How to Write Antagonists

1. Backstory! Not all antagonists have to be born evil. Some can be made through a painful backstory. Antagonists can act out of emotional pain so great that their humanity is stripped from them.

2. Antagonist/Protagonist! Make sure your antagonist fits with your protagonist. Make their battles exciting! They should somehow balance each other out.

3. Want/Why! Be clear about what your antagonist wants and why they want it. If you cannot answer this, it's time to do some soul-searching for your bad guy.

4. Redeemable? Having a diabolical antagonist is important, but it is also important to establish whether or not the antagonist is redeemable or not. Establishing this is important for the direction of the book.

5. Hero of Their Own Story! Your antagonist should believe they are the hero of their own story. What they want and why they want it will play a factor into this. Get deep!

Hope this is helpful to those writers who are struggling with your antagonist! 🤎