BEYOND COWBOYS: CHARACTERS OF THE WEST by Vonn McKee

ArtieWolff Temmuz 13, 2022

I love lists: making them, reading them, crossing things off them. Even the act of creating a to-do list for the week makes me feel I’ve accomplished something. I also keep ongoing lists of things helpful to my writing cause –– such as interesting character names, trivia about historical events, or those little stories told around dinner tables that might fit perfectly in a fictional scene.

A few years ago, I heard the incredible author Win Blevins (STONE SONG, GIVE YOUR HEART TO THE HAWKS) speak about his mental list of character types. He said that, when he first began writing western fiction, he realized he didn’t know that much about real cowboys. After some pondering, it occurred to him that there were dozens of other characters to write about: miners, natives, fur trappers, and so on. That opened the door to an endless supply of potential plots and character studies. Thank goodness Win had that realization. Western literature would have missed out on his emotional, beautifully styled novels.

This inspired me to keep a list of my own (included below) for those times when I’m stumped for a story idea or just need subplots and interesting side characters. Feel free to add more suggestions in your comments!

FRONTIER CHARACTERS:

COWBOYS, RANCHERS, VAQUEROS, SHEEPHERDERS

RUSTLERS, ROBBERS, ROADSIDE BANDITS

GUNFIGHTERS, BOUNTY HUNTERS

LAWMEN (RANGERS, SHERIFFS/MARSHALS & DEPUTIES)

INDIANS

EXPLORERS, SCOUTS

MILITARY OFFICERS AND CAVALRYMEN

POLITICIANS

MINERS, PROSPECTORS, FUR TRADERS

SETTLERS, HOMESTEADERS, SQUATTERS (MALE AND FEMALE)

STAGE COACH DRIVERS, PONY EXPRESS RIDERS

RAILROAD WORKERS (LABORERS, ENGINEERS, BUSINESSMEN)

LAND SPECULATORS, BUILDERS

BUSINESS OWNERS AND EMPLOYEES (MERCANTILE, LIVERY, BLACKSMITH, TRADING POST, DRESSMAKER, SADDLE MAKER, NEWSPAPER REPORTER, BANKER, TELEGRAPH OPERATOR, ETC.)

SOILED DOVES, ENTERTAINERS, BARTENDERS

TEACHERS, PREACHERS, NUNS

Hopefully, this list will spur you on creating all kinds of interesting folks in your next book. It took a lot of people to build the West. Go forth, and tell their stories!