We've all watched television shows or read books where children served as a background prop to the protagonist rather than having an actual storyline. On television, it's understandable since I'm sure there are specific rules in place that won't allow a child to be on screen for long periods, but what about books? And why does it matter?
The longer I write, the more I feel it's important that each character have an independent storyline. I firmly believe that you should be able to lift any secondary character from a book (or television show) and drop them into their own story. This is important because it helps create a stronger story overall, giving the reader much more to pique their interest.
So, why am I focusing the most on kids as ignored secondary characters? I feel that it's common to have children in books and television shows, but they merely fall into the background. This suggests that children have no problems, worries, or fears, which is not true. In my Hernandez series, the teenage daughter, Maria, is very much a part of the series. Her problems affect the whole family, which shows up with the protagonist. If Jorge is worried about his daughter, it will play a role in his decisions and how he relates to other characters.
Everybody's got a story. We have to learn to shine a light on it.
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