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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

Secondary characters in character-study fiction

What are examples of secondary characters?

Examples Of Secondary Characters



The companion, or sidekick, is a secondary character who stands with the protagonist on their journey. They might be a love interest, a friend, a sibling, or just someone who goes along for the ride.

What are main characters secondary characters?

Primary Characters: The major players in a story, appearing in numerous scenes throughout the script, the focal point of the Plotline and/or key subplots. Secondary Characters: Important but supporting roles, generally appearing in fewer scenes and with a narrower narrative function.

What is secondary characterization?

A secondary character is someone who plays a significant role in your book(s), but your plot doesn’t revolve around them.

What are the 4 types of characters?

Grouped in this way by character development, character types include the dynamic character, the round character, the static character, the stock character, and the symbolic character. 1.

Why are secondary characters important in a story?

The secondary character is more than just a minor character. He or she is necessary to the story because this character reveals key details, motivates the protagonist, foils the protagonist, or helps define the story’s setting.

How many secondary characters are in a story?

A good rule of thumb might be: Include as many characters as needed to tell the story and evoke the proper style and scope—and no more. For intimate novels, this number might be as small as 2-5 secondary characters, and for broader stories, this number might be 20-30.

What makes a good secondary character?

A well-written supporting character will have a character arc, a strong point of view, and clear personality traits. In many cases they will be the types of characters a reader might recognize from their own life and—like main characters—they will grow and change over the course of the storyline.

What is a secondary character called?

The definition of a deuteragonist (from the Greek deuteragōnistēs, for “second actor”) is the second most important and present character in a story—often called a secondary main character.

How do you use secondary characters?

Secondary characters support the main character



A major role of secondary characters is to support the main character. This is often in the form of sidekicks, mentors and love interests. These characters follow alongside the protagonist, giving advice, assistance and filling in the gaps in their skills.

What is a secondary character called?

The definition of a deuteragonist (from the Greek deuteragōnistēs, for “second actor”) is the second most important and present character in a story—often called a secondary main character.

How do you write a secondary character?

How do you write a good supporting character?

  1. Make their dialogue distinct from other characters. Each character, even supporting characters, should have distinct ways of speaking.
  2. Give them a distinct name.
  3. Make sure your characters want something.
  4. Put in the effort.


What are primary vs secondary characters?

Primary: These are your main characters who play a major role in your story. We follow their lives closely, and readers probably form an emotional connection with them. Secondary: These are recurring characters who have a supporting role in your story.