It's a more serious post.
For here, for now, let's take a quick look at 5 Reasons to Write with Villains (the antagonists we love to hate):
1. Villains enjoy themselves. If they want to have cake and eat it and bathe in it, they'll find a way, even if if means taking all the cake in the world and enslaving all the cake bakers.
2. Villains see themselves as righteous and they worry a lot less than heroes. Villains don't ask, "Should I do this?" They just do whatever they want.
3. Villains rule absolutely. Hence, they have less paperwork to fill out.
4. Villains have henchmen, sometimes even cute ones like Minions.
5. Villains have cool toys, weapons, and transportation.
Seriously, though, these traits are just the beginning of villainous behavior. Realistic villains aren't that simple. If they were, they could never be redeemed, have henchmen issues, or feel anguish over the sacrifices they make or have made. If villains were truly simple, we wouldn't have Darth Vader, Loki, Bucky, Kylo Ren, Thanos (according to the latest Avengers movie), or Gru and his Minions.
Realistic villains and antagonists need a reason to be who they are and that's what my more serious post at IWSG is all about.
Click here to read Writing Realistic Antagonists.
BTW, I do plan to visit around the web and comment today, but as I write this ahead of time, I am experiencing dizziness with bouts of full vertigo, headaches, and ear ringing. The docs (plural) are working on a diagnosis (probably Miniere's Disease) as I am working on getting better. This has been ongoing for nearly three weeks as of the date of this post, so I am ready, really ready, to get all the way better or have a plan to solve it.
Sorry you feel like that! They better find the answer. If not, call Doctor House.
ReplyDeleteI love a good villain. S/he can make a book skyrocket in excitement. Loved your post on IWSG today! Well done.
ReplyDeleteI have tons of Minions but I promise I'm not a villain.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the vertigo and everything.
I love cake! And Minions! I hope that doesn't make me a Villain.... :o
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Tyrean!
Hope you feel better soon. I'm trying to create a good villain right now. Thanks for the tips.
ReplyDeleteVillains are my favorite. ^_^
ReplyDeleteHope they figure out what’s going on soon!
Heck yeah,a good villain makes a good story! :)
ReplyDelete#3 cracked me up - less paperwork is a great reason to be a villian :-)
ReplyDeleteHa! Gotta love villains, eh? Hope you're feeling much, much better by now, and that said docs have come up with not only a diagnosis but a plan of action to get you healthy and feeling like a superhero in no time.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit over at Writer in Transit for my bit on nonfiction, and for the encouraging comment there. Much, much appreciated!
Guilie @ Life In Dogs