How to Write a Good Villain
As a writer, I’ve learned that crafting a memorable villain is often more challenging than developing a hero. While protagonists carry our story forward, it’s the antagonist who creates the tension, conflict, and emotional stakes that keep readers turning pages. After years of studying literature and working with countless manuscripts, I’ve discovered that writing a good villain requires far more nuance than simply creating someone who opposes your hero.
The best villains aren’t just obstacles to overcome—they’re complex characters who challenge our protagonists in meaningful ways, force growth, and sometimes even make us question our own moral compass. Let me walk you through the essential elements that separate forgettable bad guys from truly compelling antagonists!
What Makes a Villain Compelling Instead of Just Evil?
The difference between a compelling villain and a generic bad guy lies in depth and motivation. When I’m writing a villain, I never start with “What evil thing will they do?” Instead, I ask, “What do they want, and why do they believe they’re right?”
Writer’s Tip: The best villains aren’t trying to be evil—they’re trying to achieve something they believe is important or necessary.
Take Hannibal Lecter from Thomas Harris’s novels. He’s undeniably evil, yet readers find him fascinating because he operates by a twisted but consistent moral code. He has refined tastes, intellectual depth, and even moments of genuine courtesy. This complexity makes him terrifying in a way that a simple psychopath never could be.
The key insight? The most memorable villains believe they’re the hero of their own story. They have goals that make sense from their perspective, even if their methods are questionable or outright wrong. This internal logic creates a foundation for authentic character development and helps readers understand—though not necessarily sympathize with—their actions.
Should Your Villain Have Relatable Motivations?
Absolutely! Writing a good villain with relatable motivations doesn’t mean making them likable—it means making them human. When readers can understand why a character makes certain choices, even terrible ones, the villain becomes more threatening because they feel real.
Consider Erik Killmonger from Marvel’s Black Panther. His desire to lift up oppressed people worldwide is admirable, but his willingness to start a global war to achieve it crosses moral lines. We understand his pain and frustration, which makes his extremism more impactful than if he were simply power-hungry.
“The most powerful villains are those who make us question what we would do in their shoes.”
I’ve found that the most effective villain motivations stem from universal human experiences:
Love that becomes obsessive control.
Loss that turns into bitter vengeance.
Fear that justifies terrible preemptive actions.
Ambition that sacrifices others for personal gain.
Justice that transforms into ruthless extremism.
The key is taking these relatable emotions and pushing them to destructive extremes.
How to Create a Villain’s Backstory
Every compelling villain needs a backstory that explains—without excusing—their current actions. When I’m developing an antagonist’s history, I focus on pivotal moments that shaped their worldview and moral boundaries.
The backstory should reveal three crucial elements:
What they lost: The traumatic event or gradual erosion that started their transformation.
What they learned: The (often twisted) lesson they took from their experiences.
What they decided: The choice that set them on their dark path.
Maybe they lost their family to war and learned that the world is cruel and unfair, so they decided that only strength matters. Perhaps they were betrayed by someone they trusted and learned that loyalty is weakness, deciding that manipulation is the only reliable tool.
Pro Tip: Write a full character biography for your villain, even if most of it never appears in your story. This depth will show in subtle ways—their dialogue patterns, reactions to triggers, and blind spots.
Understanding their childhood, formative experiences, and the gradual erosion of their moral compass will inform every scene they’re in.
What Role Should Your Villain Play in Your Protagonist’s Journey?
The best villains serve as dark mirrors to your protagonist, reflecting what they could become under different circumstances or choices. When writing a good villain, I always consider how they challenge my hero’s beliefs, skills, and character growth.
Your antagonist should:
➔ Attack your protagonist’s greatest weakness.
➔ Force them to develop their greatest strength.
➔ Represent the opposite of your hero’s core values.
If your hero struggles with self-doubt, create a villain who represents unwavering, dangerous certainty. If your protagonist is learning to trust others, design an antagonist who exploits trust and loyalty.
“The villain’s job is to be the external manifestation of your protagonist’s internal conflict.”
Think about how Voldemort functions in the Harry Potter series. He represents everything Harry could become if he chose power over love, isolation over friendship, and fear over courage. Their connection isn’t just magical—it’s thematic. Every encounter forces Harry to choose between the easy path and the right one.
How Much Screen Time Should Your Villain Get?
This depends on your story type, but I’ve learned that less can often be more. Writing a villain effectively isn’t about maximizing their page time—it’s about maximizing their impact.
Every scene with your antagonist should:
➔ Advance the plot meaningfully.
➔ Reveal new character dimensions.
➔ Escalate tension or stakes.
➔ Leave lasting consequences.
Some of literature’s most memorable villains appear sparingly but cast long shadows. Sauron dominates The Lord of the Rings despite minimal direct presence. His influence permeates every page, creating constant threat without requiring constant appearance.
Remember: Make your villain’s presence felt even when they’re absent—through consequences of their actions, the fear they inspire, or the systems they’ve put in place.
For more hands-on villains, ensure each scene reveals something new about their character, methods, or goals. Avoid repetitive confrontations that don’t advance the story or relationship dynamics.
Common Villain Writing Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistake I see? Creating villains who are evil for evil’s sake. These cartoon antagonists feel flat because they lack authentic motivation.
Real people, even terrible ones, don’t wake up thinking, “How can I be evil today?” They pursue goals that matter to them, using methods they’ve justified.
Villain pitfalls to avoid:
☒ Pure evil with no motivation: Boring and unrealistic.
☒ Too competent: Heroes can never believably defeat them.
☒ Too incompetent: They eliminate all tension and threat.
☒ Only reactive: They should drive plot developments, not just respond.
☒ Inconsistent characterization: Their actions should align with their established personality.
Golden Rule: Find the sweet spot where your villain is formidable within their expertise but has believable limitations and blind spots.
Another critical error is forgetting to give your villain agency. The most engaging stories feature villains with their own agendas that intersect with, but don’t revolve around, the protagonist’s journey.
Can Villains Be Redeemed (and Should They Be)?
Redemption is possible, but it must be earned through genuine change and meaningful consequences. When writing a good villain with a redemption arc, I focus on the internal work required for true transformation, not just a change of sides.
Elements of successful villain redemption:
➔ Recognition of wrongdoing (genuine remorse, not just regret about consequences).
➔ Active efforts to make amends.
➔ Accepting responsibility and facing consequences.
➔ Gradual change demonstrated through actions, not just words.
Zuko from Avatar: The Last Airbender represents masterful villain redemption. His journey from antagonist to ally spans seasons, involving real struggle, setbacks, and growth. He doesn’t just stop being bad—he actively works to understand and correct his past mistakes while making amends to those he hurt.
Important Caveat: Not every villain should be redeemed. Some characters are too far gone, and attempting redemption can cheapen their victims’ suffering or undermine your story’s themes.
The decision should serve your narrative’s emotional truth, not just provide a tidy ending.
Crafting Memorable Antagonists
Writing a compelling villain requires the same care and attention you’d give your protagonist. They need clear motivations, consistent characterization, and meaningful connections to your story’s themes. The best antagonists don’t just oppose your hero—they challenge readers to examine their own beliefs and moral boundaries.
Remember that your villain’s job isn’t to be likable—it’s to be effective. They should create conflict that forces growth, present obstacles that require creativity to overcome, and embody themes that resonate with your story’s deeper meaning.
When done well, a great villain elevates every other element of your story. They make your hero’s journey more meaningful, your themes more complex, and your readers more invested in the outcome. That’s the true mark of successful villain writing: when readers both fear and anticipate every appearance of your antagonist, knowing they’re about to witness something that will change everything.
Ready to Bring Your Villain to Life?
Creating compelling antagonists is just one piece of crafting an unforgettable story. If you’ve developed a manuscript with a villain readers will love to hate, you might be ready for the next step in your publishing journey.
At Atmosphere Press, we specialize in helping authors transform their manuscripts into professionally published books. Our selective publishing process ensures your story—complete with its masterfully crafted villain—reaches the readers who will appreciate your work.
Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on your antagonist or ready to share your completed story with the world, we’d love to learn more about your project. Submit your manuscript today and let’s discuss how we can help bring your compelling characters to life in print.
Because every great story deserves a great villain—and every great villain deserves the right publisher.
Erin K. Larson-Burnett, Production Manager at Atmosphere Press (submit your manuscript here!), is a born-and-raised Southerner currently living in Katy, Texas, with her husband and their small domestic zoo. She is an avid ink drinker who lives and breathes books—during the day, she works remotely with authors around the world, honing and perfecting books published through Atmosphere Press. By night, she crafts her own stories…or at least tries to. The Bear & the Rose is her debut novel.
Atmosphere Press is a selective hybrid publisher founded in 2015 on the principles of Honesty, Transparency, Professionalism, Kindness, and Making Your Book Awesome. Our books have won dozens of awards and sold tens of thousands of copies. If you’re interested in learning more, or seeking publication for your own work, please explore the links below.
