Lining up your characters for the guillotine
Does your novel have too many characters?
I always marvel at how some writers can craft sweeping stories with a large cast (and keep track of them). I have a hard time remembering the names of people I see every week.
The very first bit of fiction I wrote when I reignited my love for writing had nearly twenty characters make an appearance in the first three chapters. They each had a role to play which had an effect on the MCs’ lives. I made myself dizzy by bopping between my spreadsheet and my doc. I wish I had this article two years ago. In my defense, I anticipated the story being an epic tale, spanning multiple lifetimes.
I had tried a flow chart and ran out of space, spending more time moving boxes than writing. I love my first story, it won’t leave me alone. One day, as my confidence and skills grow, I’ll come back and finish it.
Does your novel have too many characters?
My Passion's Pen 