I guess the simplest answer I can think of, to your question, would be: It depends on how much their actions influence the story.

In a way they are like background. A man walks into a room, where in a corner the table lamp gives off light. How much does the light influence the story? Is it just a light that he quickly turns off(the light's duty completed for the story). Or does it stay on, but provide feeble light at best, causing him to squint, to fumble around(therefore play a more active role).

So, and this is just me, the amount of time I place on a character other than the mains ones, depends on how much they influence the story. Now it could be later on. For example, your character while out and about the city, notices the movement out from the corner of his eye and spies a young child darting into the alley, you give a detailed description on something about her, something that catches your mc's eye for some reason(maybe the child had blonde hair like his sister when a child : you just want to give the reader something more to hold on to about this first meeting, and the child). The child leaves that scene, the story continues for a ways, but later on, maybe they run into each other again, or the girl is poking her head from behind her parent's leg, this gives an attachment to everyone then. The girl then could be let go, or brought in more as the mc conducts business with the parents.

So again, how much arc depends on how much they contribute to the story. The little girl could have more of an arc than her parents, and without doing much.

Hope this makes some sense. I'm on the cold medicine so a bit cloudy.

Tak

One Wise Fool is my 103,000-word published novel set in the remote islands and seas of the Malay Archipelago. Based on my own experiences, readers have posted great reviews as the tale is authentic, informative and compelling. Although happy to have shared my story through the adventures and misadventures on my main character, Nyoman, I have not yet made one red cent from the book. Others have commented that it would make a great movie based on such a screenplay. I therefore remain open to proposals from anyone who could produce it. It's up for grabs! Any ideas or suggestions? Any takers?

Since I never made any money as a writer - even given my quite adequate qualifications including B.A., M.A., Dip.Ed., Ph.D. et al - I built my own boat and "ran away to sea!"

Welcome aboard!

Cheers!

Hugo

I clicked on your site. I see you own and operate a cruise business. Are you here to improve your writing or to sell cruises? 

 "Bones" is the bartender over at BWS. "I Am" is MWC bartender.  And who's Tim? 
Bartender did MWC sell out?  Make me a Lalu bartender..... I'll pay for my own drink.

Aw, this was fun.


On the off chance any of the contributors come back to this thread, thank you for the wonderful journeys. I loved them all!


I hope there are more contributors. We are writers, are we not?




~Deb

Lawdy lawdy, I miss the way we were.




This site has a Titanic feel to it. Will it survive? Will we?