Tips for writing a villain
1. Give them a twisted backstory
• A compelling villain has a past that explains why they became who they are. Make their history dark and personal, shaped by betrayal, loss, or abuse.
• What works? Their backstory should not justify their villainy but rather explain how it festered into a desire for control or revenge.
• Example: A villain who was once a loyal soldier but was betrayed by their closest ally, sparking a thirst for power and retribution.
2. Give them a ruthless goal
• Villains and antiheroes are driven by desires that justify any action, no matter how destructive. Their goal should be selfish, twisted, and all-consuming.
• What works? Let their desire for power, revenge, or domination overshadow everything. They believe they are justified, even when causing harm.
• Example: A villain who seeks to overthrow a kingdom, not out of idealism, but simply to make everyone bow before them in submission.
• Villains are often detached, seeing people as pawns in their grand schemes. They plan meticulously, moving with purpose and efficiency.
• What works? Their actions should be deliberate and strategic, not driven by impulse. Show their intelligence, but also their complete lack of empathy.
• Example: A villain who uses people as tools, manipulating alliances and backstabbing to climb higher, all while remaining eerily calm.
4. Embrace their darker nature
• Villains are not plagued by guilt—they embrace their dark nature. Let them find power in their cruelty, and let it drive them forward.
• What works? Show them as unapologetic and even proud of their actions. They have no qualms about being feared and are often defined by their cruelty.
• Example: A villain who enjoys tormenting their enemies, finding satisfaction in their pain and suffering as a means to assert dominance.
5. Make their flaws have consequences
• Villains don’t have redeeming qualities. Their flaws—greed, pride, wrath—define their path and ensure they fall further into darkness.
• What works? Let their flaws be the driving force of their villainy, and don’t shy away from making them destructive.
• Example: A villain whose pride is so consuming that they refuse to ever admit fault, causing their empire to crumble because of their refusal to accept failure.
6. Show their manipulation
• Villains thrive on control, often using manipulation to bend others to their will. They know how to push buttons, exploit weaknesses, and get what they want without lifting a finger.
• What works? Let your villain be the master of deceit, convincing others to do their bidding without them ever truly getting their hands dirty.
• Example: A villain who manipulates a group of rebels, using their emotions to stir discord, only to turn them against each other in the end.
• A villain’s cruelty knows no bounds. They do what needs to be done, and that often means eliminating anyone who stands in their way—without hesitation or remorse.
• What works? They should be willing to destroy people, relationships, or even entire societies for their goal. Show no mercy.
• Example: A villain who doesn’t hesitate to wipe out entire villages to send a message, and enjoys the fear that it instills in others.
8. Let their obsession to consume them
• Villains are often driven by obsession. This obsessive need for power, revenge, or control blinds them to everything else—relationships, morality, or even their own humanity.
• What works? Let their obsession escalate over time, showing how it spirals out of control until it consumes them entirely.
• Example: A villain who is obsessed with immortality, willing to sacrifice everyone they care about, including themselves, to achieve it.
9. Allow for betrayal and treachery
• Villains thrive on betrayal. They have no loyalty but to themselves, and they often betray others before they are betrayed.
• What works? Let your villain double-cross anyone in their path—friends, allies, and even family. Their only loyalty is to their goal.
• Example: A villain who promises to spare their rival, only to turn on them when the rival is most vulnerable, solidifying their role as a traitor.
• As villains grow in power and dominance, the pressure to maintain their control will cause them to crack. Their downfall can come from their inability to manage the very chaos they’ve created.
• What works? Show their confidence slipping, as the consequences of their choices catch up to them. This can bring about their ultimate defeat or destruction.
• Example: A villain who, after accumulating power, loses control over their empire, eventually crumbling under the weight of their own tyranny.
11. Allow for redemption (or not)
• The possibility of redemption adds complexity. However, it’s important that it feels earned. Alternatively, allow your villain to continue spiraling if redemption is out of reach.
• What works? Either let them evolve toward redemption—or show that their flaws are too deeply ingrained for them to ever return from darkness.
• Example: A villain who, after everything, is offered a chance to change but chooses power over love, reinforcing their villainous arc.
