A long time ago I spoke about staging a mystery crew but I don't think I did it justice. Now, years later, when I look back I realize that I had a long way to go before truly understanding a genre. Even now, I don't know everything I need to but we live and learn and grow. Isn't that the point in life?

So what have I learned that I can share with you?

A few weeks back I ended up talking on the phone with Quick-Quill and while it was our first phone conversation, we've crossed paths long time ago on Writing.com and have exchanged many emails. We talked about her story she's wanting to write but wanted to know if she had any plot holes before she starts. So I listened and realized that while I loved where her story was going there was something missing but it wasn't a plot hole. It was a support character.

A support character doesn't necessarily have to be supportive but most likely than not, they are. They add to the story. To breathe life into your writing, you know that a single character can't always cut it. Not in the long run. Even in real life, we encounter all sorts of people on our way to whatever we wish to achieve. Why can't that be said for our writing?

A lone wolf leaves a pack, but on his own, he won't be as successful as if he had others with him. Sure, it can create drama, conflict, love triangles, but that's what makes life fun. It's how we learn to adapt. To weed out what we don't need and keep the rest. Which means that support characters play a large role whether we see it so or not. Without them we don't have a story worth telling.

Look around you. Family, friends, co-workers, random strangers at places you go. All of them fall under that category up to a certain degree. Even a pet or animal fits the description. While we are born alone and die alone, we rarely go through life alone. We are creatures who seek connection. A purpose. People who think like us, enjoy similar things, have the same mindset, beliefs, we crave that no matter what we say. So do our characters.

As you write, you realize that every support character has a purpose. And your main character depends on them in different ways. A parent, a lover, the best friend, the co-worker no one likes. Everything is connected and intertwined. And just like in real life, they seek what they most need.

While a mystery crew rings bells for stories with the 'Who Dun It' vibe, in this case it's the opposite of that. This crew is your character's team. Small scale or large, they are needed. Sometimes more than one sticks out, but there is always that one that is the right hand. Always there to catch your main character when they falter or question their decisions.

Be willing to create that support and give it meaning. Without the meaning, it's unimportant, irrelevant, therefore unnecessary. I'm sure you know that, but let that be your reminder nevertheless.

'til next time!
~ Gaby