Sketch Out Supporting Characters

1. For each of the following protagonists, name what kinds of supporting characters they might have. Write up a short sketch about each one of them.

a. an aging knight

            b. a teenage Olympic athlete

            c.  a businessman who just lost his job

2. For each of the following antagonists, name what kinds of supporting characters they might have. Write up a short sketch about each one of them.

            a.  a cantankerous college professor

            b.  a disgraced wizard

            c.  a junior high bully

3. Write a scene between a protagonist and foil character. The hero has just suffered a major defeat at the hands of the antagonist.  Focus on revealing the protagonist’s thoughts and reactions in a natural way.

4. Look at your work in progress. Are there places or things that act as characters in their own right? How do you handle this?

5. Pretend you are writing your protagonist walking down a busy beach. Write a description using extra characters to set the mood of the scene.


6. Sketch out your supporting characters and explain the role that each of them will play in your story.