS, they both popped in my imagination and said, “excuse us, we’re Josie’s best friends, and you need to let us participate.” OK, they weren’t that polite. In any case, they are now a definite part of the ensemble cast that swirls around Josie.
P.S. to Heather: I love Brickhouse Krauss!!
