For today's #HistFicThursdays blog, I am thrilled to be welcoming Rosemary Griggs to the blog with a guest post about her latest book Mistress of Dartington Hall , as part of her Coffee Pot Book Club tour! Read on to find out about her strong female character in what is largely thought of as a male world. But first, let's meet the book... Blurb 1587. England is at war with Spain. The people of Devon wait in terror for King Philip of Spain’s mighty armada to unleash untold devastation on their land. Roberda, daughter of a French Huguenot leader, has been managing the Dartington estate in her estranged husband Gawen’s absence. She has gained the respect of the staff and tenants who now look to her to lead them through these dark times. Gawen’s unexpected return from Ireland, where he has been serving Queen Elizabeth, throws her world into turmoil. He joins the men of the west country, including his cousin, Sir Walter Raleigh, and his friend Sir F...
I'm sorry this blog is later than usual! Truth is, I'm on holiday at the moment and a little tired and sore with all the walking and gardening. Not that I would change a thing - it's been a wonderful few days!
Today, in our Character series, I'll be looking at what makes a good Friend character. The poor Friend never gets a great deal out of the story and I'm afraid this blog is going to be shorter than normal, so I feel like I'm adding to the Friend's misery. Sorry!
What do I mean by a Friend character?
To explain what I mean, it's handy to think in terms of the Oscars. The 'Best Actor/Actress' category would go to the person playing the main character, of course. The 'Best Supporting Actor/Actress' category would go the person playing either the villain or the friend. It's a basic explanation, but it's a start. We've already talked about the villain (here) so let's focus on the Friend.
Dos and Don'ts
Do allow Friend to have their own personality. Don't let them just be a carbon copy of the main character.
Do give Friend their moment in the limelight. Don't let the hero hog all the achievements. (We can learn a lot about the main character by how they react to their Friend at these moments so this tip is more than just feeling sorry for the supporting character.)
Do allow arguments between the main character and Friend. Don't be conned into thinking that your characters' friendships should always be cute and sunny! Again, it's good to see how character react in these situations.
And finally...
Do accept that readers will prefer the Friend to the main character. Don't get upset by the inevitable!
I'm sorry it's a shorter blog than usual, but I wanted to make sure I put something together for Middle Grade Monday! Next week, I'll be writing about Middle Grade Fantasy.
Comments
Post a Comment