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Writing Notes: Villain Archetypes

Many of the great villains that oppose classic heroes fall into a handful of villain archetypes:

Anti-villain: The anti-villain is a villain archetype in which the bad guy has a sympathetic motivation or appealing characteristics. In the same way that an anti-hero is ostensibly a good guy with villainous or immoral tendencies, an anti-villain may have justifiable, noble goals or even a good side. Example: Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs (portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the film version).

The beast: A classic villain whose goal is to terrorize and attempt to defeat the main character, the beast is a literal monster. This type of villain cannot be reasoned with and is often found in the horror or science fiction genres. The whale from Moby Dick and the shark from Jaws are examples of this type of villain.

The bully: Bullies serve as simple, straightforward opposition to the protagonist. This character archetype is sometimes marked by a backstory that explains their mean and oppressive tendencies, such as a childhood marked by abuse or insecurity. Other times, they are simply mean for the sake of being mean. Examples include Nurse Ratched from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and Fletcher from the film Whiplash.

The machine: The machine is similar to the beast, with one major difference: It is a technological construct and is therefore lifeless and incapable of pain, fear, and emotion. The machine can often be found in science fiction thrillers—like Ultron in Avengers: Age of Ultron or Arnold Schwarzenegger’s robotic killing machine in The Terminator.

The mastermind: The mastermind opposes the protagonist by overseeing a brilliant, diabolical master plan. They are a gifted schemer and evil genius who attempts to defeat the protagonist mentally as opposed to physically. Great villains in the mastermind tradition include Hans Gruber from Die Hard and Lex Luthor from the Superman series.

Evil incarnate: This villain personifies evil itself, offering little in the way of character development or backstory. This type of evildoer serves as an obstacle to the hero’s journey and is primarily found in fantasy and superhero genres. Examples include Sauron from The Lord of the Rings, Darth Vader from Star Wars, and the Joker from The Dark Knight.

The henchman: The henchman exists to do the dirty work of someone else, usually the mastermind or another major evil character in the story. They are functionally the sidekick of the main villain. Though they usually lack the villain’s brains, they make up for it in brawn. Examples include Boba Fett from Star Wars and the monkeys from The Wizard of Oz.

The fanatic: The fanatic’s villainy is driven by an extreme ideology. Oftentimes, they are propelled by religion or a twisted moral belief that gives them fuel to carry out their twisted mission. The serial killer John Doe from the movie Seven is a true villain in the fanatic tradition.

Tips for Writing Compelling Villains

When it comes to writing villains who transcend cliches, there are 4 techniques that can elevate your writing:

Make sure your villain has a strong connection to your hero. A true villain is inextricably connected to the hero and aids in the hero’s character development.

Make them a worthy opponent. A great villain is a strong and worthy adversary to your hero, directly opposing the hero archetype of your protagonist. The villain shouldn’t be weak and easily beaten, nor should they be so powerful that they can only be defeated by random chance. In the Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes’s arch-nemesis Moriarty is a brilliant criminal mastermind. Having a villain who is equal in skill and intelligence to your hero will raise the stakes of their encounters, creating a credible threat to your hero.

Put yourself in your villain’s shoes. When it’s time for your villain to act, put yourself in their place. Think about challenges or hardships that might tempt people to act out or behave badly. How do you react to bad things? Tap into those emotions and try to apply them to your villain.

Consider your villain’s motivation. Why does your villain want to rule with an iron fist? Why do they want to put the damsel in distress? As with your main character, determining your antagonist’s motivation can help you unlock other aspects of their character, such as their goals and their personality.

Source ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs ⚜ Villains

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time after time

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When your Character Needs to Show Affection in their Relationship

Showing affection - an important aspect of every healthy relationship and can go a long way in making your partner feel loved, connected, and cared for.

On the flip side, a lack of affection can lead to feelings of loneliness or indifference.

People have different ways of showing love and often respond to different things, but learning to show affection and anticipate your partner's needs is vital to any romantic relationship.

Whether it’s physical touch, giving them your undivided attention, or saying words of affirmation, you can demonstrate affection as a natural part of your daily life together.

Affection can positively impact mental health and help you both feel more secure and satisfied.

How to Show Affection in a Relationship

Showing affection is an integral part of every healthy relationship. Here are some simple ways to show love to a partner.

Undivided attention: When life gets busy, it helps to set specific times to check in with your significant other. Find times to put your phone away and give your partner your full attention. Maintain eye contact, and take time to listen and talk about things that are important to them. This can help make your partner feel heard and know that they are a priority in your life.

Meaningful gestures: Small gestures can go a long way toward making someone feel special and loved. Plan a date night, or write them a love letter (or a song, or a poem) to share your feelings.

Physical touch: Physical affection—such as cuddling, holding hands, massages, kissing, and hugging—are all great ways to show your partner that you love them and can help your form a closer bond.

Acts of kindness: Often, it’s the little things that count. Find opportunities to show your partner kindness. This can look like picking up their favorite snack or buying them a coffee. Consider bringing them breakfast in bed or performing their least favorite household chore.

Saying what you feel: Saying “I love you” is one of the most significant relationship milestones. Telling your partner how you feel about them is a great way to regularly remind them of your affection.

Source ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

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hi can you do word for looking(EX: gazed, peered, glanced, etc)

Word List: Looking

Look - direct one's gaze toward someone or something or in a specified direction

Behold - to gaze upon

Cast about - to look around

Consider - to gaze on steadily or reflectively

Contemplate - to view or consider with continued attention

Coup d'oeil - a brief survey

Dart a glance/look at - to look suddenly and briefly at (something or someone)

Delve - to examine a subject in detail

Descry - to catch sight of

Discern - to detect with the eyes

Espy - to catch sight of

Examine - to inspect closely

Eye - look at; to watch or study closely

Gander - look, glance (e.g., take a gander)

Gape - to gaze stupidly or in open-mouthed surprise or wonder

Gawk - to gape or stare stupidly

Gaze - to fix the eyes in a steady intent look often with eagerness or studious attention

Glance - to take a quick look at something

Glare - to stare angrily or fiercely

Glimpse - to look briefly

Goggle - to stare with wide or protuberant eyes

Inspect - to view closely in critical appraisal; look over

Investigate - to observe or study by close examination and systematic inquiry

Leer - to cast a sidelong glance

Observe - to watch carefully especially with attention to details or behavior for the purpose of arriving at a judgment

Ogle - to look at especially with greedy or interested attention

Peek - to look furtively

Peep - to look cautiously or slyly

Peer - to look narrowly or curiously

Perceive - to become aware of through the senses, especially: see, observe

Peruse - to examine or consider with attention and in detail

Ponder - to consider especially quietly, soberly, and deeply

Pry - to look closely or inquisitively

Recce - reconnaissance (i.e., a preliminary survey to gain information)

Regard - to look attentively

Rubberneck - to look about or stare with exaggerated curiosity

Scan - to glance from point to point of often hastily, casually, or in search of a particular item

Scope - to look at especially for the purpose of evaluation —usually used with out

Scrutinize - to examine closely and minutely

See - to look about

Side-glance - a glance directed to the side

Sight - to look carefully in a particular direction

Spy - to observe or search for something; look

Squinny - squint

Squint - to look or peer with eyes partly closed

Stare - to look fixedly often with wide-open eyes

Study - to consider attentively or in detail

Survey - to view or consider comprehensively

View - to look at attentively

Watch - to look at

Witness - to have personal or direct cognizance of; see for oneself

Source ⚜ More: Word Lists ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Hi! Hope this helps with your writing. Also this list by @thewriteadviceforwriters is a great reference.

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Writing Tips: An Unforgettable Villain

A villain is the antagonist of your story whose motivations and actions oppose the protagonist and drive the plot of your story.

A villain is the opposite of a hero. In contrast to the hero, a villain is usually compelled by a desire to commit acts of cruelty and immorality.

Bestselling author Dan Brown advocates for writing your villain first—even before your hero—because it is the villain who will make the hero heroic.

Tips for Writing a Great Villain in Your Novel

Choose a real-life model. Find a real person to model your villain after. It could be someone you know, a person from history, or a famous serial killer. Try writing a brief character sketch in which you list their positive and negative attributes, their physical appearance, and their state of mind. Once you’ve done some brainstorming, be sure to differentiate your fictional character from your real-life model (you don’t want to get sued!). You can do this by changing identifiable elements like name, age, and specific actions or events.

Put yourself in their shoes. When it’s time for your villain to act, put yourself in their place. Think about challenges or hardships that might tempt people to act out or behave badly. How do you react to bad things? Tap into those emotions and try to apply them to your villain.

Consider their motivation. Just like with your main character, determining your antagonist’s motivation can help you unlock other aspects of their character, such as their goals and their personality.

Introduce a villain with a bang. A strong introduction to your villain sends your reader a clear message that this character is malicious. In Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield features an unforgettable introduction to antagonist Uriah Heep, whose seeming politeness is overshadowed by a face so shocking and ugly that it is described as “cadaverous.” His introduction immediately establishes the character as a villain.

Characteristics of a Good Villain

Every great hero needs a great villain. Villains are the antagonistic force of your story that challenges your hero and drives the action. Most great villains share a common set of characteristics.

Strong connection to the hero. The best villains are inextricably connected to the hero, and aid in the hero’s character development through their inherent opposition to them.

Clear morality. Every villain needs to have his own morality. If a villain spends part your story killing people, you need to give him or her believable reasons for doing so. Make the reader understand exactly what desperation or belief has driven him to it. For instance, in Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451, primary antagonist Captain Beatty’s mission is to find and destroy books because he believes that books cause people to reject the stability and tranquility of a life of conformity. He has a strong moral point of view, and the reader believes that he believes he is doing the right thing by trying to burn books. After all, every villain believes they are the hero of their own story.

A worthy opponent. A great villain should be a strong and worthy adversary to your hero. They shouldn’t be weak and easily beaten, nor should they be so powerful that they can only be defeated by random chance. In Sherlock Holmes, his arch-nemesis Moriarty is a criminal mastermind who is every bit as smart as Sherlock. Having a villain who is in many ways equal in skill and intelligence to your hero will raise the stakes of their encounters, as it creates a credible threat that your hero might be bested.

Compelling backstory. Any good villain should have an interesting and credible backstory. In addition to creating a deep and more three-dimensional villain, a memorable backstory allows ourselves to identify and even sympathize with the villain. For example, the Gollum character in The Lord of The Rings trilogy used to be a normal hobbit until he was corrupted by the power of the One Ring. In addition to deepening the character by showing us the full breadth of his journey from virtuousness to wickedness, Gollum’s backstory forces us to consider how we are sometimes tempted by bad or unethical forces in our own lives.

Villains should be fun. Let’s face it: evil villains are fun. In Thomas Harris’ Silence of the Lambs, readers hold their breath whenever Hannibal Lecter appears on the page. Whether it’s their black-hearted sense of humor or their odious worldview, our favorite villains possess qualities that we love to hate.

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs ⚜ Villains

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every writer has a final boss: their first draft.

it’s messy, it’s terrifying, and it probably has too many plot holes. but you’ve got this.

[sammatthewswriter]

"Codename: Sanctuary & Terror" Teaser Trailer

If you were to be a person with superpowers, what would you do with that gift?

(P.S. Title is merely a working title, expect a surprise coming tomorrow.)

Premise: "In the far future of a world of heroes and villains, Liam Murphy and his identical cousin Leo have long held hatred of bullies. They stick together like brothers, but soon that brotherhood shatters as their ideals, principles are at odds with each other; as one becomes a hero, the other a villain."

Genre: Superhero, sci-fi, fantasy, Christian fiction (and horror elements)

Are you excited and intrigued for this work-in-progress story?

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Picture by Maria Pop on Pexels

Music:

"Black Vortex" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Voice acted by:

@sammatthewswriter

Edited by:

@sammatthewswriter

Edited with:

PicsArt and KineMaster