Supporting Character

What do they look like?

Describe them as seen by a stranger in one quick glance.

What do they sound like?

Describe them as heard by a stranger in one quick glance.

What first impression does their appearance give?

Is it correct or not?

What is their signature or preferred outfit?

How does it reflect their personality? Think colors, cuts, fabrics, etc.?

What are their signature accesories?

Think glasses, canes, pipes, necklaces, etc.? How do their accessories reveal taste, personality, or status?

What is their typical speaking style?

E.g., crisp and formal, fast and excitable, slow with deliberate pauses, etc.?

What gestures or habits reveal who they are?

What mannerisms might signal their role as a mentor, rival, comic relief, etc. to the reader?

What is their favorite...

Curse word? Catchphrase? Quote?

What is their sense of humor like?

Write out a joke they would tell or a situation they'd find funny.

What are their defining personality traits?

How does it compare and contrast with the protagonist?

What is their biggest goal or ambition?

How does it relate to the protagonist's journey or growth?

What drives them?

And what belief guides their choices? What personal stake keeps them connected to the plot?

What are their strengths?

And what does it bring to the story or the protagonist? How might it affect the course of the story?

What are their weaknesses?

How does it complicate the storyline, if at all? Think friction, plot twists, etc.?

What skills, talents, or powers do they possess?

How does it impact the protagonist or the story?

How would the story change significantly if they were removed?

Would it create any plotholes?

What early experience most defines who they are now?

Why is that?

Who are the people who matter most to them?

And does that impact their relationship to the protagonist at all?

What is their relationship to the protagonist?

How do they support or challenge the protagonist, particularly when it comes to their growth?

What do they value most in a friendship?

And what do they bring to a friendship?

What role do they play within their family or closest circle?

And is it the same role they play within the story itself?

Put it all together now.

Given everything that you've developed about their life, relationships, and goals, write a summary of the supporting character's journey: their impact on the protagonist's arc and their own before-and-after in the story.