Comments on: Writing Antagonists Readers Can’t Help But Like

By: V.M. Sang

V.M. Sang — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 15:46:23 +0000

What a great post. Most helpful.
I tend to like antagonists who are human. In my Wolves of Vimar series, the antagonist has great charisma and under normal circumstances he can be charming and likeable, but he is set on vengeance against the land of Grosmer and its people for perceived ill-treatment when he was a child.

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 16:06:54 +0000

In reply to Jan Sikes. I do hope this helps you, Jan! If you can make it work for the story, helping readers understand how she got to the way she is. Understanding what brought out her narcissism, and if it's a defense mechanism to protect herself, could help readers see her as a person, instead of writing her off as a toxic force.

By: ANGELA ACKERMAN

ANGELA ACKERMAN — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 16:03:36 +0000

In reply to Michelle Gregory. I agree! He had strong beliefs and a great moral struggle. I think everyone could identify with him a bit, even though they didn't like the things he did or how he did them.

By: Michelle Gregory

Michelle Gregory — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 15:02:41 +0000

My son (who is helping me write the antagonist for my current story) and I think Marvel did a great job doing this with Thanos in the last two Avengers movies. We’re using him as a model for our own antagonist.

By: Jan Sikes

Jan Sikes — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 13:09:37 +0000

Oh, Angela, this is SO good. It’s not easy writing a character the readers will love to hate. I have a series in which the main character is a narcissistic woman intent on climbing to the top of the social ladder. I’ve put off writing it because I’m not sure the readers would be able to relate to her or even root for her. I need someone in the story that will bring the reader in, and so far, I haven’t found that character. So, the story is sitting and waiting…Thank you for this!