Currently I'm in progress of working on my latest experimental novel (ie, a novel written strictly for my own edification and learning to improve my writing skills) called "Warbirds".  It's about two different groups of animals, one who clings more to the traditional order of nature, and one who believes that technology is superior, and anyone who masters it is superior to all.  Sort of like an ego complex clad in metal armor.

Well, in general the story is about a character named "Tails", a sparrow hawk who has a unique ability and gift: Twin tails.  Hence his name.  (I like puns in my books if you haven't noticed)  Well, in order to make his character, and more importantly the world he lives in, work and function as it should, another character had to be born, namely Lord Carr, a great bald eagle, who is the village leader, and ruler of the prefecture in which they live.

Initially the entire story was supposed to be focused on Tails, as the story is his story.  Yeah, that didn't work quite as planned.  It seems I have this incredible ability to create giants out of incidental characters.  I did that in another book series I created called "Earthfleet".  The character of Finch was supposed to be both a balancing character for Phyland (who was supposed to be the primary character for his section of the story) and a disposable one.  IE, when he was no longer needed, he'd be thrown away.

Again, that didn't happen.  Before all was done, the once disposable character became one of the all time favorites in the series, even climbing about my primary protagonist (Grand Admiral Mike Clayton) in popularity.  Well, that's happening again, only this time with another story and another character.  Lord Carr started out as, you guessed it, a disposable character whose whole purpose was to provide an anchor on which my primary character (Tails) was to find his foundation.

As it so happens, Carr is now becoming a major player in the story, his leadership acting as a key to the survival of his people, and Tails is quickly being relegated to a bit part.  Obviously he won't stay that way, as I have other more noble plans for Carr.  However, I find it interesting that, as a story develops and the plotline takes its initial shape, certain characters will trade places on the scale of importance throughout the story, with the "planned" greater ones becoming the subordinates to the "planned" lesser ones.

I guess that some of that comes from the fact that my characters start as little whiffs of inspiration, and in the course of time they either grow into giants completely outside of my original course of planning.  I guess part of that has to do with my writing style.  Because I usually take an idea, begin exploring it, and then follow the story wherever it goes.  IE, as the story develops, I follow the course that best fits the needs of the story, and in turn the characters do as well, eventually growing well beyond anything I'd dreamed for them.

I guess that's some of what makes me the king of incidental characters.