I’ve invited you all here today to announce my theme for April 2017 A to Z Blog Challenge.
Pass the envelope please.
When drafting my last book, Race to Redemption, I tucked the villain away in the corner of a room somewhere, to be heard about, but not really seen. Well, that evil creature demanded more air time. As characters manage to get there way, I built out the villain’s character, adding chapters and layers to my story.
And I loved it. And as I’ve got six more books in the series to evolve the villain, I chose the theme complex villains. I am focusing each post on a villain or two, and exploring the humanizing factors that make them great. Pure evil isn’t much fun. You need to see them smile at the baby as they take the candy, and wonder if the smile were real.
Memorable villains are complex to write, because they have good and bad sides. They carry pain and regret and scars that run rivers deep. They have minions and lovers, networks and relationships that have to be managed. Their flaws tower over mountains, their flecks of humanity could fit in a hummingbird’s beak–but it must be there. We have to see it, feel it, and touch it even as we doubt it.
The well crafted villain drives the hero/heroine to find their best selves after a lot of battling with their flawed selves.
I hope you’ll join me in my journey as to what makes an exceptional villain. Show me what I missed, or offer better villains. It’ll fun. Heheheheheh.
I love this theme! And I’m happy to find another writer in the Challenge. Looking forward to learning about the nefarious and dastardly villains.
http://www.sorchiadubois.com
Welcome fellow writer. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ll pop on over and see what you’ve got planned.
Oh, I love a good villain! Will be checking out your posts through April 🙂
Debbie
Thanks for dropping by. I’ll drop by and see what you’ll be doing.
This sounds like it will be a really interesting blog! I look forward to exploring villains in April. 🙂
Thanks, JR
What a great theme! Villains are so fun to write, read, and watch. I always loved the “interesting-evil” characters on soap operas, like Roger Thorpe and James Stenbeck, and I love crafting my own antagonists too.
Thanks, Carrie-Ann. Interesting evil characters is a great way to put it. Writing and watching antagonists is so much fun.
Hey Shari , what a fascinating space you have for yourself here! I just followed the trail you left me when you visited my blog and I think I may have run into a theme I’ll be hooked to this season.
Totally tripping over the theme and twisting my moustache with you as we talk about the unseen humane side of villains..
Happy Blogging!
Thanks, Chandi. I’m pretty excited about yours. Women and movies. Looking forward to visiting over the challenge.
Ah! A good villain makes all the difference! Fabulous theme and glad to have found a writer in m blogging mix! 🙂
Welcome fellow writer. We can plot villains together.
This is an excellent theme. I’ll be following along for sure!
I will look forward to your visits and doing the a to z challenge. I’ll pop over and see what you are doing as well.
This looks like a really interesting theme. I’ve read a few books where the villains were kind of cartoonish because they had every villain trope going applied to them. I’d much rather have a villain who is ambiguously bad, or who is doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. A complex bad guy makes you feel all sorts of complicated feelings and makes for a much more interesting read.
I can’t wait to see your suggestions. Good luck with it.
Cait @ Click’s Clan
Thanks, Cait. I don’t enjoy cartoonish villains either, which is why I’m doing this. Enjoy the challenge.
A well drawn villain makes a story much better. Often a villain is the most fun part of a story.
Have a great A to Z April.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Thanks, Arlee. Thanks for organizing it.