Top 5 Ways To Develop An Antagonist In Your Novel

stories · 3 min
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Our antagonist is the worst of ourselves and our experiences. What we seek to change and what we know we can't. Here are the 5 steps to develop an antagonist in our novel.

Step 1: Appearance

Would unassuming be the best trait for a monster to have? To be able to commit acts of chaos in broad daylight without suspicion. For the sake of pragmatic thought let's label this as one. In committing any crime the greatest priority is to avoid detection, as evidenced by the number of arrests there are, this is no easy task.

Given your novel is your take on the world there are multiple ways to handle this, but the simplest would be to have a very antagonist that blends in well. Having no distinguishing features to set them apart in a crowd; With such a disconnect between the actions and appearance, one would incriminate themselves first.

Step 2: Motive

"For the greatest form of good" its been reworked many a time, but the motive stands. The antagonist should have the foresight to predict future events and use that to justify their extremism, assuming the worst course of action is the most likely one.

Everything the antagonist does should be in their eyes preventative measures to their foreseen cataclysmic event. The best antagonist is one that has a point that can't truly be disproved and shakes the protagonist's stance on what they hold true.

Step 3: Connection to the protagonist

The deep connection of the protagonist and antagonist can be relayed in a shared history or in shared ideals. There has to be a level of understanding that would show a connection of minds.

Assuming they aren't going to be in direct contact all the time, the protagonist has to be able to understand the motive of the antagonist simply from observing their actions. Why would they do what they did? Understanding how someone's mind works is the basis of nearly all books. Make it something unique and engaging.

Step 4: Personality

"Love to hate them" give your audience a character to despise, nothing less than the worst of the worst. Creativity is key, draw from the wellspring of negativity that drives your worst impulses.

Your character can act on all these uninhibited, it really falls on you how bad the character can be. What thoughts go ignored in your mind because you couldn't bring yourself to face them? Show the audience through your antagonist and the lengths they will go to accomplish their goals.

Step 5: Final Confrontation

Where the bubbling tension spills over after excessive heat. The final confrontation is dramatic and intense, something the audience has wanted from the beginning. Pack your story full of narrative explosives to make sure the detonation is flawless. The more that rides on the battle the better, innocent lives being paramount.

However, give an air of vengeance, make it clear how this is deserved, how much suffering had to be turned into a strength. This is the release for the reader, one way or another everything has to come to an end.

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Opinions and Perspectives

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Runway_Statement commented Runway_Statement 3 years ago

The hardest part for me is making the antagonist's actions logical while still being horrifying.

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SustainableSoul commented SustainableSoul 3 years ago

This approach to character development has completely changed how I write conflict.

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BingeWatchBenny_10 commented BingeWatchBenny_10 3 years ago

Creating an antagonist who makes valid points has made my protagonist more complex too.

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JordanWrites commented JordanWrites 3 years ago

The emphasis on justified vengeance in the final confrontation really resonates with me.

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MrAndMrsForever commented MrAndMrsForever 3 years ago

Never considered using preventative action as a motivation. That's genuinely helpful.

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MarvelFanatic commented MarvelFanatic 3 years ago

These guidelines really helped me avoid the cartoon villain trap in my writing.

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Riley_Campbell commented Riley_Campbell 3 years ago

The shared history concept helps explain why the conflict matters so much to both characters.

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VirtualRebel commented VirtualRebel 3 years ago

I've found giving my antagonist small moments of kindness makes them more terrifying.

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AlexisReed commented AlexisReed 3 years ago

Writing an antagonist who predicts future catastrophes feels very relevant right now.

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VibeWithNature commented VibeWithNature 3 years ago

The advice about blending in works well, but sometimes a memorable appearance can be effective too.

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FromStrangersToSoulmates commented FromStrangersToSoulmates 3 years ago

Making the antagonist's motivations clear through actions alone is harder than it sounds.

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AnimeBingerX commented AnimeBingerX 3 years ago

Their point about tension building throughout the story is spot on. Can't just rely on the final confrontation.

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ZariahH commented ZariahH 3 years ago

Using our own dark thoughts as inspiration is powerful but requires careful handling.

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JokerLaughs commented JokerLaughs 3 years ago

Wonder if the same steps would work for writing morally grey characters.

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Jocelyn_Blossom commented Jocelyn_Blossom 3 years ago

I like how this approach forces us to think about the antagonist as a complete person.

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MysteryMovieLover_101 commented MysteryMovieLover_101 3 years ago

These steps really helped me develop my antagonist's background story.

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RetroDimension commented RetroDimension 3 years ago

The final confrontation advice helps, but I think building up to it is equally important.

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PopHitsOnly commented PopHitsOnly 3 years ago

Anyone else struggle with making their antagonist too similar to ones they've read before?

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Kayla_Sullivan commented Kayla_Sullivan 3 years ago

The emphasis on understanding the antagonist's mind is crucial. Without that, their actions feel random.

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Goodman_Guide commented Goodman_Guide 3 years ago

My writing improved when I stopped thinking of my antagonist as a villain and more as an opposition force.

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Cynthia_Daisy commented Cynthia_Daisy 3 years ago

The concept of shared ideals really helps explain why the protagonist and antagonist clash so intensely.

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Daniella_71 commented Daniella_71 3 years ago

I've found that giving my antagonist clear boundaries they won't cross makes them more believable.

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FuturisticWanderer commented FuturisticWanderer 3 years ago

Creating an antagonist who challenges the protagonist's beliefs has made my story much stronger.

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BridgetM commented BridgetM 3 years ago

The unassuming appearance advice works well for modern settings, but what about fantasy or sci-fi?

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Autumn_Sun commented Autumn_Sun 4 years ago

Wish they'd discussed how to write antagonists who genuinely believe they're doing the right thing.

0
RebootVsOriginal_Debater commented RebootVsOriginal_Debater 4 years ago

Finding that balance between sympathetic and despicable is the real challenge.

7
PeaceAndPositivity commented PeaceAndPositivity 4 years ago

The article could have addressed how to handle the antagonist's support system and followers.

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MindfulMeditation commented MindfulMeditation 4 years ago

Working on making my villain's actions preventative rather than reactive totally changed my story.

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PopStar_Fanatic2022 commented PopStar_Fanatic2022 4 years ago

Step 4 feels a bit simplistic. Not all antagonists need to be despised to be effective.

3
IronManLives commented IronManLives 4 years ago

Love the suggestion about making the antagonist's logic hard to disprove. Real moral complexity there.

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TheRedCarpet commented TheRedCarpet 4 years ago

The shared history aspect really helps explain why the conflict matters so much to both characters.

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OReilly_Opinion commented OReilly_Opinion 4 years ago

My antagonist became much more interesting when I stopped trying to make them purely evil.

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Miriam_Cunningham commented Miriam_Cunningham 4 years ago

The idea of using foresight to justify extremism is particularly relevant in today's world.

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FutureProphet commented FutureProphet 4 years ago

I appreciate how this approach forces us to think deeply about motivation rather than just actions.

3
LorelaiS commented LorelaiS 4 years ago

The best villains make us uncomfortable because we see bits of ourselves in them.

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ReelTalkMike commented ReelTalkMike 4 years ago

Interesting how they emphasize the importance of the final confrontation being deserved.

5
Uplift-And_Inspire_2024 commented Uplift-And_Inspire_2024 4 years ago

These steps helped me realize my antagonist was too one-dimensional. Time for a rewrite.

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ClassicHollywood_Obsessed commented ClassicHollywood_Obsessed 4 years ago

Anyone else find it easier to write antagonists than protagonists? The freedom to explore darker themes is liberating.

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MikaylaLuxe commented MikaylaLuxe 4 years ago

The connection to the protagonist doesn't always need to be personal. Sometimes ideological conflicts work better.

5
Alex_Walker commented Alex_Walker 4 years ago

I struggle with making my antagonists too obviously evil. This helps with adding nuance.

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RobertAlexander commented RobertAlexander 4 years ago

The preventative measures angle is brilliant. Makes me think of Watchmen's Ozymandias.

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Earth-Friendly_Mindset commented Earth-Friendly_Mindset 4 years ago

Sometimes the best antagonists are the ones who make valid points that make readers question themselves.

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Raven_Moon commented Raven_Moon 4 years ago

I've found giving my antagonist small victories makes the final confrontation more impactful.

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Haute_Curation commented Haute_Curation 4 years ago

The article should have discussed how to handle multiple antagonists working together.

0
CyberInfinity commented CyberInfinity 4 years ago

My current antagonist started bland until I gave them a point of view that challenged my own beliefs.

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EmmaJohnson commented EmmaJohnson 4 years ago

What about antagonists who start good but gradually become villains? That transition can be fascinating.

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InnerGlowRadiance commented InnerGlowRadiance 4 years ago

The shared ideals concept reminded me of Batman and Joker. Two sides of the same coin.

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Sweetheart_Dreams_360 commented Sweetheart_Dreams_360 4 years ago

Writing from personal darkness is powerful, but we should be careful not to get lost in it.

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WyattFoster commented WyattFoster 4 years ago

I find it interesting they didn't address redemption arcs. Not every antagonist needs to stay evil until the end.

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Fashion_Relentless commented Fashion_Relentless 4 years ago

The unassuming appearance advice really hits home. Just look at real-world criminals who blend in perfectly.

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TVShow_Addict_4Life commented TVShow_Addict_4Life 4 years ago

Never thought about using my own negative impulses as inspiration. That's both terrifying and brilliant.

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DakotaPerry commented DakotaPerry 4 years ago

Making the audience understand the villain's point of view while still opposing them is such a delicate balance.

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EpixEnthusiast_90 commented EpixEnthusiast_90 4 years ago

I think they should have mentioned how important it is to give your antagonist moments of humanity.

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Luxury-Closet_12 commented Luxury-Closet_12 4 years ago

The part about shared history making sense of motives really helped me fix my current draft.

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Success_Flow_77 commented Success_Flow_77 4 years ago

What about antagonists who don't realize they're the bad guy? Those are some of my favorites to write.

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StreamingAddict commented StreamingAddict 4 years ago

I struggled with step 4 until I realized my antagonist didn't need to be purely evil to be effective.

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SophieMorgan commented SophieMorgan 4 years ago

The advice about understanding motives through actions alone is solid gold. Show don't tell at its finest.

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PhantomShadow commented PhantomShadow 4 years ago

This reminds me of why Magneto is such a compelling villain. He has valid points, just extreme methods.

1
RomanceMovieQueen_Amy commented RomanceMovieQueen_Amy 4 years ago

I think they missed addressing how to handle the antagonist's personal relationships. That can add such rich complexity to their character.

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CartoonAddict_Alex commented CartoonAddict_Alex 4 years ago

The concept of narrative explosives is great. Building tension throughout the story makes the final confrontation so much more satisfying.

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Fashion_Moment commented Fashion_Moment 4 years ago

Not sure I agree with making everything preventative. Sometimes pure malice or greed can be just as compelling.

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BryanH commented BryanH 4 years ago

Completely agree about drawing from personal experiences. My best villain came from exploring my own fears and prejudices.

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HBOAddict commented HBOAddict 4 years ago

The article could have gone deeper into how to make the antagonist's actions consistently align with their motives.

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Talia-Oliver commented Talia-Oliver 4 years ago

I've found that giving my antagonist a sense of humor makes them much more memorable than just pure evil.

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FlirtyAndThriving commented FlirtyAndThriving 4 years ago

Anyone try writing an antagonist who's actually right about everything except their methods? That's real moral complexity.

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AnimationAddict_300 commented AnimationAddict_300 4 years ago

The shared ideals concept is intriguing. It's like holding up a dark mirror to your protagonist.

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Flick_Fanatic2000 commented Flick_Fanatic2000 4 years ago

When I write, I find it challenging to make my antagonists truly believable. These steps actually help break it down nicely.

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WilliamAnderson commented WilliamAnderson 4 years ago

I love how the article emphasizes the importance of justification from the antagonist's perspective. Makes them so much more complex.

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Cora_Light commented Cora_Light 4 years ago

The final confrontation advice feels a bit generic to me. Not every story needs a big explosive ending.

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AwardShowLover commented AwardShowLover 4 years ago

You've got a point about physical appearance, but I think what matters more is their psychological impact on the protagonist.

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Fierce_And_Fashionable commented Fierce_And_Fashionable 4 years ago

That part about understanding how someone's mind works really resonates with me. It's crucial for creating believable character dynamics.

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Fashion_Guru_33 commented Fashion_Guru_33 4 years ago

While I understand the unassuming appearance angle, sometimes a physically intimidating villain can be incredibly effective if done right.

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Luxury_Aesthetic commented Luxury_Aesthetic 4 years ago

I actually tried this approach with my current novel. Making the antagonist blend in completely changed how I wrote the story.

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SilverScreenVibes commented SilverScreenVibes 4 years ago

The point about preventative measures is brilliant. It reminds me of Thanos. His methods were horrific but his concerns about overpopulation weren't entirely unfounded.

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DigitalPulseX commented DigitalPulseX 4 years ago

Interesting how they suggest drawing from our own negative impulses. I've never thought about channeling my dark thoughts into character development.

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ElliePrice commented ElliePrice 4 years ago

Anyone else think the shared history aspect between protagonist and antagonist is overused? Sometimes random evil can be more terrifying.

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Celestia_Wonder commented Celestia_Wonder 4 years ago

Really disagree with making antagonists 'the worst of the worst.' I think subtle villains are more effective than over-the-top evil ones.

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AidenFlores commented AidenFlores 4 years ago

The article makes a great point about motives. I've always believed that the best villains are the ones who think they're the heroes of their own story.

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MysterySeries_Whodunnit commented MysterySeries_Whodunnit 4 years ago

I find the emphasis on an unassuming appearance fascinating. Some of the most chilling antagonists are those who could be your next-door neighbor.

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