Cutting Characters You Love

At some point, all writers have to do it. There's a character you love, one that makes you laugh or cry. But alas, your story is getting too crowded and the plot too winding. You, beloved character, must go. Cut. Snip. Goodbye.


In the past year I've had to cut out three major characters from two manuscripts. Each time I was resistant and pouty. But when I finally did it, I realized my story didn't miss the characters at all. In fact, it was stronger because they were gone. However, it can be hard to step back and realize that your characters need to be cut. Here are a few scenarios to look out for:


1. The final resolution could happen with or without her. No matter how big Jane's role may seem, if she gets a lot of screen time but her involvement in the story doesn't actually affect the end result, chances are she doesn't need to be there. Either that or she needs to be more intricately woven into the story, so that she is part of the final resolution. (Note: This generally doesn't apply to truly minor characters that are only there to serve specific smaller purposes.)


2. The character takes too much attention away from your main characters. Some minor characters are so charismatic they want to take over the story. Don't let them. While Jane's witty puns might be hilarious, when her jokes start overshadowing your main character's lines and making him/her seem boring or unlikable, it might be time to cut (or at least cut down) Jane's role.


3. Another character already serves the same purpose. One of my critique partners has a great saying: Pretend your characters are guests at a potluck; are they each bringing something new to the table? She couldn't be more right. You don't want two of your characters bringing fruit salad, right? Jane's fruity goodness is more than enough. So if your main character has three bubbly friends or two annoying siblings, make sure they each contribute something to the story that no one else could.


4. The character isn't distinct enough from other characters. This is related to #3. If your characters aren't distinct enough from each other, readers will tend to get them confused. Remember to give them each individual voices and to have them serve different purposes in the story. If you keep getting feedback that your readers are having a hard time keeping all the main character's aunts straight, for example, the solution might be to cut out one or two of the aunts and use the remaining aunts to their full potential.


Cutting characters is never easy; you grow attached to them and don’t want to simply throw them away. But cutting Jane from your manuscript doesn’t mean you’re getting rid of her forever. Make a home for her in a separate file and let her enjoy her vacation. Maybe one day you’ll need a quirky, punny main character, and Jane will get to star in a story all her own.

Anna Staniszewski is a writer of fantasy books for children and young adults. You can visit her at her website.