Comments on: How To Write Compelling Antagonists

By: RKilgore

RKilgore — Thu, 05 Jan 2017 20:26:11 +0000

Serial killers, genocidal world leaders, and sadists fit the bill to a T. Not only do readers hate psycho bad guys—they’re scared to death of them.

Not true.
My friends LOVE psychos in books. They are really interesting. And pretty neat. My main character in one of my stories is insane like that, and hundreds LOVE him.

Case in point, this is not entirely accurate.

By: This Week in Favs…. | Melinda S. Collins

This Week in Favs…. | Melinda S. Collins — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 15:57:57 +0000

[…] Who to Write Compelling Antagonists by K.M. Weiland […]

By: The Screenwriter's Guide To Movie Villains | The Screenwriting Spark

The Screenwriter's Guide To Movie Villains | The Screenwriting Spark — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 13:14:29 +0000

[…] How To Write Compelling Antagonists | The Story Department […]

By: Raidah Shah Idil

Raidah Shah Idil — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:13:00 +0000

What a great post! Thanks for sharing these useful insights. I’ll definitely mull over this for my second book.

By: Raidah The Writer

Raidah The Writer — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 01:01:32 +0000

[…] them as the antagonists. They were clearly trying to endanger the protagonist. However, I read a blog post by K.M. Welland that suggests something different – antagonists don’t have to be […]

By: K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:04:00 +0000

In reply to Steven Fernandez. Absolutely. A namby-pamby villain whom the protagonist can run over any time he wishes will never present the conflict to create the necessary character arc in the main character.

By: Steven Fernandez

Steven Fernandez — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:32:00 +0000

Certainly a comprehensive list of permutations. I believe the best villains (antagonists) are those that are true believers of their cause and that have a shred of goodness – even honour – in them. I find audiences are truly fascinated by a villain that believes in himself and that has redeeming qualities at the same time. Another vital thing is that the antagonist must be a real prover of your protagonist’s true worth. Just like the finest steel is forged in the hottest fire, the best protagonists are proven by a villain that pushes them to the utmost.

By: K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:41:00 +0000

In reply to MP McDonald. Bad guys can be even trickier than protagonists, if only because most of us don't relate to their motivations. If we can give them a motivation that makes sense, we're on our way to creating someone memorable and compelling.

By: MP McDonald

MP McDonald — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:42:00 +0000

Great post! In my first book, I have a moral antagonist, but I never really thought of a label for him. I’m getting ready to start a new book and this post is helpful in that I haven’t yet decided who the bad guy is.

By: K.M. Weiland

K.M. Weiland — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 22:24:00 +0000

Thanks so much for hosting me today!