What is your opinion of making a villain the main character in a YA book?

[[deleted user]]

I was just curious and would love to hear feedback.
I know the sympathetic villain is a popular approach, but what if it was an awful nonredeemable brat and her parents who gets some magic haunted house justice?

So do you really love to hate the bad girls?
XD

[Sherri]

I think it's a great idea, but I'll forewarn you that it might not be received well. I wrote a short story about a woman that was just a lying witch and it got very poor reviews on Writing.com because "she's not likable!"
That being said, I think it could still be done. I'd suggest giving the villian some redeemable qualities, or something that readers can "sympathize" with (like a tragic event that caused her to turn evil), so they'll feel a connection and be compelled to continue reading.

[Danielle]

I would be fascinated by this, both when I was the target audience for these books and now.

[[deleted user]]

The character is more mischievous/devilish not truly malicious, everyone she decides to punish, her punishment inexplicably turns into something good for the unfortunate person.

-I was worried about her not being likable, but the other characters seem unaware of her attempts to ruin them, so it's not serious. I also use a lot of humor in the story to combat her being seen as frothing-at-the-mouth-EVIL!

-Thanks D and Sherri for your answers :)

[A.F.]

As someone with a love of writing villains, I've found people respond to the bad guys if they have charisma. I stay away from whiny, and give them flair.

[Phil]

A.F. wrote: "As someone with a love of writing villains, I've found people respond to the bad guys if they have charisma. I stay away from whiny, and give them flair."

Leslie Charteris, author of The Saint stories, thought the same. For a really likeable villain, it's hard to go past them.

[Matt]

The most successful YA books appear to have a main character whose personality is slightly bland, who acts as a blank cipher for the ego-projection of the reader. The character should be fairly good, stable, with ordinary emotional framework and some slight insecurity. Bella from Twilight is the most extreme example. Harry Potter kind of fits, too.

IMO just write a few chapters and see how loveable the character seems.

[A.F.]

Phil wrote: "A.F. wrote: "As someone with a love of writing villains, I've found people respond to the bad guys if they have charisma. I stay away from whiny, and give them flair."

Leslie Charteris, author of..."

Well, the creation of Leslie Charteris certainly qualifies as charismatic; I love the Saint.