This week on the Story Works Round Table, Alida, Kathryn, & Robert discuss developing your villains. Besides making a real person out of that black hat, the shape of the villain helps shape the protagonist and even your setting. So much more comes out of what you put into that character than you may think!
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What we talked about:
What issues have we come across when developing our antagonists? (0:45)
Take your focus off of the protagonist. (2:50)
There must be interplay between your protagonist and antagonist. (4:58)
How can you craft your protagonist without developing your antagonist? (9:19)
How should you approach developing your antagonist? (11:16)
The circular nature of developing your antagonist. (12:50)
Keep that relationship sticky. (18:00)
Use your protagonist against themselves. (21:40)
The villain has been there before the story started. (22:45)
Start the villain development early if possible. (25:02)
The villain had to become the villain somehow. (26:34)
LINKS
Get Alida’s Writing Tips here.
Things we mentioned:
The Wizard of Oz
Story by Robert McKee
Story Engineering by Larry Brooks
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
I am not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells
Bourne Identity
Want more about these topics? Check out:
SWRT 195: The Velcro between your pro & antagonist
Have thoughts, questions, other examples? Join the conversation at the Story Works Writers Facebook group.
Do you enjoy the show?
Do you learn something every week?
Do you feel like you have company on your writing journey?
About Your Hosts
Alida Winternheimer is an award-winning author with an MFA in writing from Hamline University. She pursues her fervor for all things story as a writing coach, developmental editor, and teacher. Two of her short stories were nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She is the author of The Story Works Guide to Writing Fiction Series. Alida lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with her Golden Retriever, Seva the Wonder Dog. She camps, bikes, and kayaks in her free time. Unless it’s winter, in which case she drinks chai by the fire. You can find more at www.alidawinternheimer.com.
Kathryn Arnold writes fantasy and anything else that sparks her creativity from her home in Kingston, Washington. She currently earns her living as an insurance underwriting assistant, where she also creates marketing and web copy. When not writing, she plays (and teaches) piano and keyboard in a band (or two), and is working on starting a ministry team with her husband. You can find Kathryn at www.skyfirewords.com.
Robert Scanlon was born in Australia, but whisked off to England when only a baby. After many years complaining about the weather, he did the sensible thing and moved back to Australia. Despite a career in the music industry, followed by decades teaching public speaking, Robert is an introvert who adores reading. Robert grew up on a diet of sci-fi masters, eventually discovering he had read the library’s entire science fiction section. Now he has to write his own. Robert is the author of Constellation, book one of the Blood Empire space opera series. Find out more at www.RobertScanlon.com
0 Comments