The chapter explores the intricate process of developing side characters by analyzing their wounds, desires, and beliefs, showcasing how these elements drive their narrative arcs. Through examples of characters with motivations stemming from past traumas, the discussion emphasizes the importance of background in shaping character behavior. It also highlights the role of side characters in plot development, conflict, and enhancing storytelling through examples from popular media.
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Side characters – how do you make them memorable, but not over-take the spotlight? And what purpose do they serve in the story?
This episode, the awesome author and educator, Sacha Black, gives us the scoop on developing incredible side characters that will take your story from blah to bleepin’ amazing. She takes us through three different types of side character and how to create juxtapositions that SELL BOOKS.
Sacha says: “If your book is a body, then your protagonist is the heart, the theme is the soul and your side characters are the arteries feeding your protagonist-heart.
Side characters are the arteries in a protagonist-heart, they are new perspectives and viewpoints, conflict generators, and subplot fulfillers.”
About Sacha Black:
Sacha Black is a best selling and competition winning author, rebel podcaster, and professional speaker.
She has five obsessions; words, expensive shoes, conspiracy theories, self-improvement, and breaking the rules.
Sacha writes educational nonfiction books for writers and sapphic books for Young Adults. She also writes under a super secret pen name.
When she’s not writing, she can be found laughing inappropriately loud, sniffing musty old books, fangirling film and TV soundtracks, or thinking up new ways to break the rules.
She lives in Cambridgeshire, England, with her wife and genius, giant of a son.
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