A character list is an optional section in a novel. Whether you should include one depends partly on the genre and the complexity of your story.
While a list of characters is usually unnecessary in most fiction, it can be useful for certain types of stories.
The number of characters is another factor to consider. If your novel has fewer than ten, a list is probably unnecessary. But if it has more than twenty, including one could be a useful way to help readers keep track of who’s who.
Of course, the number of characters isn’t the only consideration. Even a novel with a small cast might benefit from a character list if the relationships between characters are complicated.
Do novels need a character list?
Most novels don’t need one.
In most cases, readers expect to encounter and discover new characters as the story develops.
As a story moves forward, readers learn about them through the narrative and dialogue and can build a picture of each character in their mind.
Very often, a novel will have only seven or eight characters, which makes it easy for readers to remember each one.
Of all the novels you’ve read, how often have you noticed a list of characters?
Probably, very rarely.
One reason is that a character list could give away parts of the story.
Because each character needs a short description in a list, it could reveal surprise elements that would be better left for the reader to discover.
This is a particular danger if it’s in the front matter of a book.
But that’s not always the case.
When can a list be useful?
For family sagas, historical novels, epic fantasy, and stories that contain a large cast of characters, a character list can be useful for readers.
It can also be useful in a book series, where characters re-emerge across several books.
If a series is multi-generational, a list of characters could help readers better understand the family links between them.
Another reason could be that some names are similar and could easily be confused, or that a story involves complicated relationships between characters.
The best guide to whether your book needs it is to consider reader confusion or character overload.
Would a character list as a reference help avoid confusion and make it easier for your readers?
Do you have more than fifteen characters in your story?
Once your cast becomes this large, a list could be useful, particularly if some characters have similar names or complicated relationships.
If your novel is historical fiction, perhaps some of the people in your book were real people. A short note for each one could help readers understand the factual parts of your story.
Even if you don’t plan to publish your book with a character list, having one as you write your story can be extremely useful.
The best way is to keep notes about all your characters.
Even better, you can use a character profile builder to add details as your story progresses.
I’ve always used character profile lists for the books I’ve written, but I haven’t published them as part of my books.
However, my lists have come in handy for other reasons, including audiobook planning and helping a prospective publisher understand my story better.
Should you put the list at the beginning or end?
You might see some books with a list in the front of the book, but it’s a rarity.
If it’s immediately available to a reader, it could contain spoilers or give away information that would be better discovered as the story develops.
It can also make the book feel more like a reference work than a novel.
In most cases, it’s probably best to include a character list at the end of the book.
That way, it doesn’t interfere with the reading experience and is less likely to give away hints about the story.
But it can still serve as a useful reference section for readers who need to check who’s who.
If you want to make it easier for readers to find, you could include it as an item in your table of contents.
What should a list of characters contain?
The best approach is to keep your list very simple.
You don’t need to add much more than the character name and a very brief description.
For example:
Sarah Greenslade
Main character. An ex-cop investigating the disappearance of her father.
You don’t need to use the full character profiles you may have created when writing your book.
Only include the basics, such as:
- Name
- Role in the story
- Brief identifying detail
- Relationship to another important character, only when useful
Including too much information could detract from your story or give away hints. So, it’s always best to keep it short.
Do ebooks need a character list?
A list at the end of an ebook can be useful because readers can navigate to it while reading your story.
But it’s not that much different with a print book, as readers can quickly thumb to the back of the book for details.
If you’re planning to publish in both formats, it would probably make sense to keep them the same, either with or without a character list.
You could name the section “Character List,” “List of Characters,” or use the more literary term “Dramatis personae”, which is Latin for “persons of the drama.”
Conclusion
If you think your readers might need it or benefit from it, include it.
But if that’s not the case, don’t include it simply because you think your novel should have one.
It’s an optional part of a book, and as you’ve probably experienced from your fiction reading, it’s also not very common.
So yes, consider it. But for most authors, it will remain a part of writing a book, rather than a necessary part of the book itself.
Related Reading: How To Check If Your Book Title Is Unique
English teacher, writer, and author. Passionate about grammar, creative writing, and self-publishing. Always exploring new tools and tech to help writers succeed.
