Write Your Novel
Step by Step


By Melanie Anne Phillips
Creator of StoryWeaver

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For Story

Structure


Story Structure

Library


Videos on

Structure



For Story

Development


Writing

Tips

Library


Articles on Writing






Read the Science Fiction Thriller

From the founder of Storymind

Man Made follows a mysterious force as it sweeps around the globe erasing anything man made - from buildings, vehicles, and technology to medicines, clothing, and dental work.

Governments stagger under the panic, religions are at a loss for an explanation, scientists strive for any means to stop or divert the phenomenon, and the world’s population from families to individuals struggle to prepare for The Event, which will drive humanity back beyond the stone age.

The Event is coming.

Are you prepared?

Copyright Melanie Anne Phillips


Storymind

Free Writing Resources

~ Step 13 ~


The Usual Characters


In the previous step, you added characters implied by your synopsis to your potential cast list.  Range a little wider now, and jot down some characters that aren't explicitly mentioned or even implied but wouldn't seem particularly out of place in such a story.


Example:


In the example story we’ve been using, no one would be surprised at all to encounter a saloon girl, a bartender, blacksmith, rancher, preacher, schoolteacher, etc.


There is no specific limit to how many or how few “usual characters” you can or should add to your growing cast list.  So just add the ones that appeal to you.


Don’t be worried if any of your additions seem stereotypical of too predictable.  By the time we’re through a few more steps your list will be so large we’ll need to pare it down.


So for now, beef up your cast with any additional characters that would fit right in your novel as described in your synopsis.