Do too many characters spoil the story?

Often I’m asked how many characters are too many for a story, but the honest answer would be to assess the story or novel and make an informed decision on how many characters are central to the story. In truth, there is no definitive right or wrong. Some novels have many characters, like the Harry Potter novels, and Lord of the Rings, while others have a bare minimum.

Firstly, too few characters are not necessarily a bad thing. Many novels have just a few main and secondary characters and they work well because the main focus is constantly on them throughout the novel. That means there aren’t less important characters stealing some of that limelight, and thus fewer subplots to write and to keep an eye on.

In short stories it’s somewhat different – the fewer the characters, the better. That’s because you may only have between 1000 and 10,000 words to tell the story and having too many characters may complicate the whole thing and make it difficult for the reader to keep track of them. Most short stories thrive on 2 – 4 characters.

But what about too many characters?

Having too many characters in a novel can complicate things. This is where beginners tend to trip up by throwing in lots of characters into the mix with a multitude of viewpoints, thinking that it will make the story more exciting, but this only detracts from the story for the reader trying to follow so many people. The problem is that there is a tendency for the reader not to empathise with or relate to the characters because there are so many of them to follow.

Not only that, but trying to write each individual character, complete with personalities etc, can become confusing for the writer. Sometimes there are many secondary characters with subplots, and the writer then realises that those subplots need concluding by the end of the novel. Sometimes this complicates things and the writer needs to have a major character cull o get back on track.

The other thing to avoid when there is a large amount of characters – and this is common – is upstaging. This where secondary or minor characters take over and inadvertently shadow the main character. If that happens, the balance of characters is wrong and needs correcting. Never allow secondary characters to overshadow your main character.

As with many elements in fiction, however, it’s all about balance. The question you need to ask is how many characters can effectively tell the story?

Pivotal characters – the protagonist and the antagonist - are the main focus of every story. In addition, there are the secondary characters, but only those who are still central to telling the story.

Peripheral characters – minor ones - might only have a few lines or maybe appear in the background, and so will not clog the narrative with superfluous ‘padding’. Keeping peripheral characters to a minimum is wise. The rule of thumb is ‘if they’re not key to the plot, then cut them’.

In any story, the writer is looking for character development; fully rounded personalities that can move the story forward and evoke the reader’s empathy and emotions through conflict. It’s important that your reader cares for you characters. If you have too many people loading the narrative, the reader won’t know which character to bother with.

In an ideal world, the number of main characters would be around 4 to 10. Secondary characters would be around the same numbers. Peripheral and background characters should be just that, flitting in and out of the background.

So, can you still engage your reader with, say, 25 characters? Can you do it with less than 10?

Think carefully about how many of your characters can tell the story, think about their development and conflicts, and decide what will be best for you. Find the right balance of characters and remember who is central to your plot.


Next week: Dialogue versus description.

Comments

  1. I learn so much from your blog. Thank you so much. To thank you for all I've learned I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award. You can find more information on the nomination on my blog at http://bensonchristine.blogspot.com/
    This is a great way to promote your blog too. Congrats and have a groovy week!

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  2. Thanks Christine. Glad the blog can help by whichever means.

    And thanks for the nomination!

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  3. Thanks for the advice. Sometimes I feel I have too many characters in my YA fantasy, then again sometimes I don't. Writing is hard work!

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    Replies
    1. Yeah I know what you mean I'm just starting to write a science fiction novel and I'm stuck because I want to include so much of my philosophy towards life in it that I just get lost and confused good luck to you with your story

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  4. This was very very helpful thank you so much. Also I love the background for this website.

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  5. Ah thanks for that useful tip. I too am writing a story but alas it falls down to 4 main characters,25 pivotal characters, and countless and countless peripheral characters. This is mainly due to the fact the story I'm writing is a fantasy Jidai Geki (samurai era japan fantasy story) with i guess 40 % of the casts are historical figures (the 4 main characters aren't, but they have direct relations with them)
    poor me

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  6. I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want.Thankyou i really love it

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  7. Thats a good' article, i usually amazed with' this thing, i asked myself about this opinion, I wish You'll a better articles that can make another people impressive..don't make the article feel rigit and isn't interesting and poor, i like to read this' article and i think this is "good".thank you' m'y brother.

    ReplyDelete

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