How should a supporting character be written in a novel? What should I pay attention to when portraying characters?

It's not easy to portray a supporting character because supporting characters are usually not as eye-catching as the main character, but their role is very important. Here are some suggestions on how to write supporting characters in novels: 1. Supporting characters should have their own story and background: An interesting supporting character should have their own story and background to let the reader understand their motives, values, and experiences. These stories could be interwoven with the protagonist's story to allow the reader to better understand the supporting characters. 2. Supporting roles should be complex and diverse: a good supporting role should not be just a simple character, they should be complex and diverse. They should have different personalities, appearances, skills, motives, and goals. This allowed the readers to better understand the inner world of the supporting characters and better understand their actions and decisions. 3. Supporting characters should have their own personalities and characteristics: a good supporting character should have their own personalities and characteristics, so that readers can better understand them. These traits could be flaws, weaknesses, prejudices, or unique personality traits. This allows the reader to better understand the actions and decisions of the supporting characters and better integrate into the story. 4. The supporting role should interact with the main character: A good supporting role should interact with the main character so that the reader can better understand the supporting role. These interactions could be positive, negative, or just simple conflicts. But the important thing is that this interaction should allow readers to better understand the supporting characters and their reactions and actions. Supporting characters should serve the story: A good supporting character should serve the story and not try to change or replace the protagonist. They should provide support and help for the story, not try to become the protagonist. Their characters should match the rhythm and theme of the story and not try to change the direction of the story. To portray a supporting character, you need to carefully consider the above factors to create an interesting, complex, and meaningful character.