…As for props – one of my characters always has a drink in his hand or he’s standing behind a bar. Another character is very animated, he’s always talking with his hands.
As for their own way of talking, if you listen in to a group of people, notice how they each sound different. Maybe it’s an accent, maybe they speak a little softer. Or maybe they use different words. I had a character that was older than everyone and he used words that maybe your grandfather would tend to use.
Now when I had to introduce several characters at once, I wrote it so that we’re seeing the most distinct things about these characters right away and learning just a tiny bit about them.
Here’s an example. Jessup is talking to Leslie.
“Before we head over there, let me tell you a little about each of our guests. The tall Navajo woman, that’s AJ Bluehorse. She’s made money by being one of the top computer programmers. The ginger, That’s Frederick. He’s another writer. Don’t call him Fred. He’s an anal little pipsqueak, but John wanted him here.”
Leslie asked. “Did he say why?”
“No. He didn’t tell me.
Great, she thought, I’m lumped with the pipsqueak.
Then there’s Samantha, of course. There’s no mistaking her.
Samantha daintily held her champagne glass. Her blue sundress was topped with a matching blue hat with fluffy white trim.
Leslie smiled. “Wow a bit ove rthe top with the outfit wouldn’t you say?”
Jessup laughed, she does that.
So, in a matter of a few paragraphs I’ve been introduced to 3 characters and we should have a distinct image of what they look like.
There is a large cast, but Leslie is the main featured character and we see everyone through her eyes.
Terry Shephard author of the Jessica Ramirez Thriller Series, host of the popular Authors on the Air Podcast and one of the nicest authors I met at Killer Nashville had this to share about using multiple characters:
“The biggest beef my readers have is “your cast is too big!” I’ve tried to shrink the ensemble, but since Jess’ adventures take her all over the world, there are inevitably a dozen or so named players who have significant screen time. I try to make Jessica and Ali the central focus and have evolved into letting them tell their parts of the stories in first person.
If you’re writing a series, character evolution is essential. Jess is not the woman she was in book one as I finish up CHASING KARMA, book three. Same with Ali. Learning what made them the women they have become explains a lot about the interpersonal dynamic and the motives behind their thought process. It’s a tightrope. You don’t want to destroy the foundations that make them appealing to readers. But they have to grow and evolve.
Thank you Terry
I know in my own series many of the characters are continued throughout the book and you see that evolution of the characters.
There’s a lot to unpack in this episode – but I just want say – If you haven’t finished writing the story, finish it first, then worry about going back and working on editing those characters.
Story Notes:
Find more about Terry Shephard and his books at: https://terryshepherd.com/
Find more about the Gift Certificates at: https://womensthrillerwriters.com/writer-gift-win-at-gifting-your-writer-friend/