2006-07-20 08:27:31 · 11 answers · asked by freezer_bunky 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Write their names on a list. If it looks like the cast to a Cecil B. Demille movie, there are probably too many.
Of course this also depends on the length of what you are working on and what particular genre it is. Epic science fiction and fantasy novels tend to support a larger suite of characters than a slice of life novel, but the general rule of thumb is to have only as many characters as are necessary to carry a story to its most satisfying conclusion. If you need color coded flow charts and stuff like that just to keep track of who said what, then yeah, you've probably got too many characters, and if you're spending all of your time giving them things to say rather than telling the story cut a few. Of course you can have background characters who never even get names, but again, keep that number as low as possible and focus only on what you need (who you need) in order to tell your story in the most comprehensible way.
2006-07-20 14:31:19 · answer #1 · answered by chipchinka 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you've got more than 3 POV's in one story, it's too many. If a character gets stagnate, in other words, the story from them doesn't move or grow, then the character shouldn't be there. Allot of the time, characters serve as maps to the heart of a story, and in the heart is where you'll find the energy of the tale. Sometimes you can have one to many maps... Take a second look at your characters, and see if they're actually leading you some where:)
2006-07-20 14:35:26 · answer #2 · answered by Blissbug 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When it gets confusing. There should be a low number of main characters i would say 8...but background characters such as friends should be about the same try to mix two on these characters to get the number lower
2006-07-20 14:52:08 · answer #3 · answered by LLH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Every character needs to move the story forward in some way. Ones that fail to do that should be removed.
2006-07-20 08:47:50 · answer #4 · answered by Brand X 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You know you have too many characters whe you can't keep track of them and you yourself are getting confused
2006-07-20 13:57:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can never have enough characters. It's a challenge to keep up with them. It's good to rise to such a challenge.
2006-07-22 19:00:21 · answer #6 · answered by Call Me Babs 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you find your self spending most of your time cleaning up after them...
2006-07-20 08:29:39 · answer #7 · answered by yeeooow 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you start fighting with yourself in the mirror
2006-07-20 08:28:57 · answer #8 · answered by Obilee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you can't keep them straight. That means your readers couldn't either.
2006-07-20 08:39:39 · answer #9 · answered by KATYA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When your reader cannot keep track of them.
2006-07-20 15:34:40 · answer #10 · answered by lavendergirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋