tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post1664648691430435711..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Calling For Back-Up: Sidekicks and HenchmenDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-74634493754330472402013-10-19T20:42:30.004-06:002013-10-19T20:42:30.004-06:00My problem is that often these sidekicks and hench...My problem is that often these sidekicks and henchmen are much more fun to write than our main characters, because they don't have to carry the story, and have a much more flexible character arc. I often find that I have to go back and cut scenes that aren't doing anything but letting me listen in on interesting conversations. Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-50218362204166008442013-10-18T14:06:08.144-06:002013-10-18T14:06:08.144-06:00Hmm...are you suggesting that the interaction betw...Hmm...are you suggesting that the interaction between the villain and his henchman might qualify as a kind of honor among thieves, so to speak? Actually, the idea of rounding out the bad guys as well as the good guys has much merit. Also, drawing the comparisons as you did provides food for thought, as well as opens the door for a bad guy to pose as a good guy if it suits his purpose -- because he does possess those good-guy qualities. I like this post a lot, Debby; I'll no doubt be putting the idea to practical use because I'm writing again.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21143000549536151732013-10-18T11:52:28.263-06:002013-10-18T11:52:28.263-06:00Sidekicks and henchmen, or friends and foes, provi...Sidekicks and henchmen, or friends and foes, provide the interpersonal conflicts in a story. They earn page time when they have a stake in or opinion on the central conflict, create obstacles, or provide solutions - not to be confused with walk-ons.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-91874017773935198892013-10-18T10:17:00.207-06:002013-10-18T10:17:00.207-06:00Interesting look at those secondary characters, an...Interesting look at those secondary characters, and I do like calling them Minion much better that secondary characters. (smile) Bit players can also add depth to a story. For instance instead of just having a generic medical examiner, have one who has an Albert Einstein hairdo and a bow tie. Maybe he, or she, is only in the story for the autopsy, but I would enjoy meeting a character like that.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.com