Writing Advice: Too Many Characters

Writing Advice: Too Many Characters

A common advice when writing stories is "don't write too many characters". But, like with everything creative and good, there is no definitive answer to how many characters should be in a book!

So I will be discussing numerous variables in storytelling which impacts how many characters you should have and what makes something in a book "pointless".

Themes! Themes! Themes! (Omori Spoilers, Not Too Much)

The most important question that a writer has to ask themself is "what is this scene/book/media trying to do?". If your story is based on the relationships we have with others and the impact they can have on our psyche then having a close-knitted community of people will drive the message of intimate connection better then just having more people in there. If your story is focused primarily on introspection, looking inward, individuality, and other spiritual activities then the protagonist is more likely to spend longer durations of the media by themselves.

An example of these to forces is the popular game of Omori.

(SPOILERS ABOUT OMORI<3)

Omori is a game that focuses on acceptance first and foremost. Self-acceptance to be more specific. Due to the fact that the game is a piece of introspection both for Sunny and for the player, the most important moments in the game such as the "reveal" sequence of pictures and Black Space are ones that are done on your own.

However, the game also prioritizes the relationships Sunny has between his friends as this serves as motivation for the final duet. The final duet was an act of bonding as Mari and Sunny just wanted to spend time together, doing something they liked.

The introspection moments are pushed towards the end of the game because it's only when Sunny has that support and belief in his friends, can he rise above his doubt and shame and fear.

2. What Is The Purpose Of This Character?

All characters need to have a purpose in the narrative. Both within the context of the world and in the context of the book.

Within the context of the world, they need a goal that is going to impact the protagonist either positively or negatively.

Within the context of the book, what is this character giving to the audience that wouldn't otherwise be there?

Pro tip: All the characters you have need to have more then one purpose! Characters that give exposition can't JUST give exposition.

If you have a love interest that can be cut out without taking away a vital part of the story either from a thematic(theme) standpoint or a narrative(plot) standpoint, just replace them with an object and move it along!

If you have an ally character that only shows up twice and can be changed into "I went down to the store to buy these items", give that "ally" tag to someone more story relevant"!

3. Priorites?

Ask yourself this: "Do I have the book length to dedicate time to this person?"

If the answer is no, follow my next steps. If the answer is yes, here is how to make them better.

When I say "prioritize", I mean you need to figure out what type of character this character is. Are they a main character? A side character? Cannon fodder? A symbol? WHAT ARE THEY?

Also, can you give these character responsibilities to someone else? This simultaneously gives those characters deeper complexity and eliminates more characters

Example: Love Interest, after being trapped by the villain, uses their intelligence in order to provide information about the villain to the hero. (Love Interest + Ally + Informant)

Example: Friend is revealed to be a double agent on the side of the Villain. However, it's revealed that Friend was secretly a triple agent who is finally redeemed from their original believed betrayal. They're back to being an ally. (Friend + Betrayer + Ally + Enemy)

Writing Prompt: Reluctant Chosen One

The only problem with this trope is the expectations we as the audience have for the "Chosen One" trope. We, as the audience, know we are reading a story about a protagonist who is going to defeat Big Bad without any issues. It also just seems kinda surface level and less "actual concern" and more "superficial relatability".

So I am going to add more genuine story behind this plot and less "superficial annoyance for the sake of faux relatability"

Hates Being The Chosen One

So why is this character not following the plot?

My answer: Has several answers :)

The writer needs to demonstrate how dangerous being the "Chosen One" actually is! Set the stakes!

Give the protagonist a highly understandable reason for why they don't want to fight the Big Bad personally. Ex: They personally support Big Bad and now they have to hide their forced double agent status from both Big Bad's allies and Hero's allies

Protagonist knows personally that the Big Bad is personally favored by the Gods and the "Chosen One' position only exists to provide entertainment for the Gods!

The "Chosen One" Protagonist has literally everything they could ever want at the beginning of the story. Riches, fame, adoration, and an arranged marriage on the way! Why would they risk their life to get more of what they already have?

The "Chosen One" misanthropic cynic who desperately hates humanity! Why did the Gods chose them to be on Team Humanity!?

To be the "Chosen One" means that you must be cursed(with something, you decide) by the Gods in order to properly "earn your title". Everyone in the world is pressure you to agree to a deal you never even wanted

These aren't all of my ideas. I honestly could keep going forever but i'm going to stop it here.

Feel free to share your own idea for how to spruce up some boring and overdone story/character cliches!

Hello, I'm Kariman Dohan. I am writing this letter to you feeling a state of sadness and grief, after the war on Gaza completely destroyed our lives. My husband works as a fisherman, but the fishing boat, which was our only source of income, was badly damaged and no longer usable😭😭😭. My young son, Hamoud, suffers from malnutrition due to the lack of food and the polluted water we drink. My husband, Ayman Olwan, and I are trying with all our might to survive, but the situation has become too much for us. We are desperate to escape to a safe place where we can start over, but we don't have enough money to do so.💔😔🥺 Therefore, I ask you for your generosity and kindness to help us so that we can overcome this crisis. Please consider our situation and help as much as you can by donating and sharing the link.💔🍉🥹😭😭😭😭

My campaign was vetted by 90ghost🫂

https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-kareman-dohans-family-from-despair

Check to see if it's a scam. Donate if you can. Reblog always. Share always.

🏮IF YOU IGNORE THIS, YOU ARE DOOMING MY FAMILY TO DEATH

Hello, I am Aseel from Gaza

Please donate to save our life

I apologize for what I am about to ask. I have a heavy and exhausted heart. Unfortunately, the situation became difficult after my father injured, and my father's health condition deteriorated

donation of only 20$ from each person, 20$ will save my family from death in Gaza

I lost part of my family, my home and everything

I do not know whether I will survive or die in this war, but I know that your help will contribute to saving my family from death.

My campiang vatted by @90-ghost @fairuzfan

https://gofund.me/16fe6e48

donate if you can. Always reblog. Always share

🛑Urgent appeal🛑🛑

My children live under the bombing in the war😭

What is their fault that they live this suffering?😢

Please consider them as your children and help them🙏😔

Stand by me to save and protect my children🙏😢😔

Donate to save my children's lives🍉🙏🇵🇸

https://gofund.me/15b93af5

Check to see if it's a scam. Donate if you can. Reblog always. Share always.

Hello dear friends!

❤🤍💚🖤🇵🇸🇵🇸

All the positive words cannot express how generous you are, especially in sharing my posts to inform other donors about the people of Gaza who are still suffering from the terrible conditions caused by the unjust war on Gaza!

❤🤍💚🖤🇵🇸🇵🇸

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the support you are giving to help Palestinian families stay safe and alive. ✌✌

❤🤍💚🖤🇵🇸🇵🇸

We collect such donations to provide the minimum basic needs of life and help find safety and peace for young children who do not deserve to live in such horrific situations. Thanks to your contribution, my family is slowly approaching 1/2 of the way to reach the goal. Every form of your help makes a difference to the free people who have been struggling and paying so much for almost 305 hard days

❤🤍💚🖤🇵🇸🇵🇸

Please continue to support the most just cause in the world either by donating directly or by sharing the link to let others know. Don't hesitate to help people in difficult and miserable times until the dark days are over.

❤🤍💚🖤🇵🇸🇵🇸

Donate if you can. Reblog always. Share to everyone. Share to all your social media account. Share to your friends