How to Write Side Characters in 3 Steps
Direct Answers
What is the framework for writing side characters?
To write effective side characters, you need to build them with purpose instead of just focusing on their appearance. This prevents them from feeling like unimportant background elements.
The core framework for writing side characters relies on three main components:
- Determine their function: Decide what actions the character takes in the story.
- Choose a role: Establish how important those actions are to the overall plot.
- Determine their relationship: Define how the character connects to the main protagonist.
How do side characters function in a story?
Every side character needs a job to move the plot forward. When determining their function, you must decide what actions they take. They generally perform one of three tasks:
- Assist: Actively help the hero or villain achieve goals by providing resources, support, or aid.
- Deter: Create obstacles, slow down the main characters, or force them to rethink plans.
- Shape the environment: Influence the world around the main characters, forcing them to adapt to new circumstances.
What roles can a side character play in a plot?
Once you figure out what your side character does, you must decide how much they matter to the overall story. Not every side character needs to be critical to the plot. You can categorize their importance into four distinct levels:
- Crucial: Essential characters that drive major plot events.
- Somewhat important: Characters who contribute but are not irreplaceable.
- Neutral: Background characters that fill out the world without helping or hurting the main characters.
- Not important: Extras that populate the world but do not influence the plot.
How do side characters relate to the main character?
A side character must connect to the main character through a specific relationship. This relationship grounds their actions and role within the narrative.
Side characters can fall under many relational categories, and these dynamics can evolve as the story progresses.
- Opponents and rivals: Enemies, redeemed foes, or rivals who challenge the protagonist.
- Allies and peers: Friends, best friends, acquaintances, and peers.
- Mentors and figures: Elders, mentors, role models, and community leaders.
- Family and intimacy: Family members, father or mother figures, and lovers.
The Problem With Appearance First Characters
Your main character probably gets most of the attention in your manga, comic, or webtoon project. However, your side characters should never be ignored.
A good side character makes your world feel real and believable.
A bad side character is similar to a video game NPC. They are present but completely unimportant.
This happens because writers often get hung up on a character looks or personality first.
This appearance first approach creates weak characters and clogs your story with unnecessary scenes. Instead, you can create side characters with purpose using a simple framework.
Step 1: Determine Their Function
The first step is to determine the function of your side character. You need to ask yourself what actions this character takes in the story.
Every side character needs a job to move the plot forward.
Side characters either assist, deter, or shape the environment. Characters that assist actively help the hero or villain achieve their goals by providing resources, knowledge, or support.
Characters that deter create obstacles for the hero or villain to challenge them. Characters that shape the environment influence the world around the hero or villain.
Step 2: Choose a Role
Once you figure out what your side character does, think about how much they matter to the story. Not every side character needs to be critical to the plot.
Knowing their level of importance helps you prioritize where they show up.
Crucial side characters are essential to the story. Without them, major events would not happen or the plot would collapse.
Somewhat important side characters contribute to the story but are not irreplaceable.
Neutral side characters do not help or hurt the hero or villain. Lastly, side characters that are not important are just extras meant to populate the world.
Step 3: Determine Their Relationship
Now that you know their actions and importance, you must connect them to the main characters. Your side character can fall under several relationship types.
These include peers, rivals, enemies, friends, mentors, family members, or lovers.
Side characters do not have to be stagnant. They can have multiple functions in a story. Their function, role, or relationship can change throughout the plot.
Analyzing Bon Clay From One Piece
We can use this framework on Bon Clay, a popular side character from One Piece. Initially, his function is to deter Luffy and the Straw Hats as an antagonist.
Later, his primary function shifts to profoundly assist Luffy in escaping prison.
He also shapes the environment by creating crucial diversions and disguises. Early on, his role is somewhat important as an obstacle.
However, his importance skyrockets to crucial during the Impel Down and Marineford arcs.
Bon Clay relationship with Luffy evolves dramatically. He begins as an enemy but eventually becomes a redeemed foe and a best friend.
This shows how a seemingly negligible character can become a critical, indispensable plot twist.