Five Ways to Write a Solid Villain


Being a villain is easy; all they do is try to kill the hero, right?


 Not exactly. While the villain opposes the protagonist's goal, he is more than a source of conflict. He has a heart and soul like everyone else in your story world, so develop him properly and write him well. Your villain can make or break your story.

Here are a few ways to write a solid villain:



1. The villain must be as complex as the hero. Give them goals (outside killing the hero), fears, quirks, and hobbies to make them sympathetic. Sometimes, complexity comes when the villain lives in morally gray areas, which creates more conflict for the hero, too.

2. To create depth and better understand your villain, give him adequate motivation and a background. The villain must believe she’s is right. For motivation, take a common emotion and expand on it. Dig into her past and remember: one event doesn’t make a villain. One event can be a spark, but there has to be more. If you’re having trouble with your villain’s motivation, check out history books.

 3. To create intense conflict, the antagonist should have contrary goals and values to those of the protagonist. However, the hero and villain should be similar in some ways; maybe they share a value or experience. Think also about why they hate each other without using coincidences or destiny as an excuse. The hero must be a roadblock for the villain in some way.

4. Show don’t tell. Don’t discuss his evilness, prove it through deliberate actions with lethal consequences. Henchmen can create suspense and mystery around your villain without revealing him yet.  

 5. Give the villain the upper hand and lots of conviction. If she never gives up, the hero has to work even harder, pushing him to change.



Remember, without the villain, the protagonist would still be in their normal, boring world. Villains are important; treat them like it. And don’t feel like you have to shove all that bad into one person. Other antagonistic forces (bullies, environmental stressors, etc.) can create more tension in your story, driving the plot forward.

 Who is your villain and what is he/she like? Leave a comment!

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