I know I have a tendency to write a lot of secondary characters. This crime has been reined in, in large part due to editors who say, “you have too many characters, cut them.” I think it’s part of my personality, I never shut up and neither does that pesky muse. There’s a constant stream of stuff flowing through my head when I start a book and characters all sort of duke it out to be in it. I have to wrestle them and my tendency to have big families in my books.
But when done well, secondary characters can add depth to your story. Some of my favorite books have great secondaries in them. And not as merely sequel fodder, but as real, living, breathing parts of the story that neither overshadow or take up room but add nothing to the story.
Sometimes characters you think are fabulous are ones no one even comments on. But other times, there are characters that pester you incessantly until you give them space on the page and they take over and you know they’re going to be in every book they can push their way into.
This is Polly Chase, the matriarch of the Chase clan. IMO, she’s the true heart of the Chase Brothers series, she’s the thread that runs through the books and she’s big and bold as brass. Moreover, she loves being that way. Polly is probably my favorite of all my secondary characters. She’s so easy to write because she just came to me so fully developed.
She click-clacked into my head with that big bouffant, those sky-high heels and that petite frame. The big purse and the 1970’s Caddy came to me as I wrote . She’s a mass of contradictory images – tiny woman, big hair, big car, big purse, big personality and big, giant sons. Who all adore her and are wise enough to know she’ll kick their butts when they get out of line, adults or not.
Because she’s such a vivid character, she’s fun to read and write. She’s one of those characters who I never have to think on their motivation at all. She loves her children and her husband. Her family means everything to her and she will protect it and love them with every fiber of her being. And she’s not above being sneaky to achieve her goals. I kind of like that about her.
In the end, she’s the emotional center of the books. She’s a secondary character but at the same time, the books would not be the same without her. It’s not that she’s not big enough to have a book of her own either, she’s a mother in every way. Both to the series and to her sons and daughters-in-law.
And to me, a great secondary character is important because even though they don’t get the page space of a primary, they still remain memorable and special, the story is better with their presence. Pushy broads!
Lauren
Post Script Bio Thingamabob: Lauren Dane tries not to talk about herself in the third person – so okay, I love to hear from readers. Check out my website for current and upcoming releases!
Awww, Polly. She makes me smile. And I LOVE the fact she bosses around her big, gigantic, naughty sons.
And she’s a good mother in law, too!
I remember Polly from just reading an excerpt! Though I’ve got Taking Chase on my tbr pile, so will see more of her.
Anyway, totally agree that secondary characters are so important. Read somewhere they should think of themselves as the center of their story, even if that’s not the story you’re writing.
I toatlly agree with you, Lauren. I think secondary characters are important. I laughed when I read what you said about your editors thinking you had too many characters. I have the same problem now. I had to cut a few from my last book.
I love Polly Chase. She is certainly a memorable part of the Chase books. Her presence adds depth to the main characters as well, allowing us to get a bigger glimpse into their pasts. Who knows more about those Chase boys then their mother. LOL
I love having a full cast of characters! The supporting cast matters as much as the main characters. Really, have you ever loved a book that didn’t have anybody interesting or fully-developed in it besides the hero or heroine? And what about the fascinating subplots they add? Sometimes you get the character who wants to steal the show, but I love having a full cast. One of the challeges of writing short is having to keep secondary characters out or giving them very little space.
I love memorable secondary characters. Often, they’re a very big part of what makes the story “special.” Like, one of my favorite characters from the Anita Blake novels is Edward, a secondary character who doesn’t appear in all of the books. Or Surreal from Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels trilogy. Or… you get my point.
It infuriates me to no end when primary secondary characters are nothing more than cliches and foils for the hero/ine. I don’t expect much from characters that only appear once or twice in the book and don’t do much at all, but if they are involved… then they damn well ought be just as well-characterised as the main characters.
Granted, I’ve read plenty of books where the main characters weren’t characterised that well, either.
I adore Polly Chase. When I first read The Chase series Polly just jumped off the page at me. I knew that she was my kind of Mom. The constant that she and Edward provide this series are so integral to the
overall story. To me it just makes me love the Chase Brothers more if that is possible. I must take this moment to again petition for Edwards and Polly’s story. Lauren, you have given us a glimpse of how these two meet in Book one but I would love to read more about these two. Polly is the heart of the Family but Edward is the foundation. Without him to ground Polly and allow her to be well…Polly the stories would not be what they are true gems. Thanks so much for giving Polly to the readers. She has a spot in my heart that is occupied by characters such as Daniel McGregor and Cassie Sinclair.
Secondary characters help the hero/heroine sometimes. You can have this big and bad alpha male who is always so dark and broody until he goes home and puts his feet up and there’s the housekeeper or the butler who just gets right in his face. For some reason, he takes it and that makes him more loveable, more human and humane.
If you’re like me, you’re always looking to the next book.. so sometimes, the secondary character is gonna get their chance to shine in the sequel. Especially if your readers ask for it, and I’ve had them ask me about certain people in my books. LOL!
I’m with Nonny on Edward though, I miss that psycho serial killin freak. What does that say about me?
I like the secondarly characters – I tend to have several too – because I think it gives the H/H more depth, how they interact and whatnot. It makes the entire story more “real” to me!
I’m with you, Lauren. I write a lot of them, love to read about them, and sometimes they becomes stars of their own. What would a good movie be with just the protagonists?
Polly Chase sounds like a wonderful character, and I’m definitely putting your Chase Brothers series in my TBR list.
I love secondary characters myself. Maybe that’s why I’m writing a mystery with no less than nine suspects. Groan.
I love secondary characters. Sometimes I need them to show a side of the hero or heroine that you wouldn’t otherwise see, and sometimes they’re needed to just round out the story. There have been times when I felt a secondary character needed their own story, but there just isn’t enough material for a whole book. That’s when I write it just for me. Those little shorts are the fun ones to write because I know that I’m probably the only one who will ever see them.
Nonny and Jenna – LKH’s next Anita book will feature Edward. I love, love love that crazy psycho.
Everyone else, it’s good to know I’m not the only one who loves secondaries so much.
Oh and Mary – you’ll see more of Edward in Chased!
Lauren, I’m just hoping that Laurell doesn’t screw up Edward like she’s done with so many other of the characters. I may break the “I’m not reading her” rule that I’ve had since <i>Cerulean Sins</i> and read it just for Edward….. but I swear to gods, if she turns Edward into one of Anita’s little fucktoys……..
Yeah.
Gosh, Polly Chase is so cool – you can just picture her in her high heels (more power to her – I HATE high heels), that big hair – and oh my gosh the big caddy for the little lady.
Then her driving – like no woman would EVER put make-up on while driving down the road (yeah right!) but she is so real and over the top that she is fantastic.
I love the fact that even though she is so over the top her four big son’s and her very understanding husband are right there for her in everything she does.
So I’m with everyone else, secondary characters are a good thing – so don’t let anyone tell you to get rid of them.
Nonny, can I make Edward my toy? Although, I did think his “fiancee” in Obsidian Butterfly was all wrong for him!
And Ann, thank you so much!