Comments on: Fiction Writing Exercises: How to Write a Complex Villain http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:51:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-32670 Melissa Donovan Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:25:41 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-32670 Well, "Anonymous," I wish you had read the whole post. If you had, you would have noticed that these are writing exercises designed to help writers who are struggling with creating villains. This post is not a set of instructions for advanced character development; it's an exercise and nothing more. Every trained or studied writer knows that when you're a novice in the arts, you start out by mimicking the greats. Finally, you will also note that the article specifically suggests borrowing traits from existing characters, not modeling new characters completely after others. So, I'm going to strongly disagree with you. There's nothing bad about the advice here. In fact, it's pretty standard. I appreciate your input but if you're going to publicly criticize the articles here, then I suggest you read them in full and make sure you completely understand the advice that's being offered instead of dropping fly-by, negative criticisms. Well, “Anonymous,” I wish you had read the whole post. If you had, you would have noticed that these are writing exercises designed to help writers who are struggling with creating villains. This post is not a set of instructions for advanced character development; it’s an exercise and nothing more. Every trained or studied writer knows that when you’re a novice in the arts, you start out by mimicking the greats. Finally, you will also note that the article specifically suggests borrowing traits from existing characters, not modeling new characters completely after others. So, I’m going to strongly disagree with you. There’s nothing bad about the advice here. In fact, it’s pretty standard. I appreciate your input but if you’re going to publicly criticize the articles here, then I suggest you read them in full and make sure you completely understand the advice that’s being offered instead of dropping fly-by, negative criticisms.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-32668 Anonymous Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:52:44 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-32668 This is bad advice, I think. You should never purposely model ORIGINAL characters after other characters already in mainstream culture. That's why no one can write anything good these days. It's all derivative nonsense based upon someone else's derivative nonsense. This is bad advice, I think. You should never purposely model ORIGINAL characters after other characters already in mainstream culture. That’s why no one can write anything good these days. It’s all derivative nonsense based upon someone else’s derivative nonsense.

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-28586 Melissa Donovan Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:38:44 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-28586 Sometimes a purely evil villain does work. I'm thinking of he-who-shall-not-be-named from Harry Potter. Not a good bone in his body! Sometimes a purely evil villain does work. I’m thinking of he-who-shall-not-be-named from Harry Potter. Not a good bone in his body!

]]> By: Aedyn http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-28525 Aedyn Sat, 03 Oct 2009 20:47:41 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-28525 In my book that I am writing, I have made my villan purely evil, at first I thought it was unrealistic, but she is pulling it off pretty good... er... bad In my book that I am writing, I have made my villan purely evil, at first I thought it was unrealistic, but she is pulling it off pretty good… er… bad

]]> By: Writing Your Very Own, Very Good Villain : Word Grrls http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-24317 Writing Your Very Own, Very Good Villain : Word Grrls Thu, 16 Jul 2009 09:53:56 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-24317 [...] I have been looking at how to write a villain. Seeing what comes up online out of [...] [...] I have been looking at how to write a villain. Seeing what comes up online out of [...]

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-9375 Melissa Donovan Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:53:34 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-9375 That's pretty creepy but okay... I think Hannibal is the scariest character of all time. When The Dark Knight came out, everyone raved about the scariness of the Joker but I think Lecter is far more frightening. Maybe because he's more realistic. That’s pretty creepy but okay… I think Hannibal is the scariest character of all time. When The Dark Knight came out, everyone raved about the scariness of the Joker but I think Lecter is far more frightening. Maybe because he’s more realistic.

]]> By: Mark Young http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-9350 Mark Young Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:02:49 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-9350 In a fan fiction writer's forum (rather, a few), the most notorious villain was "G.D. Wallez"; typing his name, even in a passive sense, brought attention to readers. But, it wasn't him that was remembered so much as his acts of terror. To some (including myself), however, he wasn't a good villain simply because he had no real reason; he was just too empty. It wasn't until the author made it clear that he was a pawn in a grand plan, who was confused and blinded by his goals that mixed with his personal obsessions. In the beginning, he was just a very sick bastard: A pedophilic masochist who enjoyed long-term poisoning, psycholoical manipulation, who, similiar to Hannibal, was a biologist. He would slowly drain the blood of a screaming nine-year-old girl upsidedown and lick her up and down. He mixed sugar blood in his wines and after his victim was nearly drained of life, boil or bake them whole and then serve her roasted body on a platter to the family he wanted to manipulate. It was his delightful hobby. While some of these victims were innocents, several of them were family members to mob bosses, rebel factions, dictators, and even cyborged children who became assassins (the main protagonists). He had the money and power, and on the outside, was loved by everyone as he prepared to take over the world because he believed he was a son of Christ, and rightful heir to rule the earth. It wasn't until G.D. Wallez was convinced that what he did was right and necessary, that evil made the world go round, when he became somewhat believable. In a fan fiction writer’s forum (rather, a few), the most notorious villain was “G.D. Wallez”; typing his name, even in a passive sense, brought attention to readers. But, it wasn’t him that was remembered so much as his acts of terror. To some (including myself), however, he wasn’t a good villain simply because he had no real reason; he was just too empty. It wasn’t until the author made it clear that he was a pawn in a grand plan, who was confused and blinded by his goals that mixed with his personal obsessions.

In the beginning, he was just a very sick bastard: A pedophilic masochist who enjoyed long-term poisoning, psycholoical manipulation, who, similiar to Hannibal, was a biologist. He would slowly drain the blood of a screaming nine-year-old girl upsidedown and lick her up and down. He mixed sugar blood in his wines and after his victim was nearly drained of life, boil or bake them whole and then serve her roasted body on a platter to the family he wanted to manipulate. It was his delightful hobby. While some of these victims were innocents, several of them were family members to mob bosses, rebel factions, dictators, and even cyborged children who became assassins (the main protagonists).

He had the money and power, and on the outside, was loved by everyone as he prepared to take over the world because he believed he was a son of Christ, and rightful heir to rule the earth.

It wasn’t until G.D. Wallez was convinced that what he did was right and necessary, that evil made the world go round, when he became somewhat believable.

]]> By: 6 Killer Writing Tips http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-8863 6 Killer Writing Tips Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:01:51 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-8863 [...] If you’re struggling with this type of writing too, Melissa Donovan shares some great tips in How To Write A Complex Villain [...] [...] If you’re struggling with this type of writing too, Melissa Donovan shares some great tips in How To Write A Complex Villain [...]

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-8725 Melissa Donovan Sat, 13 Dec 2008 20:24:20 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-8725 Evelyn, I think that's a great idea. You probably won't need therapy ;) but you'll sure know the inner workings of her mind! Evelyn, I think that’s a great idea. You probably won’t need therapy ;) but you’ll sure know the inner workings of her mind!

]]> By: Evelyn http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-8699 Evelyn Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:58:01 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-8699 I remember you saying that, Melissa. I was thinking of giving my "b*tch" a journal so I could publish her thoughts rather than tell people her thoughts. It sort of really makes them hers -- that witch! I wonder if I will recover from the hateful relationship. Maybe I'll need a therapy! :) I still think you're awesome! I remember you saying that, Melissa. I was thinking of giving my “b*tch” a journal so I could publish her thoughts rather than tell people her thoughts. It sort of really makes them hers — that witch! I wonder if I will recover from the hateful relationship. Maybe I’ll need a therapy! :) I still think you’re awesome!

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-8698 Melissa Donovan Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:53:53 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-8698 Hi Evelyn! Yeah, it is a cool idea. Actually, I've seen it done on the web and on social media networks. If you start thinking about the possibilities, it can get pretty wild! Hi Evelyn! Yeah, it is a cool idea. Actually, I’ve seen it done on the web and on social media networks. If you start thinking about the possibilities, it can get pretty wild!

]]> By: Melissa Donovan http://www.writingforward.com/exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-8697 Melissa Donovan Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:52:40 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-8697 What do you mean I misspelled villain? Hehehee. Just kidding. I fixed it. Ack! I can't stand it when I do that. Yes, I do think the character website idea is a great one. Last year I tried something like that with a character I was working on. I made her a MySpace page. Silly, perhaps, but it did help me get into her head a little bit better. When you do that, you really have to become the character, and it's a pretty interesting exercise. If I ever write a novel that gets published, all the characters will have websites and social media profiles. As you can imagine, I'd be heavily into the internet marketing for something like that ;) What do you mean I misspelled villain? Hehehee. Just kidding. I fixed it. Ack! I can’t stand it when I do that.

Yes, I do think the character website idea is a great one. Last year I tried something like that with a character I was working on. I made her a MySpace page. Silly, perhaps, but it did help me get into her head a little bit better. When you do that, you really have to become the character, and it’s a pretty interesting exercise. If I ever write a novel that gets published, all the characters will have websites and social media profiles. As you can imagine, I’d be heavily into the internet marketing for something like that ;)

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