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entertainment6h ago
Authors: 5 Ways to Build Villains That Are Real Monsters
- The most effective villains think they’re the hero of their story, not just evil.
- Give villains a clear motive so readers can piece together their 'why' from clues.
- Flaws humanize villains, making them more frightening than abstract evil.
- Let the villain speak and appear on the page to keep readers engaged.
- Personal stakes with the protagonist deepen the story’s impact.
- Villains should have a code; define boundaries they won’t cross.
- A villain with a clear justification can unsettle readers by sharing their point of view.
- Villains should breathe on the page, even through subtle, non-violent moments.
- A formidable villain connects personally with the hero through shared history.
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