A villain is a character who is against the protagonist and creates moments of conflict for the protagonist. Though most authors choose to focus their time on building the protagonist, the villain shouldn't be forgotten. The villains in a story are just as important as the protagonists because they drive conflict and build tension. Most works of writing include some type of villain, whether the villain is a murderer or simply an overbearing parent. Writing a memorable villain is similar to writing the protagonist, but there are special parameters. Read along for 5 important tips for building an unforgettable villain.
Identify Their Goals
Similar to the main character, it is important to determine the goals and motivations of the villain. For your villain to appear realistic, they should have plausible reasons for being a villain. It isn't very likely that your villain kills people, just for something to do. As you outline the villain in your story, make sure they have specific goals and motivations for acting the way they do. Villains with believable motivations help readers understand them and even connect with them. While writing, don't forget that villains are their characters, and should be treated like so.
Create an Engaging Backstory
Connected to the previous point, a captivating villain should have an interesting backstory. The goals the villain currently has most likely stem from something that occurred in the past. An interesting backstory will create depth and dimension for your villain, while also giving readers something to connect to. Creating an engaging backstory for your villain is also a great way to create conflict. Perhaps the protagonist is against the villain but eventually, they begin to sympathize with the villain.
Have a Strong First Impression
In writing, first impressions are important, but they are especially important with villains. The first scene involving the villain should tell readers a lot about the villain. An intense introduction can inform readers that this character is a murderer or it can merely make the reader feel off. When introducing the villain, they don't need to start with a murder or fight, rather they can appear charming, then turn evil in later chapters. It is your choice if you reveal the dark acts of the villain right away, or wait, but how you introduce the character should be relevant to their personality and send a message to the reader. As you write, think about the first scene with the villain and ask yourself what makes them stand apart from other characters. For more tips on introducing characters, click on the bottom below.
Give Them a Worthy Opponent
The villain in your story should be a strong rival against the hero. If the hero can easily defeat the villain, the novel may lack action and conflict. The villains in your story shouldn't be weak and puny, but they also shouldn't be unbeatable to the hero. Reflect on the traits of your villain and make sure they give the hero a worthy fight, but can be conquered. It can also be exciting to give both the hero and the villain similar strengths, to heighten the tension and raise the stakes. As you write the villain, ensure they are an adequate adversary to the hero and, even if they appear unbeatable, can be defeated.
Include Vivid Descriptions
Readers are often intrigued by villains because their actions are so evil, which is why it is important to describe the villain's appearance. Explaining the physical appearance of the villain, helps readers picture them and understand them better. Physical descriptions will develop the character and add more to their identity. Also as a writer, you can weave their physical characteristics into their personality and motivations. For example, if the villain was bullied because of their "ugly" appearance, their motivation may be to get back at their bullies. You can use vivid descriptions of the villain to create contrast and empathy for the readers.
Without villains, the hero can't exhibit their (literal or figurative) powers. The villains in a story can generate conflict and create disastrous stakes for the protagonist, which is why they are so vital. Even though writing a villain can be difficult these 5 tips are sure to help!
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