What Do You Do When Someone Tells You That You Have Too Many Characters.

Do you have too many characters?

Is your novel feeling flooded? Are you readers telling you that there are just simply too many characters to keep track of?
Or, on the other hand(which happens to be my right one, and it hurts), do YOU think you have too many characters?
If I may intrude, I'm going to attempt to help you through this by telling you what I do, because, most of the time, I have far too many characters.
First things first. Do what most people tell you to do. Eliminate the useless characters.
At this point, you're probably wondering how you should go about this, especially when this post is supposed to be telling you how. Now, I'm not going to make things totally easy for you, because writing is not an adventure when things are going smoothly, no matter how much you may covet writing going smoothly. I'm going to make this as simple(or not so simple) as possible.
Personally, my method of eliminating useless characters is to go through my book, and figure out which ones I can delete without making the book not make sense. Once I figure out the ones that have nothing to do with the plot, and have said and done basically nothing, then I enter their names in the "Search and Replace" thing and delete them. Then I go through and delete any dialogue they had, or anything they did.
If I find I still have too many characters, I find a battle that is either recent or in the book's near future, and then I kill several characters off in the battle. This may not help you much if you aren't writing fantasy by the by, unless you haven't already guessed that.
However, characters is my weakness. I love developing them, writing them, creating them, and spending time with them. By the end of a novel, if all goes well, I tend to care for what they care fore, love what they love, and sometimes, they even convince me to read a certain book, listen to a certain song, or eat a certain food.
Characters are people, and like people, they impact your every day life, and fill it with meaning.
Just remember, though--you and your characters are nothing without God.
Before I go, I have a question. What do YOU do when someone tells you that you have too many characters?

-Author

Two Interviews, Two Characters, One Author

Hello, readers! Today we have two interviews with two characters, which are questioned by me. Enjoy!

THE FIRST INTERVIEW

Author: Hello! What is your name?

Ailwyn: Ailwyn Torrent.

Author: Where did you grow up?

Ailwyn: Corrive. It's a small village right between The Capital and Airsdacc Forest.

Author: When is your birthday?

Ailwyn: I was born two days after Christmas.

Author: Where were you born?

Ailwyn: The Capital. Mother traveled there to have me because it was safer and there were more doctors that were better at what they did.

Author: Who were your parents?

Ailwyn: Cordelia and Allar Jention.

Author: What was important to your parents?

Ailwyn: Mother cared about every detail. Everything had to be perfect, or she wouldn't accept it. Father cared about family ties. He wanted us, his daughters, to marry well.

Author: Did you have many friends when you were growing up?

Ailwyn: Some. But they were shallow friends. I considered them very good friends at the time when they were my friends and every time one moved away or decided they didn't want to be my friend... Well, it hurt. A lot.

Author: Did any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for something?

Ailwyn: My aunt married into the higher families in The Capital. That's about it, I guess. The Jentions weren't a very famous family.

Author: Where have you lived?

Ailwyn: I lived in Corrive until I moved to Airsdacc Forest when I was seventeen.

Author: Do you have any siblings?

Ailwyn: Yes. Amery and Adette. Adette is much like Mother, but Amery was my closest friend.

Author: Where do you currently live?

Ailwyn: I live somewhere around the middle of Airsdacc Forest.

Author: Did you go to school when you were little?

Ailwyn: Mother taught Amery, Adette, and I at home. She didn't think the schools taught enough and as well as she did.

Author: What was your favorite subject?

Ailwyn: I was fascinated with writing. Every now and then, I do write stories that I think of. They're always sad stories, though.

Author: Did you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial arts, the like?

Ailwyn: No. Mother considered fighting highly improper for a young lady to learn.

Author: Do you have a job?

Ailwyn: No. I try to stay away from people.

Author: Do you like to travel?

Ailwyn: As I said before, I try to stay away from people.

Author: Do you have any friends?

Ailwyn: Darren, I guess. And the Eternal One.

Author: How do people usually see you?

Ailwyn: Um... Well, they view me as a witch—a sorceress. That's why I don't leave Airsdacc Forest.

Author: Who, if anyone, do you live with?

Ailwyn: I don't live with anyone.

Author: Do you fight with anyone?

Ailwyn: I fight with Darren. That's what we do most of the time. Disagree.

Author: Who do you spend time with?

Ailwyn: Me, Myself, and I.

Author: Who do you wish you could spend time with?

Ailwyn: Raul.

Author: Who depends on you?

Ailwyn: No one.

Author: What person or people do you admire?

Ailwyn: I admire King Davin, for putting up with the Corriennetes. And the Eternal One, of course.

Author: Who are your enemies?

Ailwyn: Just about everyone, I guess. But the Mavericans, especially.

Author: Are you married or betrothed?

Ailwyn: No. But I was betrothed at one time. When I was seventeen.

Author: Do you have any children?

Ailwyn: No!

Author: Are you a loyal Follower of God?

Ailwyn: I like to think so.

Author: Are you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?

Ailwyn: I like to fancy myself a glass half full girl, but people tell—told—me I'm a pessimist.

Author: Do you like yourself?

Ailwyn: Depends.

Author: Well, thank you for joining us today, Ailwyn! 

Ailwyn: You're welcome.

THE SECOND INTERVIEW

Author: Hello! What is your name?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm Leilani Sunblade. 

Author: Where did you grow up?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I lived in Elven-Hold until my parents were killed, then I went to The Underground.

Author: When is your birthday?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: April Seven. 

Author: Where were you born?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Elven-Hold.

Author: Who were your parents?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Sarah and Peter Sunblade.

Author: What was important to your parents?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Family.

Author: Did you have many friends when you were growing up?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Yes. I had some pretty good friends, but when I went to The Underground, I had to part from them.

Author: Did any of your ancestors do something great or were they famous for something?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No, not really. The Sunblades really didn't do very much that was famous.

Author: Where have you lived?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I've lived in Elven-Hold and The Underground.

Author: Do you have any siblings?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Where do you currently live?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: The Underground.

Author: Did you go to school when you were little?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I did when I was in Elven-Hold.

Author: What was your favorite subject?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Writing and reading, mostly.

Author: Did you receive any special training—sword fighting, archery, martial arts, the like?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I learned archery.

Author: Do you have a job?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm one of the eight Sentinels of The Underground.

Author: Do you like to travel?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: When I can.

Author: Do you have any friends?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm pretty good friends with Sentinel Gold Arrow, and Lessien, and, of course, Taryn.

Author: How do people usually see you?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm not sure. I've never asked.

Author: Who, if anyone, do you live with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I don't live with anyone.

Author: Do you fight with anyone?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No, not really.

Author: Who do you spend time with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Sentinel Gold Arrow, Taryn, Lessien.

Author: Who do you wish you could spend time with?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: My parents.

Author: Who depends on you?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Most of The Underground, I think.

Author: What person or people do you admire?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I admire the other Sentinels, and Shaddai.

Author: Who are your enemies?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: Jahrn, mostly.

Author: Are you married or betrothed?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Do you have any children?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: No.

Author: Are you a loyal Follower of God?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I believe so.

Author: Are you a glass half full girl or a glass half empty one?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I like to think of myself as a glass half full person.

Author: Do you like yourself?

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: I'm fine with how and who I am, because that's the way God made me, and the way he wants me to be.

Author: Well, thank you for joining us today, Leilani! 

Sentinel Leilani Sunblade: It wasn't a problem. Thanks for having me! 

THUS ENDS THE INTERVIEWS, AND THIS POST.

-Author

Change

CHANGE.

It's one of the main characteristics of a good story. Good stories always include change, because that's how life works. Every story needs a good shot of reality, even fantasies. For a reader to love your story, you need them to believe it.

Now, I'm not going to tell you how to write change, because I still don't know really. But, if you do it correctly, readers will love your story.

The change could be sad, or happy, or downright heart-wrenching. A good example of change would be in The Door Within by Wayne Thomas Batson.

(CAUTION: Example contains major spoilers for The Door Within. If you have not read the book, read the example at your own risk)

The MC, Aidan, starts out as a disgruntled boy who isn't sure what to believe, and isn't exactly the bravest squirt. He's just moved from Maryland to Colorado, and the change doesn't sit well with him. He's angry with his grandfather for instigating the move, and with his parents for enacting it.

But it's also because of his grandfather that he goes to Alleble.

By the end of the book, Aidan has come to terms with his new life, and believes in King Eliam. Whilst he was in the Realm, he became the Twelve Knight, and went to Mithegard with eleven other knights. He braved tempests, and even the forces of Paragory. By the time he returns home, he is much braver then before.

As you see, there was much change in the above. The above presents change for the better. There are other changes, as we all know very well. Like changes for the worse.

For example(I know this isn't exactly writing, but this is story change, and it can be used to help you enact writing changes in your tale), Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith.

(CAUTION: Example contains major spoilers for Star Wars: The Revenge of the Sith. If you have not read the book, read the example at your own risk)

We have the MC, Anakin Skywalker, Padawan to Obi Wan Kenobi. When the movie starts, Anakin is on the good side. He's a great kid, and secretly married to Senator Padme Amidala. However, she reveals to him that she is pregnant, and something in Anakin snaps. He starts having dreams—dreams that she dies in childbirth. This worries him, and he turns to his good friend, Chancellor Palpatine. The Chancellor, who is really Darth Sidious, tempts Anakin. Anakin tells Mace Windu that he thinks Palpatine is a Sith, so Mace Windu and several other Jedi go to apprehend Palpatine. Palpatine massacres them, but when he is about to kill Mace Windu, Anakin comes to rescue him. Anakin helps Mace Windu, but Palpatine succeeds in turning him, and kills Mace Windu. Anakin becomes Palpatine(Darth Sidious)'s dark apprentice. Palpatine orders Anakin to the Jedi Temple and Anakin kills every Jedi there. Next, Anakin goes to a fiery planet(sorry, forgot the name of it), and kills everyone there on orders of Sidious.

In Coruscant, Padme is confronted by Obi Wan, who finds out who the father is. He asks Padme to tell him where Anakin is—she refuses. She goes after Anakin, and Obi Wan stows away on her ship. When she reaches the planet, Obi Wan comes out of the ship and Anakin attacks her. Obi Wan and Anakin fight. Anakin loses, and is badly injured(also known as: no legs, no arms, and very burned). Obi Wan flies off with Padme. Palpatine comes for Anakin, finds him. He encases Anakin in armor, and life support... stuff.

Padme dies.

Anakin is angered, destroys stuff.

In the above example, the change for the worse is visible. Anakin starts out as a good kid—becomes evil Sith(“YOU UNDERESTIMATE MY POWER”). This is a great example of bad change.

Just a word of advice. If you include change, and reality in your story, it is more likely that readers will love it. I'm not promising anything, but, I might even read your story. :-)

So, go ahead. Comment. Tell me what you think. Did this blog post even help? :-D

Signed with the Sharpie of Ideas,

-Author