Some More Instagram Challenges To Practice Character Design!

Some more instagram challenges to practice character design!

it is never too late to retroactively slap some fat on a character

Hope you're doing well!

How do I write a villain my audience hates? I always see people loving on the villain but I want them to be hated, I want them to root for the heroes. Any advice?

Creating a Truly Evil Villain

1 - Give them a dishonorable motivation. Nothing makes it easier to forgive a villain than when they have an honorable motive, so if you want to avoid that, make sure there's nothing about the villain's motivation that could give the reader a reason to sympathize with them or even root for them.

2 - Give them a dishonorable story goal. In much the same way, when a villain's overall goal is an honorable one, even if they're going about it all wrong, it's still easy for the reader to say, "Well, I hate that they're doing all these bad things, but I appreciate that they're trying to do something good..." So, if you don't want that to happen, you have to make sure the goal is just outright terrible. It's the difference between blowing up a hostile neighboring planet (even though there are innocent people there) in order to save the galaxy versus blowing up an innocent planet out of greed or wanting to cause chaos or harm.

3 - Don't give them scruples or lines they won't cross. When villains have principles that keep them from going overboard and when they have lines they absolutely won't cross, it gives the reader a foothold to make excuses for them. So, if you want a really evil villain, make sure there's no line they won't cross. Make them merciless!

4 - Don't give them a weakness or a "soft side." Nothing humanizes a villain faster than showing them doting on their ailing older parent or doe-eyed child, or showing them struggling with a physical challenge or with their emotions. So, if you want a truly evil villain, just avoid those things all together.

5 - Don't give them a redemptive moment. Redemption is when a villain makes up for (or helps to make up for) all the bad things they did by making a major sacrifice to help Team Good. So, the last thing you want a Truly Evil Villain to do is to sacrifice anything to help Team Good. If they sacrifice anything at all, it should only be for their own benefit.

Have fun with your story!

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I’ve been writing seriously for over 30 years and love to share what I’ve learned. Have a writing question? My inbox is always open!

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Oh hey this story idea has been stewing for a while now, it's probably ready for preliminary tasting

*opens soup pot to find only water that isn't even boiling*

Oh hey I forgot to add any ingredients or turn the stove on