Hate is a strong word.
And they evoke just that in readers.
While hate is a negative emotion, it is intense.
You get your readers all riled up, and that’s good. You’ve made an impression.
That’s how important villains are.
And to underline that point even more, your protagonist cannot be a hero without an antagonist.
So how do you create unforgettable villains?
Make Sure They Are Worthy Opponents
You don’t just pair your rich genius protagonist with a deadbeat antagonist.
Where’s the fight in that?
You have to create tension in your readers by showing them your villain actually has a chance of winning.
- Remember They’re Not Purely Evil
The personification of evil, with nothing good at all to him is just not relatable.
It even comes across as boring. Why? The term villain often conjures all kinds of words synonymous to evil. The readers already expect that. Give them something more. Add another side to your villain, something less sinister and more human. Allow him his little moments of kindness.
- Give Them A Back Story
It wouldn’t seem likely to have them born in this world evil. They’re just evil because they’re evil. End of story. No, it doesn’t work that way. That bitter old man did not turn bitter for nothing. Tell his story: how he fought so hard to beat cancer and marry the girl of his dreams, only to lose her to a car accident.
- Let Him Lead His Own Life
Instead of creating a villain for the sole purpose of making the protagonist’s life a living hell, give him a life too. Let him live his life. He and your protagonist may clash because they are so different, they see things differently, or a certain event may have created conflict and sparked intense dislike between them. Your villain is a person too. He’s not just part of the backdrop. Giving him his own life to live makes things more natural and realistic.
Now that the secret’s out, start creating your perfect villain: that formidable character they will not only love to hate, but also hate to love.