They’re called sidekicks. They play second fiddle, but some secondary characters are as memorable as the protagonists they support. In fact, well-drawn supporting characters are a hallmark of exceptional novels.

Women’s magazines tell us there’s a dearth of good (and eligible) men. Thank goodness, it’s not the case in literature. From literary novels to thrillers, and of course, romances, there are enough great male characters to keep readers glued to their books.

Some books I like for their clever plots or unexpected denouements, others for their dazzling narratives. But the books I cherish are those with memorable characters, especially heroines. I rounded up 10 of the most memorable literary heroines I’ve met over the years.

Stephen King believes the road to hell is paved with adverbs. Most editors and writing teachers hate adverbs as well. I agree that an adverb is superfluous most of the time, but when used in the right place, it can be effective.

In Elmore Leonard’s famous 10 rules for writing, the second rule is: avoid prologues. “They can be annoying,” he wrote. “A prologue in a novel is back story, and you can drop it in anywhere you want.”

Historical fiction, the vast territory where history meets fiction, can be a story about prehistoric times or the Elizabethan era or the American Civil War. It can be a sweeping epic or a thriller or a bodice ripper. What is historical fiction? What are the qualities of a good historical novel?

“September. It seems these luminous days will never end.” This is how James Salter’s 1967 novel, “A Sport and a Pastime,” begins. The unnamed narrator is describing Paris—in the present tense. It made me pause because countless writing workshops, articles, and panel discussions tell us the same thing: don't write your novel in the present tense.

I don’t want to be a quitter, so I used to always finish reading books. However, as my responsibilities grew with marriage, motherhood, and full-time employment, I changed my reading policy. Now I’m more than glad to drop a book I don’t like.

Some of the most compelling characters in literature also have the most interesting careers. Their working lives drive them and their stories. You’ll find plenty of firefighters in novels, but there’s no one quite like Guy Montag, the fireman in Ray Bradbury’s classic dystopian novel, “Fahrenheit 451.”  Montag’s job is at the top of my list of memorable jobs in fiction. 

Have you ever read a great book, only to find out that very few people have heard of it? Reese Witherspoon will probably never recommend the book and Steven Spielberg will certainly not adapt it into a film. In other words, your great discovery is underrated.