SPA Girls Podcast

SPA Girls Podcast – EP422 – Writing Side Characters – with Sacha Black

Nov 15, 2023

Learn how to create unforgettable side characters in your story from author and educator Sacha Black. Discover the role of side characters as the arteries feeding your protagonist-heart and how they contribute to conflict and subplot fulfillment. Get insights on crafting complex side characters with wounds, desires, and beliefs, and explore the distinctions between heroes and protagonists in storytelling. Dive into the process of developing unique side characters for engaging stories and explore their narrative arcs and impact as villains in the story.

01:04:20

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Episode guests

Sacha Black

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Side characters are like the arteries feeding the protagonist-heart, providing new perspectives, conflict, and subplot fulfillment.

Developing character arcs for side characters adds depth and complexity to their roles in the story.

Maintaining a balanced dynamic among side characters is crucial to ensure they complement the protagonist without overpowering the narrative.

Deep dives

Juxtaposition: The Key to Crafting Memorable Side Characters

Creating memorable side characters involves exploring juxtapositions within their traits and actions. By highlighting unique characteristics, such as thematic representations or distinctive qualities, side characters can stand out in the story. Additionally, using the concept of juxtaposition helps in developing side characters with depth and complexity.

The Power of Juxtaposition in Writing and Marketing

02:24

Creating Dynamic Characters in Writing

01:13

Creating Deep and Meaningful Side Characters in Writing

01:27

Creating Three whys for Side Characters

01:46

Introduction

5min

Enhancing Productivity Through Daily Writing Habits

6min

Exploring the Distinctions Between Heroes and Protagonists

12min

Crafting Complex Side Characters

20min

Crafting Memorable Side Characters for Engaging Stories

11min

Exploring Side Character Arcs and Villains in Storytelling

8min

Wrapping up the Episode with Guest Information and Podcast Promotions

2min

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.

www.sachablack.co.uk

Sacha’s podcast, The Rebel Author

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