What Makes A Villain in a Romantic Suspense?
You can’t write a romantic suspense novel without a great villain. Now we all know that villains are evil and do very, very bad things. But a well-written romantic suspense needs a villain or antagonist who is more than one of those “I’m going to get you” cartoon characters. Judy Harvey at Fiction University has outlined ten characteristics of a great antagonist.
- They want something, often for a good reason. Perhaps, they have been hurt in the past and want revenge. Maybe they have an idea that they think is a good one, despite what everyone else thinks.
- They are highly motivated. They don’t just think about what they want to do, they have to do it.
- Because they are motivated, they act, no matter what the consequences.
- They know there are consequences but they either don’t care or they make plans to avoid those consequences even if that means they get hurt or more likely someone else gets hurt.
- There’s a great big prize if they win.
- They are smart. They adapt. They learn. They foil the hero or heroine at every turn.
- They are complex. They have unique qualities. They may have something likeable about them or do something unexpectedly kind or be quirky. In fact, many villains are actually quite nice people.
- At the same time, they have a major flaw that will lead to their downfall in the end. They may be arrogant or not as smart as they think or that tiny ounce of goodness in them keeps them from striking the killing blow.
- They have secrets. There are things that if known would foil their plans or reveal who they really are.
- Most importantly, the villain or antagonist wants exactly the opposite thing that the hero or heroine does…and that creates the whole story!
In Beneath the Skin, there is actually more than one villain.
- One character wants revenge.
- One character hates.
- One character is greedy.
Oh my! I hope that you have fun trying to figure out just who the really, really bad guy is. The hero and heroine don’t until it is almost too late!
Who makes the best villain in a romantic suspense?
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I think my traditional view of the evil one is the twirly mustache guy in the silent movies, with the side wink in the eye and the dark shadows underneath!!!! But I suppose that horrible criminal in Silence of the Lambs really got to me too. As for literature, I still am hunted by the Snow Queen from Narnia! Rather simple, aren’t I?
I always thought the Snow Queen was the epitome of evil too. Something about beauty mixed with a total lack of morality that turns the stomach.