5 Deviously Clever Ways to Create Your Very Own Literary Villain!

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If you want to make your story as memorable as possible, there are two characters that you should really put some thought into. Firstly, it would understandably be the protagonist. This makes sense because the overall story revolves predominantly around the protagonist.

But aside from the protagonist, the other most important character in a story, will always be the villain. This is because the villain will pose as a foil to the protagonist. The villain will also pose as the main threat and source of conflict within the story.

So if you want your story to be immersive and entertaining, you will need to make your villain as unforgettable as possible.

Here are 5 deviously clever ways to create your own literary villain:

Give him or her as much backstory as the protagonist

One great way to make your villain as compelling and multifaceted as possible is to give them as much backstory as possible. This is because the more backstory your villain, the more depth there will be to his or her personality. It will also make your villains more interesting.

The villain should not be evil just for the sake of being evil. Give a backstory, why they are that way. Overall, the more detailed the backstory, the better your villain will turn out.

Give your villain a significant feature

Aside from giving your villain a unique backstory, it is also a good idea to give your villain a significant feature such as your villain’s height, eye color, a distinct scar, or way of walking. In this way, you will be able to make them stand out.

It could also be the way your villain dresses or speaks. This will add a sense of realism and identity to your villain -- making him or her more enjoyable to read about.

Give your villain some redeeming qualities

Your villain does not need to be all evil. He or she does not need to be a raving lunatic or criminal mastermind. You could give your villain redeeming qualities that make them likable.

This could be an ideology, sympathy towards the poor, or loyalty to his subordinates. By making your villain more likable, you will be able to make him or her more complicated. This could even make your readers, question who the real villain of the story is.

There could be a link between your protagonist and villain

Yet another way you can make your villain more interesting, is to create a link between your protagonist and villain. This will give your story a sense of history and intrigue. It will have your readers wonder what the link is.

This link could be an old friendship, a familial link, or a promise. You could even make the villain an old flame of the protagonist. This is one of the best things about creating a villain.

You have the freedom to be as creative as possible.

Stay away from clichés

Throughout literary history, there have been truly great villains that have left their mark on history. And you would most likely have read your share of great villains. But if you really want to make a truly noteworthy villain, it is always a good idea to stay away from tropes and clichés.

This is because readers tend to look down on writers who use tropes and clichés. They tend to view these writers as lazy and disregard their work entirely. So if you want to make a truly noteworthy villain, you should think outside the box.

Don’t rely on tropes and clichés. Brainstorm new and unique ideas for your villain.

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5 Deviously Clever Ways to Create Your Very Own Literary Villain!

Here are 5 deviously clever ways to create your own literary villain:

Become a Self-Published Author in 3 Simple Steps

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