Wattpad Block Party - Winter Edition III

linahanson Presents: Of Villains and Monsters

Of Villains and Monsters: Some tips on how to write a convincing antagonist from professional editor, business writer, featured author and Watty 2015 winner

@linahanson

"Haha – nobody expects the dark-hatted baddie!" Dr Evil shouted as he popped out from behind the curtain, twirling his moustache with one hand and cuddling a miffed-looking white cat with the other.

Or would you, dear reader, prefer him to point a laser gun at you, flash his fangs and rip his shirt to put his spectacular abs on display, abs only a werewolf can have?

Whichever option he chooses, it looks pretty stereotype to me.

Stereotype is no good. Especially not, when you want to stand out in the crowd. If you wish to be successful as an author you have to stand out, which means you'll have to work on your characters. Among other things of course, but characters are essential. If you don't give us an engaging character right from the start, a character your readers can care about, they will stop reading. It's as simple as that.

Which is why we all polish our first lines, paragraphs, chapters until they truly dazzle. Right? Right!

Now, you'll tell me that you do exactly that, you have all these fantastic character charts, where you not only look at the exterior of your protagonists, but you list all their hobbies, motivations, dreams, hates, fears ... You KNOW your characters inside out. You pile up lots of conflict for them – conflict stresses the protagonists, which is perfect for readers - and yes, I know you know that as well.

So, why is it that when it comes to antagonists, we still get the same old cardboard cut outs far too often?

They're bad. Yes. Right. That is their job. They're the antagonist and their purpose in life is to create more conflict for your characters. They're darkness to your protagonist's light; they're evil, etc.

That's fine, but that isn't the whole story.

The stories I enjoy are those where I either get

a) a villain who once was a good person (okay: good-ish). If the story even shows how he drifts off towards the dark side, I like that even better. Darth Vader is the classical example. From cute blue-eyed, curly haired boy to monster. That is one heck of a career move!;

b) a villain who also is a good person, somebody where the boundaries blur. But that sort of villain still gives your protagonist a run for his/her money. I've got somebody like that in my short story "Hunting Season", featured in TheCryptic's "Dead Winter" Anthology, available here on Wattpad; LINK https://www.wattpad.com/340400546-dead-winter-a-cryptic-anthology-dead-winter

c) an absent villain. Huh? Yes! There is a person in the background pulling strings but, we do not necessarily meet him or her. Or not immediately. We meet their minions, who might have motivations of their own (Think Evan in my featured novel "In My Attic") but we do not necessarily meet the mother lode of evil straight away.

There are more options, of course. If you have more ideas or suggestions, let us hear them in the comments. But whatever you do, it is crucial for me as a reader that you give me a) motivations for Dr Evil being who he (she) is and b) make sure your villain is a rounded character with some likeable traits. Even if somebody is the baddie from the start, if you make him (her) believable, credible and even likeable, you create another character who can pull in your readers.

I'm using all of the above in my Avebury Witches cozy mysteries. "In My Attic" is featured and completed. "Down the Hatch" well on its way. You're welcome to have a peep!!! If you have any questions – on villains in particular or story-writing in general. I'll be around to answer your questions. Looking forward to chatting with you.

And if you win, you'll be part of the mystery – one of the chapters in "Down the Hatch" will be dedicated to YOU!!!!

https://www.wattpad.com/316683003-down-the-hatch-an-avebury-witches-cozy-mystery

***********

P.S. Don't forget to enter the 130+ #WattpadBlockParty Giveaways! Clickable links are at the top of my Wattpad profile! :)

GIVEAWAY LINK ONE:

http://kellyanneblountauthor.blogspot.com/2017/01/giveaways-for-wattpad-block-party_31.html

GIVEAWAY LINK TWO (with Widgets):

http://kellyanneblountauthor.blogspot.com/2017/01/giveaways-with-widgets-for-wattpad.html