http://www.writingforward.com/writing_exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain Creative writing tips and ideas Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:52:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.writingforward.com/writing_exercises/fiction-writing-exercises/fiction-writing-exercises-how-to-write-a-villain/comment-page-1#comment-51951 Pen to Paper: The Villain | Mon, 09 May 2011 05:08:28 +0000 http://www.writingforward.com/?p=696#comment-51951 [...] Melissa Donovan sees villains everywhere she looks, which is an approach I appreciate and have used. Similarly, Marie Brennan suggests that rather than out-and-out villains, we can set up antagonists for our protagonists. Her line of thinking seems to be along the same lines as what Brannon Braga has said: “The key to writing villains is to make them feel that they are the heroes of the piece.” Before that, Robert A. Heinlein’s Lazarus Long said, in part, “Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes.” That’s also useful for writers to remember. [...] [...] Melissa Donovan sees villains everywhere she looks, which is an approach I appreciate and have used. Similarly, Marie Brennan suggests that rather than out-and-out villains, we can set up antagonists for our protagonists. Her line of thinking seems to be along the same lines as what Brannon Braga has said: “The key to writing villains is to make them feel that they are the heroes of the piece.” Before that, Robert A. Heinlein’s Lazarus Long said, in part, “Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes.” That’s also useful for writers to remember. [...]

]]> http://www.writingforward.com/writing_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.

]]> http://www.writingforward.com/writing_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.

]]> http://www.writingforward.com/writing_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!

]]> http://www.writingforward.com/writing_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

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