The Ultimate Guide On How To Write A Villain

“The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” – Verbal Kint, The Usual Suspects

Verbal Kint (aka Keyser Söze) knew a thing or two about villainy, and so should you if you want to create a memorable antagonist. A compelling villain can elevate your story from good to unforgettable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and rooting for your hero.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to write a good villain in the same league as Captain Hook, Professor Moriarty and even Count Dracula. This skill is essential for your creative writing, especially when writing a novel!

We’ll explore how to write a villain, why they’re crucial to your story and how to make them as captivating as they are terrifying. Let’s dive into the dark side!

What Makes An Unforgettable Villain?

A truly unforgettable villain is more than just a moustache-twirling character sitting in an oversized chair. They’re complex characters with depth, motivation and their own values, albeit twisted.

These features create the perfect villain:

1. They have compelling motivations
2. They pose a real threat to the protagonist
3. They’re intelligent and resourceful
4. They have depth and complexity
5. They often mirror or contrast the hero in some way

Let’s look at three examples of iconic villains that tick these boxes:

1. Saruman (The Lord of the Rings): Once a wise and powerful wizard, Saruman’s desire for power corrupts him. His fall from grace and alliance with Sauron make him a complex and dangerous enemy. He reveals his true ambitions to his old friend, Gandalf:

“The Elder Days are gone. The Middle Days are passing. The Younger Days are beginning. The time of the Elves is over, but our time is at hand: the world of Men, which we must rule.”

2. Lady Macbeth (Macbeth): Shakespeare’s ambitious and manipulative character encourages her husband to commit murder. Her complex motivations and eventual descent into madness make her a fascinating study of villainy. Here she is encouraging to cover his murder of the King by acting gentle and innocent:

“Look like th’ innocent flower, /But be the serpent under’t”

3. Count Dracula: Bram Stoker’s famous vampire is charming, intelligent, and utterly ruthless. His blend of sophistication and primal evil has made him one of literature’s most enduring villains. Below is a description of how hsi humane appearance has been replaced with bestial features: 

“There was something so panther-like in the movement—something so unhuman, that it seemed to sober us all from the shock of his coming… As the Count saw us, a horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the eye-teeth long and pointed; but the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of lion-like disdain.”

Now, let’s dive into how you can create your own unforgettable villain!

1. Give Your Villain a Compelling Motivation

Newsflash: “Because they’re evil” isn’t a great motivation for your villain. The best antagonists have reasons for their actions that on some level the reader can understand.

Think of Heathcliff from Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights”. He is driven by his desire for revenge against those who wronged him in his youth such as Hindley Earnshaw. But although his actions are cruel, we understand their origins.

Here’s a list of villain motivations to get your ideas flowing: 

1. Revenge: Whether for love, money or a crime that was never settled.
2. Misguided idealism: They believe they’re making the world better, but their methods are questionable.
3. Love gone wrong: Trying to win someone’s affection or protect a loved one at all costs.
4. Power hunger: They crave control and will do anything to get it.
5. Survival: In their mind, it’s kill or be killed.
6. Jealousy: They want what the hero has and will stop at nothing to get it.
7. Fear: They’re terrified of something and lash out as a result.
8. Greed: Money, fame, or other material desires drive their actions.
9. Loyalty: They’re devoted to a cause or person, even if it means doing terrible things.
10. Trauma: Past experiences have warped their worldview and actions.

Remember, the best villains often have a combination of these motivations. Mix and match for a truly complex baddie!

Tip: Try writing a short monologue from the antagonist’s perspective, justifying their actions. If you find yourself thinking that their motivations are even a little reasonable, you’re on the right track!

2. Make Them A Worthy Opponent

Let’s be honest—if defeating Voldemort was as simple as a flick of the wand and a quick “Avada Kedavra,” Harry’s story wouldn’t have captured our imagination for so long.

Your villain should be a real threat to your protagonist. They should be smart, resourceful, and powerful enough to challenge your hero to their limits. 

Think of Professor Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes stories. He’s described as the “Napoleon of Crime” and is one of the few people who can match Holmes’ intellect.

Or how Voldemort kills Harry’s family and later becomes the most powerful dark wizard in the world. His power is so feared that characters do not say his actual name but instead, ‘He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named”. 

2. Give Them Depth and Complexity

Nobody’s completely good or bad in real life, and your villain shouldn’t be either. Give them some redeeming qualities or vulnerabilities to make them more three-dimensional and believable. In fact, a villain that can provoke both empathy and revulsion from the reader will make your story far more engaging. 

Consider their motivations, fears, and internal conflicts to create a nuanced antagonist. What drives them to commit their heinous acts? What is their deepest desire? Do they believe they’re the hero of their own story?

Example: Severus Snape from Harry Potter. Snape’s character is complex because he’s not just a villain—his actions are driven by love for Harry’s mother, regret, and a sense of duty. His dual nature keeps readers guessing and makes him a compelling figure in the story.

3. Make Them A Wordsmith

A truly menacing villain wields words like weapons. Their speech should have a palpable impact on others. They may even have a certain charm or wit that makes them captivating, even when their actions are reprehensible.

Often, their power lies in their ‘silver tongue’. They are particularly articulate, witty and persuasive which they use to manipulate, charm, or intimidate others. Their speech should have a palpable impact on others:

• Manipulative language sways opinions
• Subtle threats create instant fear
• Promises of power corrupt the weak-willed
• Charismatic speeches inspire devoted loyalty

Example: Lord Henry Wotton from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Lord Henry is not the primary villain in the traditional sense, but his charismatic influence over Dorian Gray is central to the story’s dark turn. With his sharp wit, sophisticated charm, and persuasive rhetoric, Lord Henry leads Dorian down a path of hedonism and moral decay. His charisma is both alluring and dangerous, making him a subtle yet powerful antagonist in the novel.

4. Create a Backstory For Your Villain

A villain’s backstory makes the character far more interesting and even sympathetic—or at least understandable—to the reader. A villain who is evil for evil’s sake can feel flat and unconvincing. Instead, delve into their past to uncover the events or influences that shaped them into who they are.

Example: Tom Riddle, who becomes Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter. His backstory as an orphan abandoned by his muggle father,  his desire for power and his long lineage of dark wizards create a fascinating backstory. Understanding his past helps readers see where his hatred for the non-magical world comes from and his obsession with immortality.

5. Give Them A Unique Trait Or Quirk

Villains with distinctive traits or quirks are more memorable and often more intriguing. These characteristics can humanise your antagonist, make them stand out, and add depth to their personality. This could be a physical feature, a specific mannerism, or an unusual habit that makes your villain stick in readers’ minds, adding layers to their character and elevating them beyond a one-dimensional “evil” entity.

How to Create a Quirk for Your Villain:

1. Consider their background: What in their past might have led to this trait?
2. Think about contrast: Choose a quirk that seems at odds with their villainous nature for added intrigue.
3. Make it relevant: The quirk should tie into the story or the antagonist’s motivations.
4. Don’t overdo it: The quirk should complement the character, not define them.
5. Show, don’t tell: Reveal the quirk through the villain’s actions and dialogue, rather than just stating it.

Just like Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier has an unsettling devotion to her deceased former mistress or like Captain Hook has an extreme fear of crocodiles, every memorable villain needs some peculiar mannerisms. 

6. Show Their Impact On The World and Characters

A truly effective villain isn’t just an obstacle for the hero to overcome—they’re a force that shapes the story’s world and influences other characters. Demonstrating their impact adds depth to your narrative and raises the stakes for your protagonist.

Here’s how to showcase the influence of your villain:

1. World-building effects:
   • Show how the actions of you villain have changed the story’s setting.
   • Describe the fear or admiration they inspire in the general population.
   • Illustrate changes in laws, culture, or daily life due to the villain’s influence.
2. Character reactions:
   • Depict how other characters behave differently when the villain is present or mentioned.
   • Show the lasting effects of the antagonist’s actions on supporting characters’ lives.
   • Use flashbacks or backstories to reveal how the villain has affected characters in the past.
3. Indirect presence:
   • Even when the villain isn’t physically present, their influence should be felt.
   • Use rumours, news reports, or subtle signs of their activities to maintain tension.

Example: Sauron from The Lord of the Rings. Although Sauron is rarely seen directly, his dark influence permeates every corner of Middle-earth. His mere existence drives the plot, and his presence looms over every character, underscoring the epic struggle between good and evil.

Common Villain Writing Mistakes To Avoid

1. Making them purely evil.
   1. Don’t: “I want to destroy the world because I’m evil! Mwahahaha!” 
   2. Do: “I’m going to reshape this broken world, no matter the cost.”
2. Underestimating their intelligence
   1. Don’t: The villain falls for obvious traps or makes stupid mistakes.
   2. Do: The villain anticipates the hero’s moves, forcing them to get creative.
3. Neglecting their relationship with the hero Don’t:
   1. The villain and hero have no connection beyond “good guy vs bad guy.”
   2. Do: Create a complex, personal relationship between hero and villain. Think Batman and the Joker – two sides of the same coin.
4. Forgetting to give them victories
   1. Don’t: The villain always fails and never poses a real threat.
   2. Do: Let your villain win sometimes. It raises the stakes and makes the hero’s eventual triumph more satisfying.

Bringing Your Villain to Life

Remember, a great villain is the hero of their own story. They should be as fully realised as your protagonist, with their own goals, fears, and complexities and worthy of the hero’s efforts to thwart them. 

By creating a villain with depth, motivation, and a dash of charisma, you’ll craft an antagonist that readers won’t soon forget. Who knows? Your villain might even steal the show!

Now go forth and create some deliciously diabolical characters. Happy writing!