Your protagonist might be the star of your novel, but the characters surrounding them can make their journey unforgettable. Today, we’re developing supporting characters, antagonists, and the relationships that bring our stories to life!
Welcome back to Day 9 of Preptober 2026! 🎃✍️
You guys, we’re officially nine days into our 31-day novel-planning challenge!
And yesterday, we accomplished something pretty exciting.
We created our protagonist character sheets! 🎉
We explored our main characters’ personalities, values, strengths, flaws, and the ways they respond to conflict.
But today?
We’re expanding our cast!
Because while our protagonists might be at the center of our stories, they certainly don’t exist in a vacuum.
They have friends.
Family members.
Love interests.
Rivals.
Enemies.
And sometimes, that one chaotic supporting character who seems determined to steal every single scene. 😂
Today, we’re talking about how to create compelling supporting characters and antagonists who make our novels even more interesting.
Why Supporting Characters Matter
Think about some of your favorite books.
Chances are, you don’t just remember the protagonist.
You remember their best friend.
Their love interest.
Their mentor.
Their rival.
Or that wonderfully complicated character who made everything ten times more difficult than it needed to be.
And that’s because great supporting characters do more than simply exist in the background.
They influence the protagonist’s decisions.
They challenge their beliefs.
They create conflict.
They offer support.
And sometimes, they force our protagonists to confront things they’d much rather avoid.
A well-developed supporting cast can make a fictional world feel more believable and emotionally engaging.
But here’s something important to remember:
Every supporting character doesn’t need an elaborate backstory or their own subplot.
What matters is understanding why they’re part of the story.
So today, we’re going to start with a simple question.
What does each character contribute to your protagonist’s journey?
Step 1: Identify Each Character’s Role
First things first, grab your free Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn back to the Your Characters section.
Yesterday, we focused on our protagonists.
Today, we’re using the same character sheet to get to know the other important people in our stories.
Start by looking at the supporting characters you identified on Day 7.
Who are they?
And what role do they play?
Maybe you have a best friend who provides emotional support.
A mentor who challenges your protagonist to grow.
A love interest who brings out a different side of their personality.
A rival whose goals directly conflict with theirs.
Or a family member who creates additional pressure.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
A character can serve more than one role.
A best friend might also be a rival.
A mentor might be hiding an important secret.
A love interest might challenge everything your protagonist believes about themselves.
And a family member might simultaneously be someone your protagonist loves and someone they desperately want to escape.
Those complicated relationships can create wonderful opportunities for conflict and character development!
Step 2: Give Your Supporting Characters Their Own Goals
Here’s something I really want you to think about.
Your supporting characters should have lives beyond your protagonist.
They should want things.
They should have opinions.
They should make decisions.
And sometimes, those decisions should have absolutely nothing to do with what your protagonist wants. 😂
For example, imagine you’re writing a contemporary romance.
Your protagonist’s best friend might be incredibly supportive of their relationship.
But maybe that best friend is also considering moving across the country for a new job.
Suddenly, they have their own goal.
Their own conflict.
And a decision that could affect their relationship with the protagonist.
That doesn’t mean you need to turn the best friend’s storyline into an enormous subplot.
But giving them an independent motivation makes them feel more like a real person.
So ask yourself:
What does this character want, and how might that desire affect the story?
And remember, their goals don’t always have to align with your protagonist’s.
Sometimes the most interesting relationships come from characters who genuinely care about each other but want completely different things.
Step 3: Develop Your Antagonist
Now we’re getting to one of my favorite parts of character development.
The antagonist! 😈
Because what would a story be without someone—or something—making life difficult for our protagonist?
But before we go any further, I want to clarify something.
An antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be a villain.
An antagonist is whoever or whatever opposes your protagonist’s goal.
That could be a traditional villain.
A rival.
A competing love interest.
A family member.
An institution.
Or even a larger social system.
And sometimes, the most significant obstacles come from your protagonist’s own beliefs and decisions.
But if your story does have a character serving as the primary antagonist, I want you to think about something important.
What does your antagonist want?
Because just like your protagonist, your antagonist should have motivations.
Maybe they want power.
Recognition.
Security.
Revenge.
Love.
Or simply to protect something they believe is important.
And here’s where things get really interesting.
Your antagonist might genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing.
They might see themselves as the hero of their own story.
They might believe their actions are justified.
Or they might be pursuing a goal that makes perfect sense from their perspective, even if their methods are harmful.
Understanding their motivations can help you create more believable and compelling conflict.
Because when your protagonist and antagonist have opposing goals, their choices naturally create tension.
Step 4: Give Your Antagonist Strengths AND Flaws
Now, here’s something I think can make an antagonist especially interesting.
Don’t make them evil just for the sake of being evil.
Of course, some stories call for truly terrifying villains!
But even then, it helps to understand what makes them effective.
What are their strengths?
Are they intelligent?
Charismatic?
Patient?
Resourceful?
Do they understand people particularly well?
And what about their flaws?
Are they arrogant?
Controlling?
Impulsive?
Overconfident?
Do they underestimate others?
Maybe their greatest strength is also their greatest weakness.
For example, an antagonist who’s incredibly strategic might struggle when events don’t go according to plan.
Or someone who’s obsessed with maintaining control might make increasingly reckless decisions when they begin losing it.
These traits can influence how your antagonist responds to the protagonist’s actions.
And remember…
Your antagonist should be capable of creating meaningful obstacles.
If your protagonist can overcome them without much difficulty, the central conflict might not feel particularly compelling.
Step 5: Think About Character Relationships
Now that we’ve started developing our supporting characters and antagonists, let’s talk about something that can make our stories really come alive.
Relationships! 💕
Because sometimes, the most memorable moments in a novel aren’t enormous battles or shocking plot twists.
They’re conversations.
Arguments.
Quiet moments of understanding.
Unexpected acts of kindness.
Or those absolutely devastating betrayals that make readers stare at the page in disbelief.
And all of those moments become more powerful when we understand the relationships between our characters.
So ask yourself:
- How does this character feel about the protagonist?
- What does the protagonist think about them?
- Do they trust each other?
- Do they have conflicting goals or values?
- What might cause their relationship to change?
And here’s another question I love:
What side of your protagonist does this character bring out?
Maybe your protagonist is confident around their friends but insecure around their family.
Maybe they’re patient with a younger sibling but incredibly competitive with a rival.
Or maybe a particular character challenges them to become someone better.
Those different dynamics can reveal aspects of your protagonist’s personality that we might not see otherwise.
Let’s Look at an Example: Pride and Prejudice 💕
Since we’ve been using Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen throughout this series, let’s look at some of its supporting characters and antagonistic influences.
One of the things I love about Pride and Prejudice is that its supporting cast isn’t simply there to fill space.
Each character contributes something meaningful to the story’s conflicts and themes.
Jane Bennet: The Loving Sister
Jane is Elizabeth Bennet’s older sister and one of her closest confidantes.
She’s kind, gentle, and inclined to see the best in people.
And in many ways, her personality contrasts with Elizabeth’s.
Where Elizabeth is quick to form judgments, Jane tends to be more forgiving.
Their relationship gives readers a deeper understanding of Elizabeth’s personality while also exploring different approaches to love and trust.
Charlotte Lucas: A Different Perspective on Marriage
Charlotte Lucas is one of my favorite examples of a supporting character who challenges the protagonist’s worldview.
Charlotte approaches marriage pragmatically.
She understands the importance of financial security and social stability.
Elizabeth, on the other hand, places greater importance on affection and personal happiness.
Neither character needs to be a villain for their differing perspectives to create meaningful tension.
Their disagreement helps explore one of the novel’s central themes: marriage and the expectations placed on women.
Mr. Wickham: The Charming Deceiver
Now, let’s talk about Wickham.
Wickham initially presents himself as charming, friendly, and trustworthy.
But his behavior and misleading account of his history with Darcy contribute to Elizabeth’s mistaken judgments.
He’s particularly interesting because he reinforces Elizabeth’s existing prejudices.
And that creates conflict not only between characters but also within Elizabeth’s own emotional journey.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh: Social Pressure and Power
Lady Catherine represents many of the rigid social expectations that Elizabeth resists.
She’s wealthy, influential, and accustomed to having her opinions respected.
And when she attempts to interfere with Elizabeth’s relationship with Darcy, she becomes a direct obstacle to Elizabeth’s happiness.
Her role also helps highlight Elizabeth’s independence and willingness to stand up for herself.
Mr. Darcy: A Complicated Romantic Counterpart
And, of course, we can’t forget Mr. Darcy!
While Darcy is Elizabeth’s romantic counterpart, he also creates significant conflict throughout the novel.
Their initial misunderstandings, pride, and prejudices make it difficult for them to understand one another.
But as their relationship develops, both characters are forced to reconsider their assumptions.
And that’s what makes their romance so satisfying.
Their relationship creates conflict AND drives character growth.
Notice how each of these characters contributes something different?
Some challenge Elizabeth’s beliefs.
Some create external obstacles.
Some offer contrasting perspectives.
And others influence her emotional journey.
That’s what makes the supporting cast feel purposeful!
Step 6: Don’t Overcomplicate Your Character Sheets
Now, here’s your friendly reminder for today.
You do NOT need to create a ten-page character profile for every person who appears in your novel. 😂
If a character only appears briefly, you might only need a name and a few basic details.
If they’re an important supporting character, you might want to explore their personality, motivations, and relationship with the protagonist.
And if they’re your primary antagonist?
You may want to spend a little more time understanding their goals, strengths, flaws, and the reasons behind their actions.
The point is to focus your energy where it matters most.
Because remember…
We’re not trying to turn Preptober into a second full-time job!
We’re creating tools that will help us write our novels with more confidence.
And if you discover something new about a character while drafting?
You can always update their profile later.
Today’s Preptober Assignment ✍️
Grab your Preptober 2026 E-Guide and return to the Your Characters section.
Today, we’re building profiles for our important supporting characters and antagonists!
Choose two or three characters to start with.
For each one, think about:
- Their role: Why are they important to the story?
- Their personality: What makes them unique?
- Their goal: What do they want?
- Their conflict: What stands in their way?
- Their relationship with the protagonist: How do they influence the main character’s journey?
If you’re developing a primary antagonist, spend a little extra time exploring their motivations.
And don’t worry if you don’t know every answer yet!
You can always come back and fill in the gaps as your story develops.
The goal isn’t to know everything about every character. It’s to understand the people who will help bring your story to life.
Follow Along With Preptober 2026! 🎃📖
If you’re just joining us, welcome!
Throughout October, I’m sharing 31 daily YouTube videos to help writers plan their novels and prepare for Novel November.
We’re working through my free Preptober 2026 E-Guide, one section at a time.
And whether you’re a dedicated plotter, a proud pantser, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome to join us!
You don’t need every character figured out.
You don’t need perfect character sheets.
And you definitely don’t need to know the entire family history of a character who appears for approximately three paragraphs. 😂
Unless, of course, that’s important to your story!
We’re keeping things simple, practical, and focused on helping you actually write your novel.
Coming Up: Goal, Conflict & Stakes! 🔥
Next, we’re moving on to Day 10 of Preptober 2026, and we’re talking about three of the most important elements of storytelling.
Goal. Conflict. Stakes.
What does your protagonist want?
What’s standing in their way?
And what happens if they fail?
Because now that we’ve developed our characters…
It’s time to start making their lives a little more complicated! 😂
Before you go, I’d love to hear from you:
Which supporting character is most likely to steal the spotlight in your novel? 👀💕
Is it the chaotic best friend?
The mysterious love interest?
The morally gray antagonist?
Or someone you originally thought would only appear for one chapter?
Tell me in the comments!
We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️
