Characters Every Novel Needs

It’s time to develop characters outside of your protagonist and antagonist because your novel needs a whole host of them. When you use a diverse range of characters in your novel, you make it a little easier on yourself to use characters, dialogue, and situations to move your story forward. Plus, the personality types you give each character make your story more interesting for readers.

Keep reading to learn more about character types, as well as the importance of developing your characters to enhance your story.

4 Types of Characters

There are several types of characters you can include in your novel to make the story more engaging and dynamic. Here are four common character types:

1. Protagonist

The protagonist of your story is the main character and is typically the “hero” or the one to drive the plot forward. Protagonists tend to be flawed in some way, which makes them relatable to readers.

You can, however, develop your protagonist further by giving them an interesting background, personality, and motivation.

2. Antagonist

Your antagonist is the character who is in opposition to the protagonist. This tug of war between antagonist and protagonist is what creates conflict in the story. An antagonist is usually the villain, but an antagonist can also be an idea, a force of nature, or even the protagonist themselves.

To make your antagonist more compelling, give them a backstory or a moral dilemma they struggle with that lends to a reason for their actions.

3. Supporting Characters

Your supporting characters (think of them as friends, allies, family) help the protagonist achieve their goals and move the plot forward. Supporting characters should have their own goals and motivations to add depth to your story.

Give supporting characters their own subplots, conflicts, or relationships with other characters in your book.

4. Minor Characters

Minor characters are meant to appear briefly and serve a very specific purpose. They can be used to give information, add humor, or to move the plot forward. While minor characters may not have a significant impact on your plot, they can be memorable and add to the experience.

To make your minor characters more interesting, give them unique backstories, personalities, or quirks.

Which of the character types do you like to develop most for your stories?