8 Tips for Writing Supporting Characters in RP's
Aug 12, 2022 23:18:43 GMT -5
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Post by TIA Promotions on Aug 12, 2022 23:18:43 GMT -5
8 Tips for Writing Supporting Characters in RP's
Adapted from an article found here: self-publishingschool.com/supporting-characters/
Writing good supporting characters requires thinking of them as full, complex people. The supporting character (SC) interacts with your main character (MC) in compelling ways that enhance character development. Here are some tips for writing effective supporting characters in efedding:
1. Use them as plot devices for your main character.
You don’t have the word count to fully flesh outside stories for your SC’s, so unfortunately, they will usually only exist as plot devices for your MC. The only reason to have a supporting character in your RP is to say something about your main character. The SC will do and say things that reinforce personality traits of the MC. They will provide opportunities for the MC to grow. They will move the story along. When they no longer serve a purpose for the MC, cut them out of the story. If you’d like to give a SC more room to expand and grow, consider running them as an alt.
2. Make their dialogue distinct from other characters.
Each character, even supporting characters, should have their own unique voice. This can be based on their background, education, hometown, life experience, age, and personality. Take those factors into consideration. Are they snarky? Long-winded? What kind of vocabulary do they use? Do they always speak in the same tone, or do they shift based on circumstances? Do they speak with an accent, regional dialect, or a speech impediment? Making distinct dialogue becomes more important as your character grows. It’s one of the most important tools you can use to help your readers keep up with what’s going on.
3. Make them easy to remember.
A memorable name will help your readers keep the characters straight in their heads as they read your work. If you have multiple side characters that have similar names, you’re likely to confuse the reader. Changed one of their names for clarity’s sake. If your character has multiple siblings, friends, or children, consider merging them into one, just to avoid confusion about which is which. The more time your reader spends trying to figure out who a SC was again, the less likely they are to care about the story.
4. Make sure your SC’s want something.
Yes, your SC is a plot device. Often one dimensional. But they don’t have to be. Give them a goal or agenda. Allow them to challenge the MC instead of just being supportive all of the time. Creating dramatic situations in your narrative is a good way to show the reader the personality of your MC without having to tell them the information. Each character you include in a scene should want something out of it, big or small. If they’re important enough to have a name, they’re important enough to want something.
5. Don’t let them outshine your MC.
Unlike writing in novels, you don’t necessarily need to give your SC’s as much care and attention as you give your MC. You don’t want them to overshadow your champion. Remember that you’re writing your piece to convince the judge that your MC needs to win, has prepared to win, and should win the match. If you spend too much time on a SC instead of your MC, you run the risk of them getting lost in the mix. It’s ok for your SC’s to have a backstory, just make sure that it makes sense for their current state of storyline. SC’s play an important role in any story. Without them, the world around our MC’s would be drab, boring, and unexciting. A good character needs good characters to work with and against! Make sure you’re giving just as much love to your supporting cast as you do when building your main character, just don’t let them steal the shine.
6. Remind the reader who they are.
If you’re going to go through the trouble of mentioning a supporting character in an RP, be sure to remind the reader who they are. It’s easy to forget that this may be the first piece of yours that a reader has seen. The faster you can get them up to speed with who is who, the sooner they will be hooked by your character development.
7. Collaborate with other handlers.
Using another handler’s character as a SC in your character development is a good way to tie the wrestling universe together. It gives credibility to the story you’re telling. Your MC is no longer on an island, shouting into the void. They are in a community now and the opportunities are endless. Collaborating with other handlers brings in established characters that only need slight introductions. They give your MC a rub just by being present. Just make sure you have approval before you use any other characters.
8. Clichés are ok.
You may want to slap me for saying this, but using a cliché as a SC is not a bad thing. The SC in a CD piece is much like a wrestler in the ring. By the time the entrance music is over, the audience should know the gimmick of the performer. SC’s are the same way. Within the first paragraph of mentioning an SC, they should establish their position towards the MC. The jealous wife, the angry trainer, the supportive friend, the concerned parent. By using easily identifiable character tropes, you give the MC more room to be the superstar of the show. Cliches exist for a reason. They are truth.