on Fiction University:

We often spend a lot of time on the backstories of our characters, but how often do we consider their front stories?

Non-point of view characters don’t get nearly enough love and attention as point of view characters. It’s understandable, because they’re not the ones driving the plot or charming the readers, so our focus is on more critical elements of the novels.

But those characters and their lives have the potential to create conflict and deepen our stories. How they feel, what their goals are, what they want from life, can all affect what the protagonist is trying to do or trying to avoid.

Not knowing how they fit into the world and the story is missing a huge opportunity. At some point, you really want to ask: