I've seen a trend recently--specifically in YA, but also in the larger media scape--of justified villains. That is to say, villains that have their own character and can be sympathized with.
Historically, many villains in stories were there simply to produce conflict and to be "evil." Having a protagonist and antagonist places the protag in an optimal position to be good, do good, or learn an important lesson.
This doesn't mean stories aren't still written this way! On the contrary, this technique is still used (Joker from Batman; little logic, very in it for the amusement of chaos). It all depends on the story one is trying to tell. But as we're focusing on villains today, I'm going to share some observations about villains that carry a story.
Along with this conversation comes the "morally grey." These characters are also popping up a lot as main characters (Jude from The Cruel Prince), and I think it has to do with relatability. It's harder to read about a character who always makes the right decision and follows through because our lives just aren't really like that. We tend to see ourselves more in characters with real flaws. Ones who have hurdles they need to overcome that aren't defeating pure evil.
(I mean really, how often do you wake up and say, "Today, I will slay the literal dragon"?)
So, how does this impact villains? Well, it means that they should be characters too.
I'll admit, I'm a little biased. In much of my reading I'm more interested in books with strong villainous characters. Take The Darkling from Shadow and Bone, or Legend/Jacks from Caraval, or even Maven from Red Queen. The thing these villains have in common is that they have their own stories and their own reasonings for doing the things they do. (Yes, often misguided. But we can relate to their why, and we can see how they would have gotten there.)
These characters are generally my favourite in the book.
I think we're also drawn to them because of their focus. They are set on what they want, and they are taking steps to get it--frequently at any cost. As misguided as they are, villains tend to have a lot of charisma. And in general, we're interested in people who are following the path they set before themselves when they're completing it well.
Although we may not agree with their goals, we have to admire their drive.
Protagonists on the other hand, are typically less clear on what they want, and it's the villain's want that spurs them to action. Often because the wants are in conflict. And much of writing today is character based, propelled by the protag's change in character over the course of the story. So it makes sense that they would be less clear on what they really want.
So, how can we write compelling villains? Here are some summary tips:
Make them people.
Villains are characters, too. And as such, it means that they need compelling back stories, motivations, and goals. You should be spending the same amount of time/energy when thinking out your villain as your main character.
Often, villains have similar characteristics to the main character, they just use their skills differently.
This also means that they're not going to be only evil. We all have good days and bad days, and that means that the villain will probably have scenes where they are kind or thoughtful or loving in a genuine way. And they probably don't view themselves as the villain.
Some helpful questions when considering your villain:
- What happened in their past that made them this way? What's their backstory?
- What do they want?
- How do they justify their actions?
- What are they willing to do to achieve their goal?
- What do they love?
- What are they afraid of?
- How do they feel about people who are in their way? Do they need to be destroyed? Or do they think themselves too lofty/good at what they do to be affected?
Put them in conflict with the MC.
This is not necessarily a hard-and-fast rule, but as protagonist and antagonist, it's kind of why they exist. The protagonist pushes the story forward, and the antagonist exists to challenge the protag.
They often have competing goals, morals, and vision. This creates the atmosphere for the protag to learn and grow and develop over the course of the story. It also makes great story, because who wants to read 350 pages about two people who never have any trouble at all?
The short version: write your villain like you write any character.
And to reiterate, you don't have to write this way. There are many popular books that don't. This is just how I like to write villains, and what I've witnessed as the trend in many story outlets nowadays. And it will often lead to readers who have strong connections or feelings toward your story because they love to hate the villain.
Happy writing,
Erin
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