Too Many Characters?

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Characters

Superman, releasing in July 2025, is stacked with characters. In the movie, we know that Superman/Clark Kent (obviously), Krypto, Lois Lane, Ma Kent, Pa Kent, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Mister Terrific, Metamorpho, The Engineer, Lex Luthor, Perry White whoever the large man in all black is, and now, possibly Supergirl are in the movie. That’s thirteen characters in the film which is certainly quite a few, and that doesn’t count other characters we don’t know about yet. The question is, is that too many?

I came across this problem early in my new book. When I say ‘early’ I mean in Chapter 3. My wife read it and said that the number of characters made it confusing and my sister said the same. So, was it chop, chop? Not quite. I overcame the problem by adding a new chapter before #3 and using it to introduce just two characters and create the relationship between them. Yes, it took a while to figure out, but has made a big difference to the readability and flow of the plot, and a cleaner character development.

What’s in a Name?

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The phrase “What’s in a name?” comes from Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet – in Juliet’s monologue in Act 2, Scene 2.  Juliet reflects on the conflict between her love for Romeo and the fact that he is from the Montague family, which is feuding with her own family, the Capulets. Juliet adds, “that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Of course it would. Incidentally, my sister changed her name a few years ago – from Pene to Mary – and it took some discipline to say the new one. I used to call her “Pene, Mary, Whatever” to cover all my bases. Which leads to this post. I recently made the monumental decision to change the name of my novel to MUTINY. Why? Because it is stronger and more provocative and, I hope it is more appealing. It is also a name that addresses a pivotal moment in the plot. What’s in a name? Everything!

Ah, the Plot Thickens

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You reduce the sauce on the stove and it thickens. Wait a while longer and it thickens even more. I found the same principle in my writing. Time spent editing, re-writing, with more input from beta readers, etc. and the plot thickened.

Now, I have reached the point where I am ready to take my manuscript “off the heat” and send it out to a few select literary agents. Has anything changed? Yes, plenty – and especially the main plot. It is far better and brings together the key elements of my story in a more powerful and complete way.

Keeping it Real

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What is truth? An age old question with many answers but, on the writing level, I like the plot/characters/action to be realistic. By that, I mean that it’s possible. Some writers stretch the limits of believability but I just can’t write like that. You know the plot – the protagonist gets into strife and needs a miracle rescue to be saved. That’s great, but not if the rescue requires perfect timing at 500 miles per hour against a raging storm of 25 foot waves. Imagination can run wild with fantasy or science fiction, but I like my thrillers to be grounded on a good dose of truth. That requires continuity of dress, place, season and substance. Come to think about it, perhaps being less real might be easier on me as a writer? I guess I have always preferred true adventures and stories of overcoming real obstacles, though I’m not about to reveal where the boundary of truth and fiction really lies in my new novel, and I hope you can’t find it!

Saying “Goodbye” is so Difficult

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Think about your favorite movie. How did it end? If you don’t know, then it’s probably not your favorite movie!

In the same way, there’s nothing more frustrating than spending hours reading a thriller that has a disappointing ending. Of course, the longer this genre has been popular, the harder it is to finish with a surprise twist. In my new heist-thriller, the goal with the ending was to achieve two outcomes – first, to tie up loose ends and, second, to paint a future (and potential sequel) for the characters. “Shock” was not my final intention, but “surprise” certainly was.

I had just posted this blog when I decided to head to our local bakery for something

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nice for my wife for morning tea. The radio was playing an interview with Michael Morpurgo – one of Britain’s best-loved children’s authors (see pic). Michael was asked if he planned the ending for his books and he replied, “No,” and went on to explain that, for him, writing was an adventure. I can identify with this. My writing has the main plot in my head when I start to outline the place and people who are going to unfold the story, but the ending never comes to me at this early stage. Like Michael, I just want to discover where the writing adventure will lead. My hope is that this technique will be just as exciting for my readers.

Shocked, Surprised, Scared?

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I have a wonderful wife who scares easily – so I tend to not surprise her.

There was one surprise birthday I arranged for her though and I am still recovering from that one. Anyway, when there is a sudden scare in a movie or a dog barking at us on a dark night, she jumps – oh, boy, she jumps! I mention this because, as an author, I love weaving a surprise of two into my novels and the reaction I get is encouraging – e.g. “I didn’t expect that.” After all, what would a thriller be if there were no surprises? Better still, I like to have an unexpected twist in the final chapters – one that opens the door for a sequence, yet still brings a sense of completeness to the book.

The funny thing about some of the surprises in my books is that I get surprised while writing them – though not as shocked as my wife.

It’s Not Just Another Heist

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Author Sara Desai shares tips for plotting a great heist novel and notes that, “There’s a unique, intoxicating allure to a good heist novel. It’s that tantalizing thrill of a merry band of misfits (or an elite and seasoned crew), up against long odds, pulling off the impossible, and ‘getting away clean.’ Writing a heist novel is a high-stakes literary game of cat-and-mouse that catapults the writer and the reader into a whirlwind of intrigue, danger, and breathtaking feats.”

And, if I may add, a great heist needs a great location – one that ups the stakes to a seemingly impossible level. In my new novel, STEALTH, the culprits get away too, but there’s a twist. And, forgive me for laughing out loud, but you won’t know what the twist is until you read the story.

 

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