Minor characters can make or break your story. Remember Jar-Jar Binks from Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace? Lots of fans didn’t like him. Compare him against Radagast from The Hobbit trilogy. Although he wasn’t in the book, his screen time enhanced the movie. I hope two of my minor characters fall into the latter category and not the previous. Alphonse and Dewey are two regular guys who spend some time at Bill’s Cajun House of Pleasure, usually when he is listening to / watching the news on WFUX.
Alphonse is a pock-marked skin walnut farm worker. He didn’t finish high school. The simple man is your regular Louisianan, loves LSU football and is always ready to eat gumbo. Even though he doesn’t have a high school education, he has more common sense than his fellow coworker and pal Dewey.
Dewey has pale skin. He works indoors and sorts the walnuts that Alphonse picks while outside. He’s not too muscular. By sheer chance or mistake depending on your point of view, he christened the swing in Peggy’s room, much to her delight. Alphonse believed he would be the one, but Peggy grabbed Dewey instead.
Both men understand Bill’s demeanor and stay out of his way when he’s angry. His establishment is their favorite watering hole. The fact that it’s the only in town is not relevant. So here’s a toast to two minor characters who bring good laughs and a great time to my manuscript.
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What I’m Reading – Many readers I know like to inquire what their favorite author is reading. At the end of each blog post, I’ll let you know what book I have my nose in. I may not be a published author yet, but I hope my choice of reading material inspires you to read. I finished reading Lady Copy Makes Trouble. My review is on Goodreads. I’m currently reading the final book in the trilogy, Miss Kopp’s Midnight Confessions by Amy Stewart. I encourage you to read a variety of topics.
Gumbo but what about crayfish? They love it down there and have interesting ways to catch them.
An inspiring reminder that the A list is not always the only list. Thanks. I may be asking myself some questions tomorrow. Second round of drafts… sure do love this stuff. Best of holidays if you celebrate them.