I think the number of main characters I've got is okay. I hope so anyway. I've got three viewpoint characters, and each has one or two main character associated with them, which makes about 6 or 7 significant characters.

However, I keep needing bit-part players, who only appear for one or two scenes and then disappear. I seem to have rather a lot of them. I haven't counted, but I'd guess about ten so far in each story strand (viewpoint), which makes for a lot altogether.

They all have a purpose and are introduced at decent intervals with a thumbnail characterisation which hopefully paints a brief sketch in the reader's mind, but am I overdoing the numbers?

It seems to me I have no choice, due to the story I've chosen.

Thoughts, my learned friends?

Deb

I think it's ok so long as your bit players have 'real' lives and aren't metaphorically dead after they've had their walk on parts.
At the end of the first draft it's always worth going through the mss and seeing if there are instances where two or more characters can be amalgamated into one.

<Added>

Maybe an example of a 'real' life would be the publican who's always to be found in the pub. You wouldn't really expect him to be anywhere else.
As opposed to the drunk who's in the pub, but can be elsewhere and sober if you need him to be.

Do you mean that they may be referred to in passing before or after, so it their appearance doesn't seem out of the blue?

I was slightly confused by your publican/drunk example - sorry if I'm being thick.

Deb

Oooh, it's gone all quiet...

Anyone?

Deb

Hmm

I'm finding that my cast of characters has grown from what I originally anticipated, but I think it's fine, as has been said, as long as the characters are rounded in their own right and have a specific role to play.

If you're happy with how you've depicted them, and they're present for a purpose, then I can't see there's a problem.

You might be over doing the thumb nail sketches if the characters only appear the once. The reader may expect them to reappear if you've gone to that much trouble to introduce them.

<Added>

The example with the drunk was just to say you may have the opportunity to reuse some characters in different work/social settings.

Dickens used to introduce dozens of bit players, many of whom appeared only briefly, with only the barest hint of character (sometimes only a stereotype). I don't think it's a problem if they are necessary for the plot. It's worth taking care over names, though, as I've sometimes become confused when stories include characters with similar-looking names.

Alex

Terry Pratchett has a large cast of characters in each Discworld novel but they reappear, however briefly - sometimes popping up in other novels. Who could forget Duck Man, Foul Ole Ron and Coffin Henry?

My novel has lots of characters because it revolves around a drama group rehearsing a play. It needs bit-players as much as leads. Also, because we know at the start that someone's going to be murdered, I need plenty of interaction and possible motives to add tension.

Two other novels I have in early development also involve sizeable groups, so I suppose that's what I prefer. Deciding on a pov policy is a challenge.

I agree it's important that the characters are all very distinctive in terms of names, dailogue, dress, behaviour, etc, so that's a challenge, too. But that's what writing's about, isn't it?

It's hard to think of novelss that don't have lots of characters- maybe Robinson Crusoe, or that one by William Golding where the mc was trapped on a rock out at sea.

I can't see why anybody would want to combine characters. it sounds like making a stew from left-overs. I've read about combining characters before, Naomi, but could you give an example where it would be helpful?

Or perhaps I'm just too attached to my characters and would hate to kill them off.

Sheila

My novel has lots of characters because it revolves around a drama group rehearsing a play. It needs bit-players as much as leads. Also, because we know at the start that someone's going to be murdered, I need plenty of interaction and possible motives to add tension.

Two other novels I have in early development also involve sizeable groups, so I suppose that's what I prefer. Deciding on a pov policy is a challenge.

I agree it's important that the characters are all very distinctive in terms of names, dailogue, dress, behaviour, etc, so that's a challenge, too. But that's what writing's about, isn't it?

It's hard to think of novelss that don't have lots of characters- maybe Robinson Crusoe, or that one by William Golding where the mc was trapped on a rock out at sea.

I can't see why anybody would want to combine characters, though. It sounds like making a stew from left-overs. I've read about combining characters before, Naomi, but could you give an example where it would be helpful?

Or perhaps I'm just too attached to my characters and would hate to kill them off.

Sheila

Who could forget Duck Man, Foul Ole Ron and Coffin Henry?

Or Glod, who first appeared in a footnote in one novel, and was then promoted to a central character in Soul Music.

Yes, Terry Pratchett is a master at introducing bit players with very concise, yet evocative, character sketches.

Alex

Thanks for the answers, everyone. I really appreciate your input. Well, I think I am happy with them, but I'll continue as I am for now and then see how it comes over when I do a read-through prior to second draft.

Deb