Skip to content

When you are writing, you have to love all your…

“When you are writing, you have to love all your characters. If you're writing something from a minor character's point of view, you really need to stop and say the purpose of this character isn't to be somebody's sidekick or to come in and put the horse in the stable. The purpose of this character…” quote by Robin Hobb
Download Open image
“When you are writing, you have to love all your characters. If you're writing something from a minor character's point of view, you really need to stop and say the purpose of this character isn't to be somebody's sidekick or to come in and put the horse in the stable. The purpose of this character is you're getting a little window into that character's life and that character's day. You have to write them as if they're not a minor character, because they do have their own things going on.”

Robin Hobb

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Every character, even minor ones, deserves depth; they reveal unique perspectives and enrich the story.

In simple terms: Give all characters depth.

Key Takeaway

Treat minor roles as fully lived.

Themes

character development storytelling empathy

Mood

analytical inspirational

Type

educational creative

When to use this quote

  • novel drafting
  • screenwriting
  • role‑playing games
  • teaching writing

Key Concepts

literature psychology creative writing

Questions to Reflect On

  • How does a minor character’s view change the narrative?
  • What techniques ensure each character feels real?
A Different Perspective

Focusing too much on minor characters can dilute main plot.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Robin Hobb

Explore all 500 Robin Hobb quotes

More Character quotes

Browse all 32,707 Character quotes