The Beauty of the Spin-Off: When Side Characters Demand Their Own Story

Let me tell y'all: As a writer, sometimes, every once in a while, you write a story with characters who just won't stop talking to you. For me, that's been the case a few times. The Living in His World of Lies and Danger series are prime examples of this. Neither of those series were meant to be more than just one book. The Living in His World of Lies universe is now five books strong thanks to the two-part spin-off based on Louis Broward, who was one of the more minor characters in the series. (I say "more minor" because though he was a member of the original friend group, Louis' story was not explored in depth in the original series.) So, how did I end up with five books centered around the plot of one book? Let's talk about it.

Every writer starts with a main character in mind. That’s the person whose journey drives the plot, whose growth anchors the story, and whose voice guides readers through the world we’ve created. But if you’ve written long enough—or if you’ve built a universe with layered relationships—you’ll notice something interesting begins to happen: side characters start getting louder.

At first, they’re meant to serve a simple purpose: a best friend who offers advice, a sibling who adds family dynamics, a bodyguard who protects the main character, or a rival who complicates things. In the case of Louis, he was a member of the male main character's friend group, but he wasn't the best friend. Kind of like Murch in The Best Man. We knew enough about his story to like him and sympathize with him but not enough to understand the core of who he really was. Side characters step onto the page to support the story. And then they refuse to leave.

Sometimes it happens quietly. A secondary character delivers a line that carries more weight than expected. A backstory you mentioned in passing suddenly feels bigger than the scene it appeared in. A character’s choices begin to hint at a life that exists beyond the edges of the current book.

Other times it happens loudly. Readers start asking questions. They want to know what happened to that character before the story began—or what happens to them after it ends. Think Breaking Bad leading into Better Call Saul.

That’s usually the moment when a writer realizes something important: This character doesn’t just belong in the background anymore. They have their own story.

Spin-offs are one of the most exciting parts of building a fictional universe because they allow writers to explore the layers that couldn’t fit inside the original story. The spotlight shifts. A familiar face becomes the center of the narrative, and suddenly the character readers thought they understood reveals entirely new dimensions.

The loyal friend becomes the complicated hero.
The quiet observer becomes the person hiding the biggest secrets.
The protector becomes the one who finally needs saving.

For readers, spin-offs feel like stepping back into a world they already love—but from a different perspective. The environment is familiar, but the emotional journey is brand new.

For writers, they’re an opportunity to deepen the universe we’ve created. Spin-offs allow us to explore unanswered questions, expand relationships, and give characters the full arc they deserve.

Of course, not every side character should get their own book. Though I loved the characters themselves, I can't imagine an entire book about the lives of Harry Potter characters Seamus Finnagan or Colin Creevey. In fact, I'd be more interested in reading a book about Neville Longbottom, and the idea of a backstory about Dobby seems quite appealing at the moment. The key is recognizing when a character’s story is strong enough to stand on its own. A successful spin-off isn’t just an extension of the original story—it’s a new narrative with its own stakes, conflicts, and transformation. When it works, something special happens: Readers realize the world is bigger than they imagined.

And sometimes, the character who started out in the background ends up stealing the entire show.

That’s the beauty of the spin-off.

Sometimes the story you thought you were writing is only the beginning.