How to Write Supporting Characters That Readers Will Love? A Guide to Creating Compelling Side Characters

Who doesn’t adore a well-structured main character? But sometimes, it’s the supporting cast that steals the show. Think Gilmore Girls—Paris Geller wasn’t the heart of the show, but she still left a mark on readers that even time couldn’t budge. For example, Steve Harrington, Ron Weasley—they weren’t the leads, but their presence made the story whole.

But introducing them into your narrative and weaving a complete arc around them can be an arduous task. Don’t sweat it—you don’t have to do it alone. Here’s a quick guide for you to sketch that delightful supporting character.

1. Give Them Their Own Story

Think about the most admired supporting characters—they’re always out there, living in their own world, doing their own thing. They’re closely tied to the protagonist, but they never merely orbit around them. They have their own aspirations, passions, and purpose. Readers can always tell when a character exists solely for comic relief or as a convenient plot device—it flattens their entire existence. Instead, write them as people who would still exist, still thrive, even if the protagonist didn’t. Supporting characters are never just side notes in your story—they’re dancing to their own tune. And you owe them that.

2.  Flaws For The Fall 

Why do you simp over that one character even though they can be morally corrupt? You might be perplexed too, but there is something about them that draws you without you even realizing it. It is like walking in your sleep into a trap, and you wouldn’t say a word in defense. It is the flaws and those annoying little quirks in them—in a world full of people chasing some strange dream of perfection—that make them stand out.

Ever wondered what we humans truly crave? More often, it is that one fleeting moment that leaves you feeling humane, that you—with all your silly insecurities—are just enough. Always were. And this is what the readers actually look for in the characters.

A flawed character feels like a person with a whole story in them—not just a part of it.

3. A Full Arc

How can you expect the readers to remember a character if their existence just vanishes into thin air after their purpose is served? That is unreasonable in itself. Your favourite characters deserve their own ending—the one where it all makes sense. If you give them just an exit and hope under all the stars in the sky that they will be remembered, my friend, you could not be more mistaken. Even if their goodbye stings and breaks hearts—it really matters. Do not worry, you do not have to tie everything with a pretty bow. Closures are seldom that smooth. Closures are just about that one strand of hope—that even after the worst upheaval, the sun is going to rise yet again. That everything does fall into place—not today or tomorrow, but someday in the future.

Ever come across a reader who forgot about a character who feels like they walked off the page and kept living long after they’ve shut the book closed? That’s like finding a needle in a haystack.

4. The Unpredictability Paradise

Why stay in one world when you can live in many? When were people ever just one thing? They come with their own fervour, baggage, and flaws. And if truth be told, that is what makes them unforgettable. So do not even try to make your side characters fit into just one narrative. Let them surprise you—and your readers. Maybe she is the straight-A girl, who everybody thought was an introvert and just knew her way around books, but she happened to be a fashion icon with a side passion for poetry. Or it's that vindictive guy with commitment issues, whose narcissism knows no bounds—but he fell short in front of a soft-hearted five-feet girl who’s the first to give him a taste of his own medicine. The whole plot just got spiced up, didn’t it? 

At the end of the day, the best stories don’t just shine because of the main characters, but because of the world the writer builds around them. So go on—write your side characters like they’re the backbone of the narrative, because in hindsight, they truly are. Let them have their moment. And remember: the more real they are, the more unforgettable your story will be. So, what are you waiting for?

Your side characters can make or break your book. Don't let them be half-narrated. With the guidance of Rolling Authors, you can rest assured that every character has depth, blemishes, and a story arc that matters.

Let’s improve your manuscript—character by character.