Tom Meredith

I think one thing that anyone who has read my books will agree on is that I don't make life easy for myself.  Not only have I chosen to end my books with not all of the threads wrapped up, but I do not have one central protagonist who the story revolves around. Instead, I chose from the outset to have multiple perspectives and lenses through which to tell my story. I would say my greatest influence in this regard was G.R.R. Martin, although the scale and imaginative genius of his work is something I can only dream of.

That said, from the beginning of the writing process I had settled on wanting to have a central core of characters, rather than one dominant point of view. Of course, this brings certain challenges which I will explore in this blog post. As a writer, I like to challenge myself. For me, one of the most exciting yet challenging aspects of storytelling is juggling multiple characters. Each character brings a unique voice, backstory, and perspective to the narrative, which can enrich the plot immensely. However, the difficulty lies in ensuring that every character gets their fair share of airtime without feeling forced or rushed. It’s a delicate balancing act that can easily tip into chaos if not managed carefully.

The Importance of Character Development

First and foremost, let’s talk about character development. Each character should feel like a fully realised individual, with their own motivations, desires, and fears. It’s vital to invest time in building their backstories and ensuring they resonate with your audience. But how do you avoid overwhelming your readers with too many subplots and character arcs? It’s all about clarity and purpose. Each character should serve the story in a meaningful way.

I therefore asked myself a central question: What is their role in the larger narrative? Are they advancing the plot, or are they merely present for the sake of it? I often find it helpful to create a character map to visualise connections and interactions. This technique not only helps in tracking their individual arcs but also ensures they intertwine in a way that feels organic rather than contrived. 

Finding the Right Balance

The next challenge is airtime. With a large cast, it can be easy to let some characters overshadow others, or conversely, let important players fade into the background. To prevent this, I’ve adopted a few strategies which I hope have proven effective:

1. Use a Rotating Focus: In each chapter or scene, designate a primary character whose perspective drives the narrative. This way, readers can dive deeply into that character’s psyche, creating a strong emotional connection. Rotating the focus allows you to switch between characters fluidly, ensuring everyone has their moment to shine.

An example of this would be the climatic scenes at the end of Blood in the Water. We have Ollie trapped in the Thames Barrier with Emma struggling to escape. These two characters are more pasive in a way, offering a particular insight to the impending catastrophe, virtually helpless and imprisoned  by our antagonists. As readers we can feel the weight and enormity of the situation through them.

Then we have Zaf and Ben, both in separate strike teams closing in on the Thames Barrier. In the case of Zaf, we are aware that there is a deeper conspiracy and treachery is everywhere. It is through him that we witness another betrayal at the crucial moment when they are desperately trying to avert disaster. On the river, we have Ben Viper, our most experienced field officer, who is approaching the structure. We get a sense of forboding from Ben's perspective, but also the hope that everything will be alright. The hero will save the day. That is what always happens...right?

Interspersed with their perspectives, we have scenes with the remainder of the team in Thames House, who are watching the scene unfold before them. My intention here was to draw the lens back from the action to those with a hollistic view of the situation. That allows a different way of building tension, as it is revealed that there is no way of reclaiming control of the situation. 

In my second book, readers witness sequences from the perspective of Jackie Ambrose, John Bromley and James Canto. This allows me to build empathy and depth to these characters over a period. Naturally some characters are slower burns, such as Maya for example, but rotating focus allows you to build them over the books. This is the luxury of writing a series, as it gives you space to develop characters across multiple novels.

2. Backstory Reveals: Instead of cramming in backstory all at once, pace it out. Sprinkle character backgrounds throughout the narrative to keep the reader engaged and curious about each character’s journey. This approach allows you to maintain momentum while gradually revealing each person’s depth. My readers will recognise this method with a number of my characters, particularly those of John Bromley and Ben Viper with me drip feeding hints to their backstory.

3. Group Dynamics: Use interactions between characters to showcase their relationships, conflicts, and alliances. Group scenes can be particularly effective in revealing character traits and motivations without dedicating entire chapters to backstory. Just be mindful to focus on how each character contributes to the scene at hand.

Embracing Feedback

Finally, don’t be afraid to seek feedback from beta readers or writing groups. They can provide invaluable insights about which characters resonate and which seem to get lost in the shuffle. This outside perspective can illuminate areas where you might need to amplify a character's storyline or pare down excess subplots. Writing a story with a diverse cast of characters can certainly be challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Embracing the intricacies of each character, while maintaining a balance between them, can create a rich, immersive narrative that keeps readers hooked from beginning to end.

What strategies have you found helpful in managing multiple characters in your writing? I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Also, if there is any further feedback for me on where I could improve this element of my writing, pease do let me know!