Minor character I wish was major

shortgeekfreak — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:45:04 -0600

I needed a character in my novel to serve essentially as a tool for my protagonists, both in terms of providing information and in demonstrating how the societal attitudes of the city the protagonists are now in are much more egalitarian than where they had been. So I invented Augusta Primrose. She is clever, sparky, wears frilly gloves, dresses her daughter in pink ruffles and carries a parasol and she is a BADASS. I kind of want to write a novel with her as the main character fighting with a battle parasol. I just dropped her in randomly because I didn't want her to be in just one scene. Anyone else inventing characters they love when they just needed someone to spout exposition or provide colour to a scene?

Re: Minor character I wish was major

thomlina — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:52:07 -0600

Shall I introduce you to my dear character Aika? She is a complete bully and is horrible to my characters...So why is it that I love her so much? She adds a whole new era to the story and makes it more realistic...But still...

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Mnemophage — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:24:30 -0600

f0rge and Tanuuki popped out of nowhere when I was trying to populate a post-apocalyptic internet. I'm loving f0rge so much - he's a 14-year-old kid who just figured out how to swear. A monster-infested Las Vegas is like his playground, and he is eagerly figuring out how to turn himself into a monster-slaying badass. He's become a source of information (separated from the main cast by the brilliant and deadly Las Vegas strip) and, eerily enough, part of the reason my main character chooses to stay in the city when given an opportunity to escape. Imagine if your little brother got loose during a zombie uprising and you found him again, three weeks later, covered in old blood, wielding two katanas, wearing a Xbox headset and an expression of berzerker glee. I like this kid.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Sunny_Signs — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:30:02 -0600

Jean - An 11 year old soldier. That's right, ELEVEN. She has chubby cheeks, carries a pistol instead of a rifle and, much like ShortGeekFreak said, she is totally badass :p

Re: Minor character I wish was major

nataliewashere — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:19:52 -0600

The funny thing is that I have the complete opposite problem. I have a character that was supposed to be major. He is the protagonists brother, he is supposed to be this little kid who has temper tantrums all the time and gets in the way of his sister's progress of going through the universe and finding her abducted parents, but he is just this typical kid. Then he turned into a badass, better than his sister (which really says something). I don't really know what to do...

Re: Minor character I wish was major

TheEvilMatriarch — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:50:18 -0600

... Can I steal him?

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Pickwick12 — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 15:30:42 -0600

I have a policeman called Morris, who was just supposed to serve as "the law," without a major function. But he's lovely. I really dig him. I think he needs his own story after this.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Lady_Indis_Dress — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:37:32 -0600

I think Morris needs his own story too, Pickwick12! I'm having this issue with several characters. James is funny in a witty way, Duncan is funny in a more outright and youthful mistake kind of way. Anton and Graciela have become way more interesting than I anticipated. Ian is fun. I haven't introduced my villain yet but I always love writing them.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

kaitlynleliel — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:43:56 -0600

Why, yes. His name? Corday Ryan. I needed him just as a background character that would tie a few events together later on, and his personality is so light and floppy... Despite being in his twenties, he genuinely has the heart of a child. I'm quite fond of him, and am already finding myself planning a spin-off of sorts about him and the girl he travels with. xD

Re: Minor character I wish was major

kaitlynleliel — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 21:45:00 -0600

*thirties Ugh. Sometimes, I just don't know where my head is. I wish the edit feature was around...

Re: Minor character I wish was major

DarkCoffeeJazz — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:01:47 -0600

What started out as a random character I needed as an antagonist for the main character ended up making him the mentor of said main character. Basically, I wanted one of the Lycans of my universe to be serving an ancient evil, in fact he's the only one. After a few unsuccessful attempts at incapacitating or kidnapping the prince traveling with the main character (for reasons I will not get into at this time), the main character's party enters what is referred to as a Haven. Basically cities so well protected by magical wards and whatnot that they are a 'haven' against monsters, magic, and mayhem. Being a Lycan, he can enter the city but only while out of his wolf form (which he usually stays in for most of his time, being a very primal villain). While in said humanoid form, he meets up with main character at a tavern/inn, chats a bit, then offers to train the main character, who after 40,000 words I still hate because he's pretty weak and tends to complain. After a few poisoned words whispered in the ear of our main character, main character realizes he is the weak link in the chain, accepts Mr. Lycan's offer, and forms a pact with him so that he can't escape his training, and that his new mentor cannot refuse to train him. How this will play out, I am not sure. But main character is going to be going through a year's worth of boot camp as it now stands, unless something changes. Having learned of this pact being formed without his authorization, Mr. Big Bad, the main bad guy who Mr. Lycan works for, punishes him by making the false name and story Mr. Lycan had told Main Character real in his mind. So now Mr. Lycan thinks he really is who he said he was now, and has no current memory of his current allegiances to Mr. Big Bad, but still retains the original intent on training and corrupting Main Character. As a result of this pact, main character has 'left the party', to use gamespeak. Instead of the original destination I had planned on him going, he is now going to be traveling the wilderness with Mr. Lycan. Who knows what will happen next. As it now stands, my plot will not finish up in the 4,000 words I have left.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

shortgeekfreak — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 01:23:25 -0600

You have werewolves/lycans in your story too? Mine sound very different from yours (but that's part of the fun with werewolves!)

Re: Minor character I wish was major

ZoraSkywalker — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:11:03 -0600

I have a character who is a major character (and really fun to write) who disappears for the majority of the first book in my trilogy, because everyone thinks he dies. I definitely miss him when I write the sections he's gone. And then I have several other characters who were supposed to be minor characters, become major characters. A couple were work associates of the MC who were very interesting, and the other decided to go from being just a total creeper to the main villian -- he's even the puppetmaster of the group that was supposed to be my main villians, and I was like, "What the heck, dude?!? Where did you come from?" He is so much fun to write though.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Macdp — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:29:46 -0600

I invented Plyosifer something-or-other (Plio for short) who was supposed to just be the medical nerd that was invited to show up at an important meeting. The way I envisioned him changed a lot as the story went along, and he became the blameless, forgiving, nice-looking guy who turns out to be his friend's love interest. Plio is just awesome, he is so clever and so complex, yet so adorably dorky. :3 (he constantly rants about being an hour behind his projects.)

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Professor.Banshee — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 20:17:20 -0600

He sounds so precious, oh my goodness.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

AnAgelessTime — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:02:14 -0600

I've made several minor characters major by just shifting focus to them. Since I'm writing an open world of characters, I can focus on whoever I want.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

queenoftheoutlands — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:27:14 -0600

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce Vivian, who appeared to me in a dream and announced that she was going to be in my novel whether I liked it or not. Not only that, she's forming the bookends of my entire series and is now my MCs love interest. They have not actually met yet. She's an assassin, hundreds of years older than she appears and practically lives in prison. Also, she is in need of a second name.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Another Anonymous Person — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:05:49 -0600

Sur names: -Forward -Locklear -Locke -Dalene -Taylor -Harvey -Yang -Thao (pronounced t-ow) -Brown

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Another Anonymous Person — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:08:24 -0600

One of my minor/ major characters is my favorite character throughout my entire novel, and there's one thing about her: she's dead. So when my MC talks about her or thinks about her, they're all memories and past tense. Every time I think about Skyler (the dead character) I get sad because I can't write more about her. I mean, sure, the novel kind of revolves around her death, but it's not like my MC can just walk right up to her and have a back and forth conversation. I wish she was a major character that I could actually Talk To instead of think about. =(

Re: Minor character I wish was major

tummer — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:22:47 -0600

Yeah, I named her Maka. Didn't even bother coming up with a last name at first because I didn't wan to be bothered with it. At first, she was just going to be a vampire that helped out the group, but as I continued writing, I wanted her to become more and more important. Unfortunately, she's hasn't done anything good enough to scream main character. Even after giving her some cool abilities, she's still just doesn't have what it takes to be called a main character.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Lilia Sparks — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:27:26 -0600

That would be Radio. He's awesome, and I love him. Originally, Radio was supposed to be one of my minor characters for a couple of fight scenes. He was supposed to be equal with another three guys: Caps, Street and Punch. BUT, he just fit into everything. He has a big mouth, he's a little retarded at times, but he is the funnest (oh yes, I said it. It's not even a word. That shows you how much fun it is to write him.) character to write. He and another character, Born, kind of switched importance. Maybe I can revive Born.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

TewiInaba — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 13:48:33 -0600

I have one in Shiro/Bobi. She's a poor girl that makes plush dolls for money to pay for the things she wants, which are books and anime. She's very smart and talks like she just came out from a Shakespearean play, and she's agoraphobic as well. Oh, and she dresses in old lacy dresses that look like something her great great grandmother would wear, always carries around lacy gloves, and only goes by Shiro because she hates her name.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Toxicjinx — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:24:54 -0600

Totally my character Amore. He's only in about...one or two scenes in the novel, but he's insanely charaismatic and likeable. My story is about a personification of the Seven Sins and Seven Virtues, and personificatiosn of the Advent themes (Hope, Joy, Love and Some other unimportant one) get thrown in, and he's just this super nice guy, like the kind of calm friend you always go to when you're stressed out. Not to mention a quirky slacker. He's only there to apologize for making Pride fall in love with Humility 8'D And he then fades into obscurity.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

shortgeekfreak — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 17:53:40 -0600

I really love the sound of your novel! You're making me want to read it :)

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Toxicjinx — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 18:51:08 -0600

>w< Ohmygosh!!!! Thanks!!!! Keep on writin'! <3

Re: Minor character I wish was major

scains — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:11:49 -0600

I have a minor character that has become major unintentionally and one or two major characters that have become minor and are going to be killed off as a result. Woops.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

WileJ — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:11:54 -0600

Algy, I miss you so much. Come back! Oh wait, you died...terribly...I think. (Or did you?) No, definitely died. Lord Bertrand confirmed that. And Algy was so much fun! He was the guy who everybody loved and was friends with everyone no matter how much he disliked someone. He was totally upbeat about the world and everything. Honestly, I wish he did not have to die, except it was necessary to drive my FMC to finally get off her butt and do something.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

liadan_celt — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 21:13:41 -0600

My favorite character I ever wrote was a side character in my 2007 NaNo. He's made cameos in all my NaNos since because I can't resist dropping him into situations and seeing what he does with them. He is running away with my NaNo this year, and I am okay with that.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

ksmith79 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:49:09 -0600

I have a great character who is the best friend and possible love interest of my MC. He's only in one part (about 8 chapters), though, and I've planned to kill him since he was created... I love his wit, and everything about him really right down to his name (Petre, pronounced Peter), and am going to be sad to kill him off... hopefully I'll get to bring him back into the story for a bit before he croaks though!

Re: Minor character I wish was major

BenCrome — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:12:42 -0600

I might be able to win on just HOW minor my beloved minor character is. His only real appearance in the novel is that he wrote a document about five hundred years ago (dates may be slightly off without it open in front of me) that the main characters do a little research from. On the other hand, he's a wandering monk who challenges churches that claim "miracles" which he thinks aren't - for the greater glory of God.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Eruravenne — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:23:08 -0600

Well, I dropped Alden the Silly Minstrel/Awesome Thief into my story just to give one of my other characters something to do while she was off by herself and he ended up weaseling his way into the main story even though there was no room for him... >.>;; He was too cute and funny to leave behind! I couldn't help it! Now I'm gonna have to write a sequel with him and the other character going on an adventure of their own. ;3

Re: Minor character I wish was major

crealms82 — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:27:02 -0600

My main character's best friends Jason and Ricardo(Ric). I created them mainly because Chris my Main character needed friends to interact with before he moved away. As I was writing them I really liked them and extended their roles before I had to get rid of them, and I still keep them in the story to a lesser regard.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

morpheus.nyx — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:38:42 -0600

Sarah Dare and her seven-year-old son George. Unfortunately, I already knew they were dead when I created them. They only appear in a centuries-old flashback. I'm having trouble writing their tragic deaths like I planned to now.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Hanabi no Enigma — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:16:04 -0600

Techai. I sent Joel into an alley because I didn't know what to do with him once he'd arrived in Kadaingo City. One of the natives, who I didn't even know existed until she appeared, walked out of a building. She told Joel where to go. Then she met him there, told him where he was going next, with learning her past I learned a lot about a specific culture, she got the plot moving again-- LITERALLY, since she arranged transportation. Then I got to the first exciting parts in the whole mess of boring stuff I had so far.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

ashybear — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:35:49 -0600

I created Luc Gregory as friend of my MC to assist with dialogue and reaching the word count. Then he developed this amazing backstory and had the most amazing personality. I wanted to start writing about him

Re: Minor character I wish was major

kathy-vicki — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:31:28 -0600

My minor character was supposed to be a little more major, but she kind of got written away to the background. She's the younger sister of the protagonist and her role is to be the center of attention, giving the protagonist a lack of supervision so he could get into trouble (and thus advance the plot). At first I thought she'd be at the forefront of my story and would kick off every scene, but I found she served her purpose just fine off-camera while we follow the protagonist's actions. I just kind of wish I hadn't written her away so curtly.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

memilypoo — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 23:17:51 -0600

My story was supposed to have a band of monster slayers traveling together, but I had only two in mind at the beginning. So, for the story and (mostly) the word count, I made Rascival. I later realized that he would be a great main (even villain). He's sarcastic, thinks everything is mediocre, and always finds a way to sneak a joke into every situation. He kills monsters and murders people with the same humor. He cheerfully says ta-ta and abandons his friends before a fight, only to come back for a Big Damn Heroes moment as if he'd planned it. He complains about how annoying his leader is and won't stop talking back but always ends up helping her/doing her bidding anyway. What a two faced guy, and I love him for it.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

aliaswriter — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:43:11 -0600

Tamara Porter. She's spunky. Seems a little rough, but really has a heart of gold and watches out for others. This is the only scene she's in. Jarrod Porter closed the front door, the last guest just leaving. His wife came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. She had only done a few dishes, most of the dishes used tonight having been disposable plasticware. They were both still in their costumes. "You ready for bed?" Jarrod asked his wife. "Am I ever. I'm beat." They climbed the stairs to the bedroom. Once they both climbed into bed, Tamara Porter turned to her husband. "It was a fun night, wasn't it?" "Yeah, we need to make this an annual thing." He smiled, then yawned. "Looked like everyone had fun. Except that one girl, Becky. She looked like something was bothering her. At least, she did during the first half of the night." "Maybe they had a fight before they came." Jarrod didn't seem too concerned. It was none of his business. "No, I was watching her, to make sure she was okay. And I saw John and her talking out on the porch --. " "Aw geez, Tamara, you didn't eavesdrop, did you?" "Of course not! I just kept an eye on her, is all." Jarrod looked at her, unsure if he should believe her, but he didn't say anything. She continued, "They were talking, and it didn't look like they had been in an argument earlier. Actually, they looked really sweet together. It's nice to see a couple married awhile and still be so sweet with each other." "Oh, they ain't married. They only met each other a few months ago." Tamara was taken aback, surprised. "I would never have thought that. They look so cute together, really perfect for each other. They look so comfortable with each other, like they've been married for years." "They just met, Tamara. Don't go off and make them an old married couple already. Don't be jumping ahead so fast. Slow down. Let them take the relationship one day at a time, let them enjoy it." She quirked an eyebrow at him. "You saying you don't like married life?" Jarrod backtracked. "Of course not. I'm just saying to let them enjoy getting to know each other. Of course I love being married. Especially to you," he added for good measure, even though he had never been married to anyone other than her. He smiled endearingly. "Hmmph," was all his wife could say. Jarrod leaned over to kiss his wife on her cheek. "Come on, you know I love married life." He could tell that she wasn't really mad at him, just wanted to make him squirm. She relented, allowing a smile on her face. "That's better," she amended. He shook his head. She was a feisty one, his wife. "Come on, girl. Let's go to sleep." With that, he turned off the bedside lamp, and they soon fell asleep into a deep slumber.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

PumpkinKing97 — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:28:25 -0600

Let's see: Officer Brandon Officer Pilman Jamie Trisha And many more! Seriously, all of my minor characters are so, so precious to me. They pop in and out of the story so there aren't really any main, main characters except my main girl, who I love as well. I'm hoping my intense catalogue of minor characters will really appeal to my future agent (It'll happen, I swear it!)

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Parmawen — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 16:55:53 -0600

My snarky castle guard, Jarl. He's completely epic, really cool for being an "old guy," according to my teenage main characters, and helps them out in a tough spot or two. He's so much fun to write wisecracks for, and I've given him a complete cast. He's my favorite character at the moment, much more so than either of my two protagonists, and I really want to make him a main character! Sadly, it won't work out, but I will give him the privilege of killing my villain.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

emberwing — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:36:36 -0600

Well, Flint was supposed to be a minor character but less than a week into the novel he wormed his way higher and of course NOW he's completely indespencible and awesome. Hmm. I want more Fletcher. This novel needs more gay engineer riding a T-Rex. Luckily I have a place for him n the 'boss fight', T-Rex and all

Re: Minor character I wish was major

finchgeam — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 11:49:19 -0600

I have this problem all the time o.O too lazy to name all examples

Re: Minor character I wish was major

finchgeam — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:30:33 -0600

Alright since I have nothing better to do. Lourdes "Lola" Lourdes was in my original draft of my nano this year. She was a gothic lolita detective ... kind of like Victorique on Gosick for people who have seen the show( I only saw it quite recently o.O) I rebooted the entire universe for her making her a detective and the main focus on the story. She has had quite the fun and has gone trough some character development o.O from a 12 year old detective to a 36 year old deity o.O'' I don't know how that happened either. I kind of shy away writing about her, because I fear that she might turn into a marry sue o.O'' Azut ... I thought of him when I was 10 ... 11 maybe ... he was a minor character based on actor, Alan Cumming o.O ... I was a weird kid ok ... he has shown up quite a lot lately ... quite nostalgic ^^ I also have a character that I have named Derby Hat ... his history is complicated as he originated in a drawing + story I did when I was 3-4 o.O He went from being the boogeyman to being a mobster ... to being a god ... to being an alien ... to being a normal guy that owns a big company o.O Like with Lola I shun away from writing him and other certain characters ... but I am picking up on writing about them ... well ... them & their one-time mentioned family members. Derby Hat's real name changes a lot o.O'' Characters are weird they are like mutating blob children o.O''''''

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Kiwikarma7 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:51:10 -0600

I have a character named Bertha who I put in the story for a dare. She is an old lady who bakes cookies that may or may not be magical, beats up Greg, a scientist, then helps him and my MC escape. Oh, she's a ninja too, but that only came into the plot right at the end. I love her. Greg started as a nameless scientist/doctor guy, but now he's one of my favorite characters. He's just awesome, but I can't seem to find a certain reason why. These two are so fun to write, especially together!

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Kiwikarma7 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:52:00 -0600

I have a character named Bertha who I put in the story for a dare. She is an old lady who bakes cookies that may or may not be magical, worships a lamp, beats up Greg, a scientist, then helps him and my MC escape. Oh, she's a ninja too, but that only came into the plot right at the end. I love her. Greg started as a nameless scientist/doctor guy, but now he's one of my favorite characters. He's just awesome, but I can't seem to find a certain reason why. These two are so fun to write, especially together!

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Thrae Elddim — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:06:45 -0500

Hope. I mainly put her in as a counterpoint to Ezra: where he's a former assassin with lots of illegal habits, she's a sweet and innocent family woman. Kind of. She seems innocent but comes out later as not being quite so. I want to explore that and how she and Ezra got together, this June!

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Thrae Elddim — Fri, 18 May 2012 12:08:46 -0500

I really, really wish there was a 'like' button on this site. And an edit button.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

Star — Tue, 22 May 2012 17:18:38 -0500

Nyx, I really wish that I was writing the novel from her point of view instead of Lynsey's. She's awesome, she has pink hair, wears bow-ties and is totally badass.

Re: Minor character I wish was major

UnicornEmma — Wed, 23 May 2012 00:03:27 -0500

An MC's little siblings. I think the little brother is going to step up and be a bigger part than was originally planned for him, because he's going to have to light a fire under his big brother when no one else is able to reach him. He's also going to be my voice at some point, the one to step in and explain what sexual orientations really are and why people need to chill about them, that sort of thing. Anyway, the little sister is also amazing. At ~16, she's 6'2 and has hair that's so short it's almost shaved. She plays a quick game of basketball against an MC who isn't her brother (and who has the record for most points in a single game at the high school he graduated from the year before) and loses by just one point. She also is unimpressed by his technically good physique (since she's a lesbian) and is completely oblivious to his blatant flirting, which he does shamelessly in front of her two older brothers, who get a kick out of his failure. I have plans for both of these siblings, in terms of future careers, significant others, even deaths. I doubt any of that info will be shared in the novel, so I'm thinking about writing a separate piece just about them...which I might write during Camp Nano, if I need the word count boost.