Writing Tips and Reviews

Character Count

How many characters need to be in a story? Well, as many as you need. If they serve a purpose in the story, then they're not a Mary Sue and they aren't useless. You can have as many characters as you want, even characters who stay for a short time, like side quest characters in games have a purpose. In those games, it's for an item or learning more about the world. The little stuff matters as well.

To those who don't like a big character count, that's fine. If they do their job, then go for it. What I don't like, is when people try to limit character count because they want it to be a certain way. They'll insult you with "I know, like everyone else, you can't just spit out OCs". But in reality, it's your choice. They may even be jealous you can make so many good characters.

I personally have a big character count only if the story needs it. Tales of Eylisia started with around ten characters then grew as the story did. Crest of Aspira has probably around thirty to forty because of how big the story is. And it's still growing. Growing stories may need more characters to fill in details. They may even be done with one or two characters. Many games don't need a big character cast to be good or bad since, this is the same with stories, it's the plot that matters.

It all depends on the needs of the story. Is there new information that needs to be taught and there's not a character filling that spot? You can add a character or have the existing ones find out through research. Or maybe an existing character has known but kept it a secret. Whatever the writer wants to do, they get to do.

You can use inspiration to create a character, you can rewrite old ones, you can make new ones, you can do anything you want. It's your story and the way you do it can't be controlled by people who want to limit what you can and can't do. You want a hundred characters? Go for it. You want one or two, go for it. I really only have problems when the characters have no meaning to be there, are copied and pasted versions of one another, and are just underdeveloped.

Do keep in mind, the bigger the character cast the more work it is for you. Their personality, backstory, skills and more all need to be considered. Then interactions with the other characters they meet or know about. Just don't make characters out of the imperial void with nothing to them unless they develop later on.

What do I mean? Don't have a cardboard box lying around for the sole reason of "I couldn't reach a character count". It's not someone else's work. Don't give in. Do you think I gave in? Do you think I kept my character count low because a little special snowflake didn't like it that I could create a large amount of well developed characters and they couldn't? Of course not. If it was a suggestion then maybe I'd think about who is necessary and who's not, but it was a demand to keep it low. No way sweetie. Not happening.

Back on track. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It's your writing not theirs. They don't like what you do? Then screw them. They want you to change and do what they do? Screw them. Keep your character count the way you want it to be. If two characters can successfully tell an entire story then why the hell not?

(This is like the art community. "Don't draw anime, draw cartoon but don't draw Steven Universe". Like, what the hell am I supposed to draw then? Realistic? What if I don't want to? I have to because you said so? Screw You!)