R.A. Douthitt's Blog, page 3
January 18, 2018
Crossing the Finish Line
Yes, I know you've read about how writing is similar to running. I've read those posts, too. But I wanted to blog a little about how writing and running are similar because I do both...a lot! and I want to share some of the lessons I've learned.
All By Myself
Remember that song from the 70s? It's so tragically sad, but true. Nobody wants to be alone.
One of the many similarities between writing and running is that both can be lonely.
I run and train for marathons and even a few ultra marathons. I have also written 8 books. Writing and running can be lonely, but at least with running, you can ask friends to join you!
But with writing, it's up to you and you alone to do the work. For me, that's why I set goals for myself. Setting goals keeps me on task. I let others know about my goals so I am held accountable. It helps!
"Attend a conference or join a critique group!" some writers have told me. They explain how these two actions will help end the loneliness. But, as with running, you'll still have many moments alone.
During the last ultra marathon race I participated in, I was hit with this realization. During the day, I ran alongside many runners, but once the sun goes down at mile 31, many runners leave or head to their tents to sleep. That's when the race is at its toughest. The trail is dark, the air grows colder, and all you hear is the sound of your shoes on the gravel trail. At that point in the race, you'll want to quit. Running is much easier with the cheers from spectators and other runners around you!
Yet, you have to keep going, putting one step in front of the other. Writing is the same way. Conferences are terrific! I love meeting other writers and attending workshops so I can learn more about the craft. Critique groups are so helpful. But once I return home from a conference or critique, however, I have to sit at my desk with the computer and work...ALONE.
Family and friends encourage you to write, as those race spectators encourage you to run and that does help. They patiently listen to you summarize your plot, describe your characters, and detail the setting, God bless them. Without them, you'd probably give up.
A race is a race, and there's nothing like the feeling of seeing the Finish Line as you near the end. Same with writing. It is a race to the finish! We may have pending deadlines created by publishers or ourselves. These finish lines motivate us to stay the course.
Yes, as with running, writing can be lonely. Like training for a marathon, writing requires discipline and endurance.
Finally, as with racing, there is a prize at the end. A reward is needed to remind you why you set out to complete a grueling race or why you are determined to write a book. Make sure you have a reward set aside for yourself, whether it's a release party, a dinner with family, or a vacation/retreat. Do something good for yourself, you deserve it!
After I complete a book, I throw a party. After an ultra marathon, my family and I usually go out to dinner so I have replace all those calories I burned off. All the pain and loneliness of training is worth it as I sit and celebrate with my family.
These are the lessons I have learned. I keep setting writing goals (I plan on publishing 3 books this year...) along with running goals (triathlons and a half marathon later this year) so that I am motivated to continue.
I stay motivated to endure to the end so I can cross that finish line with my head held high.
Keep running! Keep writing...
All By Myself
Remember that song from the 70s? It's so tragically sad, but true. Nobody wants to be alone.
One of the many similarities between writing and running is that both can be lonely.
I run and train for marathons and even a few ultra marathons. I have also written 8 books. Writing and running can be lonely, but at least with running, you can ask friends to join you!
But with writing, it's up to you and you alone to do the work. For me, that's why I set goals for myself. Setting goals keeps me on task. I let others know about my goals so I am held accountable. It helps!
"Attend a conference or join a critique group!" some writers have told me. They explain how these two actions will help end the loneliness. But, as with running, you'll still have many moments alone.
During the last ultra marathon race I participated in, I was hit with this realization. During the day, I ran alongside many runners, but once the sun goes down at mile 31, many runners leave or head to their tents to sleep. That's when the race is at its toughest. The trail is dark, the air grows colder, and all you hear is the sound of your shoes on the gravel trail. At that point in the race, you'll want to quit. Running is much easier with the cheers from spectators and other runners around you!
Yet, you have to keep going, putting one step in front of the other. Writing is the same way. Conferences are terrific! I love meeting other writers and attending workshops so I can learn more about the craft. Critique groups are so helpful. But once I return home from a conference or critique, however, I have to sit at my desk with the computer and work...ALONE.
Family and friends encourage you to write, as those race spectators encourage you to run and that does help. They patiently listen to you summarize your plot, describe your characters, and detail the setting, God bless them. Without them, you'd probably give up.
A race is a race, and there's nothing like the feeling of seeing the Finish Line as you near the end. Same with writing. It is a race to the finish! We may have pending deadlines created by publishers or ourselves. These finish lines motivate us to stay the course.
Yes, as with running, writing can be lonely. Like training for a marathon, writing requires discipline and endurance.
Finally, as with racing, there is a prize at the end. A reward is needed to remind you why you set out to complete a grueling race or why you are determined to write a book. Make sure you have a reward set aside for yourself, whether it's a release party, a dinner with family, or a vacation/retreat. Do something good for yourself, you deserve it!
After I complete a book, I throw a party. After an ultra marathon, my family and I usually go out to dinner so I have replace all those calories I burned off. All the pain and loneliness of training is worth it as I sit and celebrate with my family.
These are the lessons I have learned. I keep setting writing goals (I plan on publishing 3 books this year...) along with running goals (triathlons and a half marathon later this year) so that I am motivated to continue.
I stay motivated to endure to the end so I can cross that finish line with my head held high.
Keep running! Keep writing...
January 12, 2018
To Save the World!
My last two posts were about the villain of your story and the antagonist(s) of your story. I wrote about how these should connect in some way to your protagonist.
Today, I'll blog about connecting your characters together through their goals...
GOAL!!
Before you introduce your character to the reader, he/she/it already has a goal. This is their short term goal that preexists before your story begins. Think of your protagonist standing on stage and the curtain opens in the middle of an action. What is your character doing and why?
I recently saw an excellent example of this in the Netflix show, "Black Mirror: Hang the DJ." In this episode, we meet the protagonist(s) and are shown that their short term goal is to find love. All this was done by showing the viewers during a first date that was set up using an online dating app.
Think of your story. What is the short-term goal of your protagonist that you will show your readers at the beginning of the story?
In my book, "The Children Under the Ice," I show my readers that my 12 year old protagonist wants to impress people with his writing because he wants to be a journalist some day. What does your hero/heroine want to do or be?
I'll give you a good example that one writer gave those of us attending his workshop: At the start of his story, we meet a 6th grade boy who longs to win the science fair that year.
See how simple it is? The short-term goal doesn't have to be that complicated. It can be as simple as earning an A on an exam, scoring a touchdown in the game, being cast as the lead in the play. But this goal must exist before we meet your protagonist. Why? Because it helps your story begin right in the middle of some action. Maybe your protagonist is explaining her goal to her best friend, who laughs her off. Or maybe he's showing his dad his essay and his dad scoffs at his writing. Or, maybe your hero just got kicked off the football team right at the beginning of chapter one.
Readers don't want long explanations anymore. In this day and age, they want immediate action to grab their attention and draw them into the story. By making the short-term goal preexisting, you lower the risk of slowing down the reader.
Save the World!
Next, you'll need to reveal the long term goal which is caused by the Inciting Incident. That's the staggering incident that forever changes your character's life and sets them on a new trajectory toward a different goal:
The 6th grade boy, who wants to win the science fair, overhears on the news broadcast that an asteroid is hurtling toward earth, threatening to destroy the earth. NASA is asking for help on how to stop the asteroid from hitting the earth. Now the 6th grade boy wants to help find a way to stop that asteroid!
As you can see, the inciting incident must be so profound and staggering, that it affects more than just the hero. The stakes are raised and changes everything. Think of your story. Does your inciting incident change your hero/heroine's goal? It should.
The long term goal must connect to the character in such a way as to reveal character attributes to your reader. Remember the boy who got kicked off the football team? When he returned home that day, his father beat him and orders him to beg the coach to let him back on the team. Now the boy's goal isn't to score a touchdown, but to escape his abusive father.
The inciting incident must raise the stakes and create a long term goal that connects to your character on a deeper level than the short term goal. This is what draws in your readers and makes them care about your hero/heroine. They want to care, so make them!
The Villain
We must revisit the villain of your story next. Why? Because the goals of your protagonist must connect in some way to the villain.
The 6th grade boy who wants to win the science fair? Well, he loses year after year to the class bully who cheats with the help of his father. The bully also wants to find a way to stop the asteroid, but only to win the $1 million reward. Who will get there first?
The football player who wants to escape his abusive father? The rival running back hates him and vows to make sure he never makes the team so he kills the abusive father, pinning the crime on the son.
Think of your villain. What is his/her/its short term goal? How is it connected to your protagonist? Now, think of the long term goal you have for your protagonist. Does it connect to your villain? It should.
In the Harry Potter books, we saw how Harry and Voldemort's goals were connected through Harry's mother. In Star Wars, we see how Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader's goals were almost the same: destroy the Emperor. In my Dragon Forest trilogy, both Prince Peter and the evil Lord Bedlam are connected through the Dragon of the forest.
By making these connections, your reader becomes invested in the story. They want to see who will reach that goal first. Which boy will come up with the idea to stop that asteroid?
The goals of your character help move the plot forward. Make sure your character's goals are attainable, yet interesting. The protagonist doesn't have to succeed in reaching those goals, that's up to you. Just make sure the ending is satisfying to the reader.
When creating long term goals, raise the stakes! That's what makes your story a page turner. Your readers want to know what happens and who wins. Who will save the world?!
Happy writing!
Today, I'll blog about connecting your characters together through their goals...
GOAL!!
Before you introduce your character to the reader, he/she/it already has a goal. This is their short term goal that preexists before your story begins. Think of your protagonist standing on stage and the curtain opens in the middle of an action. What is your character doing and why?
I recently saw an excellent example of this in the Netflix show, "Black Mirror: Hang the DJ." In this episode, we meet the protagonist(s) and are shown that their short term goal is to find love. All this was done by showing the viewers during a first date that was set up using an online dating app.
Think of your story. What is the short-term goal of your protagonist that you will show your readers at the beginning of the story?
In my book, "The Children Under the Ice," I show my readers that my 12 year old protagonist wants to impress people with his writing because he wants to be a journalist some day. What does your hero/heroine want to do or be?
I'll give you a good example that one writer gave those of us attending his workshop: At the start of his story, we meet a 6th grade boy who longs to win the science fair that year.
See how simple it is? The short-term goal doesn't have to be that complicated. It can be as simple as earning an A on an exam, scoring a touchdown in the game, being cast as the lead in the play. But this goal must exist before we meet your protagonist. Why? Because it helps your story begin right in the middle of some action. Maybe your protagonist is explaining her goal to her best friend, who laughs her off. Or maybe he's showing his dad his essay and his dad scoffs at his writing. Or, maybe your hero just got kicked off the football team right at the beginning of chapter one.
Readers don't want long explanations anymore. In this day and age, they want immediate action to grab their attention and draw them into the story. By making the short-term goal preexisting, you lower the risk of slowing down the reader.
Save the World!
Next, you'll need to reveal the long term goal which is caused by the Inciting Incident. That's the staggering incident that forever changes your character's life and sets them on a new trajectory toward a different goal:
The 6th grade boy, who wants to win the science fair, overhears on the news broadcast that an asteroid is hurtling toward earth, threatening to destroy the earth. NASA is asking for help on how to stop the asteroid from hitting the earth. Now the 6th grade boy wants to help find a way to stop that asteroid!
As you can see, the inciting incident must be so profound and staggering, that it affects more than just the hero. The stakes are raised and changes everything. Think of your story. Does your inciting incident change your hero/heroine's goal? It should.
The long term goal must connect to the character in such a way as to reveal character attributes to your reader. Remember the boy who got kicked off the football team? When he returned home that day, his father beat him and orders him to beg the coach to let him back on the team. Now the boy's goal isn't to score a touchdown, but to escape his abusive father.
The inciting incident must raise the stakes and create a long term goal that connects to your character on a deeper level than the short term goal. This is what draws in your readers and makes them care about your hero/heroine. They want to care, so make them!
The Villain
We must revisit the villain of your story next. Why? Because the goals of your protagonist must connect in some way to the villain.
The 6th grade boy who wants to win the science fair? Well, he loses year after year to the class bully who cheats with the help of his father. The bully also wants to find a way to stop the asteroid, but only to win the $1 million reward. Who will get there first?
The football player who wants to escape his abusive father? The rival running back hates him and vows to make sure he never makes the team so he kills the abusive father, pinning the crime on the son.
Think of your villain. What is his/her/its short term goal? How is it connected to your protagonist? Now, think of the long term goal you have for your protagonist. Does it connect to your villain? It should.
In the Harry Potter books, we saw how Harry and Voldemort's goals were connected through Harry's mother. In Star Wars, we see how Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader's goals were almost the same: destroy the Emperor. In my Dragon Forest trilogy, both Prince Peter and the evil Lord Bedlam are connected through the Dragon of the forest.
By making these connections, your reader becomes invested in the story. They want to see who will reach that goal first. Which boy will come up with the idea to stop that asteroid?
The goals of your character help move the plot forward. Make sure your character's goals are attainable, yet interesting. The protagonist doesn't have to succeed in reaching those goals, that's up to you. Just make sure the ending is satisfying to the reader.
When creating long term goals, raise the stakes! That's what makes your story a page turner. Your readers want to know what happens and who wins. Who will save the world?!
Happy writing!
January 9, 2018
Antagonists
In my last post, I wrote about villains. Most people consider the Antagonist to also be the villain, but that's not always true.
In this post, I will attempt to explain the difference between Antagonists and Villains in literature and film.
I used Lucifer, perhaps the most famous villain of them all, to explain Villains. I will continue to use this most famous story to analyze Antagonists. As we go along, analyze your current WIP.
Obstacles
Without obstacles in our way, life would be pretty boring. Overcoming obstacles in the path toward our goal is what makes us stronger. Everybody loves a clear sunny day. But we need rain. Rain makes things grow. If it were sunny every day, everything would dry up and die.
Think about your current WIP. What obstacles have you put in the path of your protagonist? There are none, you say? Well, does that reflect life? Of course not.
You have plenty of obstacles? Good! Now let's take a look at them.
In the typical plot arc that most writers follow, obstacles tend to increase in severity, beginning with the inciting incident, as the story moves forward.
In the story of Lucifer and Jesus, Lucifer puts many obstacles in the way of the Hero, but there are other obstacles that happen outside of the villains' control or plan.
Antagonist(s)
In writing, most obstacles are caused by the villain, but some are there as a result of the antagonist.
Think of this story line: Amy wants to earn a place on the volleyball team so she can win an athletic scholarship to college because her family is too poor to send her to college.
Goal: Be on the championship volleyball team and earn a college scholarship.
Villain: Becky, she's a rival teammate who is also trying to win that scholarship. She decides to destroy the heroine, Amy.
Antagonist(s): The coach. He doesn't play Amy as often as she'd like. The college scouts aren't watching her play. Her teacher is strict about late homework, especially when it comes to athletes. Mom doesn't like Amy skipping out on chores just to play volleyball. The boyfriend, Ryan, feels left out because Amy is always busy with practice after school. Amy's knee has bothered her, so she has to work hard on perfecting her form on the court.
As you can see, there are plenty of antagonists in this story, but only one villain. Only one seeks to harm our heroine. The others don't really want to harm her. They do have her best interest in mind.
See the difference?
Look at your story. Do you have plenty of antagonists placing obstacles in the path of your heroine? If not, make sure to add more. These obstacles provide a way for your readers to cheer for your protagonist. You want to make your readers care for your protagonist and the journey toward that goal.
Be sure, though, to have your protagonist successfully overcome each obstacle. These achievements make your protagonist stronger! As with life, the storms hit hard, but the winds make the trees stronger. The rain replenishes nature. Without storms, nothing thrives. It's the same with your story line.
Think of all the antagonists torturing Harry Potter as he makes his way toward his final goal: Destroying Lord Voldemort.
He had several professors, his own lack of wizard skills, his friends, his fellow classmates, magic, and even Dumbledore keeping him from moving forward! Unlike Voldemort, most of these antagonists had Harry's best interests in mind.
Now that you know the difference between antagonists and villains, you can easily see how fun it is to make your hero or heroine's journey challenging. Remember that each obstacle needs to become more and more severe as the story goes forward.
In my Dragon Forest trilogy, one reader commented, "Wow, in Dragon Forest II, you really beat down your protagonist! But he kept going." I loved that observation because, it's true, but also because the reader saw how the hero got up and kept going toward his goal. Think of Rocky. He got up and kept going. He went the distance. That's what we want to see in a story. That's what we often experience in our own lives: We get hit hard by trials, but we have to keep going.
Back to Lucifer and Jesus...we see how Jesus was attacked by the religious leaders of his time. He was even abandoned by His best friends. He was arrested and accused by the community and even executed for crimes He didn't commit.
Lucifer wasn't responsible for all of these obstacles put in the Hero's way. The Hero of the story proceeds to overcome each obstacle, including death.
What about your story? Will your protagonist overcome? Not all do in literature, and that's fine. It's up to you! When I taught writing, I often had students ask if their protagonist could die at the end of the story. "Why not?" I'd ask. "That happens in life, doesn't it? As long as the story ends in a satisfying way, your reader will love it."
If you cheat your readers out of a satisfying ending simply because you don't know how to show your protagonist overcoming all those obstacles, your readers will know and they will feel cheated. Don't fall for the easy way out! Nobody likes that.
The writers of a popular TV show in the 1970s-80s tried to cheat their viewers. "Dallas" had an intriguing story line for an entire season. Instead of resolving all the issues and problems presented all season, they cheated their viewers by claiming it was all just a dream.
What??!! The entire season was just a dream?
Viewers were horrified. The TV show "Roseanne" tried this with an entire series! It also failed because viewers felt cheated.
So, don't cheat your readers. They are cheering for your protagonist. They deserve a well thought-out resolution to all the problems you presented.
Writing an interesting story isn't easy. If it were, everyone would do it successfully. Writing takes time and effort. But it isn't impossible, either!
Writing is FUN! As you analyze your current WIP, make sure you have given your protagonist plenty of obstacles to overcome.
Overcoming obstacles is what makes life...and a story...interesting, so give it your all.
Happy writing!
In this post, I will attempt to explain the difference between Antagonists and Villains in literature and film.
I used Lucifer, perhaps the most famous villain of them all, to explain Villains. I will continue to use this most famous story to analyze Antagonists. As we go along, analyze your current WIP.
Obstacles
Without obstacles in our way, life would be pretty boring. Overcoming obstacles in the path toward our goal is what makes us stronger. Everybody loves a clear sunny day. But we need rain. Rain makes things grow. If it were sunny every day, everything would dry up and die.
Think about your current WIP. What obstacles have you put in the path of your protagonist? There are none, you say? Well, does that reflect life? Of course not.
You have plenty of obstacles? Good! Now let's take a look at them.
In the typical plot arc that most writers follow, obstacles tend to increase in severity, beginning with the inciting incident, as the story moves forward.
In the story of Lucifer and Jesus, Lucifer puts many obstacles in the way of the Hero, but there are other obstacles that happen outside of the villains' control or plan.
Antagonist(s)
In writing, most obstacles are caused by the villain, but some are there as a result of the antagonist.
Think of this story line: Amy wants to earn a place on the volleyball team so she can win an athletic scholarship to college because her family is too poor to send her to college.
Goal: Be on the championship volleyball team and earn a college scholarship.
Villain: Becky, she's a rival teammate who is also trying to win that scholarship. She decides to destroy the heroine, Amy.
Antagonist(s): The coach. He doesn't play Amy as often as she'd like. The college scouts aren't watching her play. Her teacher is strict about late homework, especially when it comes to athletes. Mom doesn't like Amy skipping out on chores just to play volleyball. The boyfriend, Ryan, feels left out because Amy is always busy with practice after school. Amy's knee has bothered her, so she has to work hard on perfecting her form on the court.
As you can see, there are plenty of antagonists in this story, but only one villain. Only one seeks to harm our heroine. The others don't really want to harm her. They do have her best interest in mind.
See the difference?
Look at your story. Do you have plenty of antagonists placing obstacles in the path of your heroine? If not, make sure to add more. These obstacles provide a way for your readers to cheer for your protagonist. You want to make your readers care for your protagonist and the journey toward that goal.
Be sure, though, to have your protagonist successfully overcome each obstacle. These achievements make your protagonist stronger! As with life, the storms hit hard, but the winds make the trees stronger. The rain replenishes nature. Without storms, nothing thrives. It's the same with your story line.
Think of all the antagonists torturing Harry Potter as he makes his way toward his final goal: Destroying Lord Voldemort.
He had several professors, his own lack of wizard skills, his friends, his fellow classmates, magic, and even Dumbledore keeping him from moving forward! Unlike Voldemort, most of these antagonists had Harry's best interests in mind.
Now that you know the difference between antagonists and villains, you can easily see how fun it is to make your hero or heroine's journey challenging. Remember that each obstacle needs to become more and more severe as the story goes forward.
In my Dragon Forest trilogy, one reader commented, "Wow, in Dragon Forest II, you really beat down your protagonist! But he kept going." I loved that observation because, it's true, but also because the reader saw how the hero got up and kept going toward his goal. Think of Rocky. He got up and kept going. He went the distance. That's what we want to see in a story. That's what we often experience in our own lives: We get hit hard by trials, but we have to keep going.
Back to Lucifer and Jesus...we see how Jesus was attacked by the religious leaders of his time. He was even abandoned by His best friends. He was arrested and accused by the community and even executed for crimes He didn't commit.
Lucifer wasn't responsible for all of these obstacles put in the Hero's way. The Hero of the story proceeds to overcome each obstacle, including death.
What about your story? Will your protagonist overcome? Not all do in literature, and that's fine. It's up to you! When I taught writing, I often had students ask if their protagonist could die at the end of the story. "Why not?" I'd ask. "That happens in life, doesn't it? As long as the story ends in a satisfying way, your reader will love it."
If you cheat your readers out of a satisfying ending simply because you don't know how to show your protagonist overcoming all those obstacles, your readers will know and they will feel cheated. Don't fall for the easy way out! Nobody likes that.
The writers of a popular TV show in the 1970s-80s tried to cheat their viewers. "Dallas" had an intriguing story line for an entire season. Instead of resolving all the issues and problems presented all season, they cheated their viewers by claiming it was all just a dream.
What??!! The entire season was just a dream?
Viewers were horrified. The TV show "Roseanne" tried this with an entire series! It also failed because viewers felt cheated.
So, don't cheat your readers. They are cheering for your protagonist. They deserve a well thought-out resolution to all the problems you presented.
Writing an interesting story isn't easy. If it were, everyone would do it successfully. Writing takes time and effort. But it isn't impossible, either!
Writing is FUN! As you analyze your current WIP, make sure you have given your protagonist plenty of obstacles to overcome.
Overcoming obstacles is what makes life...and a story...interesting, so give it your all.
Happy writing!
The Villain
Before I watch those super hero movies based on comic books, I always remind myself that the movie/story will only be as good as the villain.
If the villain is a viable threat, if he/she is a formidable foe, then that causes the viewer to become invested in the story.
On the other hand, if the villain doesn't pose a threat, if the villain is only a threat to the protagonist, then the viewer will not be invested in the story. After all, the stakes aren't high enough for the viewer to care.
What I despise is when a director or writer of the film expects the viewer to care about the plight of the protagonist without making us care!
Okay, now you know what this blog post will be about: Creating a villain that your reader will respect and invest in so that your story connects with the reader.
Think about some famous villains in literature and film. What made them so famous? Was it their appearance? Or was it their actions/reactions?
I'm going to start with probably the most famous villain in literature: Lucifer.
As we analyze this famous villain, analyze the villain in your current Work in Progress (WIP). ...
Connections- first of all, your villain should connect in some way to your protagonist. Lucifer was connected personally to the protagonist of the story: Jesus.
Lucifer was the most beautiful Angel ever created. He had a special place in heaven. He obviously desired the "top" position, but that position went to Jesus as God's Son.
We have the connection and now the motive for all of Lucifer's future decisions, reactions, and actions. Consider the villain in your story. Is he/she/it connected to your protagonist in a way that is satisfying to the reader?
We're not talking about the Antagonist. The villain is different. The Antagonist(s) is there to place obstacles in your hero's path. The villain, however, puts obstacles in the hero's path but desires for your hero/heroine to fail and or die miserably! The Antagonist may have feelings of goodwill toward your heroine. This person could be a coach, a parent, a teacher, etc. He or she may not even realize they are putting obstacles in the way of the hero's journey.
But the Villain? He/she/it does know and actually desires the hero's death and destruction. Think: Voldemort.
Lucifer absolutely despises Jesus and wants Him dead. He desires nothing but His destruction and the destruction of everything Jesus loves. Now that's a villain!
Readers invest in this villain because of his tricks and clever devices. And we invest in this reader because the demise of the Hero affects us. If God's Son fails...we all DIE!
The stakes have been raised. Focus on your story. Are the stakes high enough? Do the villain's actions only affect your hero? Or will the entire community, society, or WORLD of the hero be affected by the actions of the villain? It matters to the reader and will cause them to be invested more deeply into your story if the stakes are high.
Lucifer is pretty evil. His actions reveal his attributes. He pretty clever, too, in that he tempts the Hero to abandon all that matters to Him: His noble cause and heroic journey. If the Hero falls for this trick, it's over.
Think of your villain. Does he/she/it have the chance to tempt your hero in such a way? Is there a scene where the villain and hero meet? Think of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Their is a personal connection between this villain and hero. The villain takes a moment to tempt the hero to abandon his cause and join him. This scene enthralled viewers and connected with them on a deeper level.
As you can see, if you stop to analyze how your villain matters in the story, his/her/its affect on the hero and the noble cause, you can really connect with your readers. A villain can make or break a story.
If the hero is weak and if the stakes aren't so high, then the fate of the hero isn't all that important to the reader/viewer. But if your stakes are high and more than just the hero is involved, suddenly the reader/viewer cares about the outcome.
In my Dragon Forest trilogy, the villain, Lord Bedlam, is connected to my hero, Prince Peter. He wants nothing but pain and suffering for the young prince. If Prince Peter dies, the kingdom and surrounding kingdoms will become enslaved to the evil Lord Bedlam. I had to raise the stakes high.
In my Children series, the villain comes across as a nice man in the community. No one but the reader knows who the villain is! I had fun writing this series. I wrote it so that you, the reader, will be invested in the story because you are privy to secrets that the hero doesn't know.
Think about some of your most favorite stories. Was the connection between the villain and the hero satisfying to you? Did that connection cause you to become more invested in the story?
Creating a formidable and interesting villain can propel your story arc forward and cause your readers to cheer for your hero/heroine on their journey. Doesn't mean we won't also cheer for the villain, too. Darth Vader is one of the most beloved villains in movie history. Lucifer actually has a church with devoted worshipers.
It's up to you whether your readers will love or hate your villain, or love to hate your villain! But that's what's so FUN about being a writer. You have the ultimate power in the universe.
Take time to consider how you will reveal your villain by his/her/its actions and reactions. Use "show/don't tell" techniques to reveal just how evil your villain is. Let the reader deduce this for themselves. Be as creative as you want!
Happy writing!
Your turn: How do you go about creating a villain for your stories? Do you borrow some attributes from famous villains? Why or why not?
If the villain is a viable threat, if he/she is a formidable foe, then that causes the viewer to become invested in the story.
On the other hand, if the villain doesn't pose a threat, if the villain is only a threat to the protagonist, then the viewer will not be invested in the story. After all, the stakes aren't high enough for the viewer to care.
What I despise is when a director or writer of the film expects the viewer to care about the plight of the protagonist without making us care!
Okay, now you know what this blog post will be about: Creating a villain that your reader will respect and invest in so that your story connects with the reader.
Think about some famous villains in literature and film. What made them so famous? Was it their appearance? Or was it their actions/reactions?
I'm going to start with probably the most famous villain in literature: Lucifer.
As we analyze this famous villain, analyze the villain in your current Work in Progress (WIP). ...
Connections- first of all, your villain should connect in some way to your protagonist. Lucifer was connected personally to the protagonist of the story: Jesus.
Lucifer was the most beautiful Angel ever created. He had a special place in heaven. He obviously desired the "top" position, but that position went to Jesus as God's Son.
We have the connection and now the motive for all of Lucifer's future decisions, reactions, and actions. Consider the villain in your story. Is he/she/it connected to your protagonist in a way that is satisfying to the reader?
We're not talking about the Antagonist. The villain is different. The Antagonist(s) is there to place obstacles in your hero's path. The villain, however, puts obstacles in the hero's path but desires for your hero/heroine to fail and or die miserably! The Antagonist may have feelings of goodwill toward your heroine. This person could be a coach, a parent, a teacher, etc. He or she may not even realize they are putting obstacles in the way of the hero's journey.
But the Villain? He/she/it does know and actually desires the hero's death and destruction. Think: Voldemort.
Lucifer absolutely despises Jesus and wants Him dead. He desires nothing but His destruction and the destruction of everything Jesus loves. Now that's a villain!
Readers invest in this villain because of his tricks and clever devices. And we invest in this reader because the demise of the Hero affects us. If God's Son fails...we all DIE!
The stakes have been raised. Focus on your story. Are the stakes high enough? Do the villain's actions only affect your hero? Or will the entire community, society, or WORLD of the hero be affected by the actions of the villain? It matters to the reader and will cause them to be invested more deeply into your story if the stakes are high.
Lucifer is pretty evil. His actions reveal his attributes. He pretty clever, too, in that he tempts the Hero to abandon all that matters to Him: His noble cause and heroic journey. If the Hero falls for this trick, it's over.
Think of your villain. Does he/she/it have the chance to tempt your hero in such a way? Is there a scene where the villain and hero meet? Think of Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker. Their is a personal connection between this villain and hero. The villain takes a moment to tempt the hero to abandon his cause and join him. This scene enthralled viewers and connected with them on a deeper level.
As you can see, if you stop to analyze how your villain matters in the story, his/her/its affect on the hero and the noble cause, you can really connect with your readers. A villain can make or break a story.
If the hero is weak and if the stakes aren't so high, then the fate of the hero isn't all that important to the reader/viewer. But if your stakes are high and more than just the hero is involved, suddenly the reader/viewer cares about the outcome.
In my Dragon Forest trilogy, the villain, Lord Bedlam, is connected to my hero, Prince Peter. He wants nothing but pain and suffering for the young prince. If Prince Peter dies, the kingdom and surrounding kingdoms will become enslaved to the evil Lord Bedlam. I had to raise the stakes high.
In my Children series, the villain comes across as a nice man in the community. No one but the reader knows who the villain is! I had fun writing this series. I wrote it so that you, the reader, will be invested in the story because you are privy to secrets that the hero doesn't know.
Think about some of your most favorite stories. Was the connection between the villain and the hero satisfying to you? Did that connection cause you to become more invested in the story?
Creating a formidable and interesting villain can propel your story arc forward and cause your readers to cheer for your hero/heroine on their journey. Doesn't mean we won't also cheer for the villain, too. Darth Vader is one of the most beloved villains in movie history. Lucifer actually has a church with devoted worshipers.
It's up to you whether your readers will love or hate your villain, or love to hate your villain! But that's what's so FUN about being a writer. You have the ultimate power in the universe.
Take time to consider how you will reveal your villain by his/her/its actions and reactions. Use "show/don't tell" techniques to reveal just how evil your villain is. Let the reader deduce this for themselves. Be as creative as you want!
Happy writing!
Your turn: How do you go about creating a villain for your stories? Do you borrow some attributes from famous villains? Why or why not?
