How to Write an Epic Hero and Villain: Part 2

A while ago, I posted a blog about how to write an awesome hero (How to Write an Epic Hero and Villain: Part 1).

But now it’s time for the fun part; the villain. Dun! Dun! Ddduuunnn!

I like villains. I think most people do. I did a survey at my high school and found the most liked character was the villain. Heroes are always the same; they're mostly good and they win and save everyone in the process. The villains thought . . . they're all a little different and they do what everyone wants to do.

In my mind, there are three main of villain to choose from: there is the villain who knows what they're doing is wrong and hates it, the villain who believes what they're doing is right, and the villain that knows what they are doing is wrong, but does it anyway with a smile. There’s other types of bad guys, but here’s something to get you started.

Now, the villain who knows what he/she does is wrong and hates it is, in my opinion, not a cool bad guy. They are being forced into doing something by someone else. That someone else is stronger than the villain, therefore the mystery person is the true nasty person. The hero has a chance to save the secondary villain from the true villain, thus uniting, and somewhat not being at odds with one another anymore. Conflict, then, is closed as they focus on overtaking the mystery person who once controlled the villain. Understand?

Then there's the villain who believes what he/she is doing is right. These ones are fun because it is extremely difficult to stop someone from finishing what they believe with all their heart it good. The hero would have to convince the villain’s core belief, how they see the world, and who they are is bad. People don't take things like that lightly and it would be hard to stop/convince such a person. On the flip side, if a villain believes what they are doing is right, that means they have some morals of right and wrong. Yes, screwed up morals, but morals none the less. Because they acknowledge there is such a thing as wrong, there is a chance they can be convinced their actions are bad.

But! There's the villain who knows what he/she is doing wrong, doesn't care, and loves it all the same. This, ladies and gentlemen, is evil in its purest form. This villain cannot be convinced their ways are wrong because they already know. They also cannot be convinced to change because they love what they do. Their drive is not greed, or vengeance, or lust (though it can be the secondary reason). Their primary drive is to have fun. It’s all a game to them. Just a game that everyone else should play. A sick minded individual you could say.

As I said with the hero, a villain must be believable. There must be a reason behind what they do. And it can’t always be revenge! That’s like one of the most common villain traits! It’s a cliché and overrated. Pick something else.

Just as heroes should have a bad side, most villains should have a good side. Some bad guys are straight up wacked and have nothing good about them, but for the most part there should be at least one good thing about the villain. They should love and care for their mom. They like to plant flowers. They’re good with kids. They like fish and care for them. They enjoy opera and dreamed of singing on stage someday. Again, there must be a reason behind their good traits. (Their mom was the only one who loved the, flowers are pretty even when it rains, kids are innocent and can’t see the villain’s darkness, he/she relates to fish, trapped and confined to a tank, and the only compliment they ever got was they sang like an angel.)

By the way, villains aren't fearless. Somewhere along the lines bad guys are written as heartless fiends who don’t feel anything. Villains can be afraid too. They can doubt themselves and hesitate.

These are just options. Please make a unique villain for the world to fear/enjoy. Without them, a story’s empty.

Happy writing!

Exercise:

Pretend you are a villain.

Write down all the things you honestly would do if you were a bad guy. Below each dastardly thing, wright the reason why you’d do it. Below the reason why, explain. Dig deep.

“But I’m a perfect person, Heather. I’d do nothing wrong.”

Everyone’s got something, even its littering on the road.

Next, create a villain with similar traits (you wrote your villainous side first as an anchor to keep this exercise close to reality). Dig into their past, see what makes them tick, and don’t exaggerate. Keep it believable.

Once you’re done, write a scene with your new, amazing villain and have someone read it. What do they think?

Have fun with this. Remember, a villain’s someone who does what we all want to do.