In this post I’m going to give you some information on crafting the ideal antagonist for your story that your readers will love to hate.

Without further ado, grab a notebook off that pile and let’s get started bringing your antagonist to life.

1. Choosing Your Antagonist

Whenever I used to think about an antagonist, visions of a big, burly, bad guy, maybe with a ton of money, being followed around by his lackeys came to mind. That, in no way, has to be the case.

Antagonists can be external or internal.

External can be: a person, nature, technology, a physical condition.

Internal can be: their own demons, their own conscience.

2. Tension

• No matter what type of antagonist you decide on having, make sure it/they create tension and consistently oppose the protagonist.
• Without a great antagonist your story will grow flat.
• Just like you did with your protagonist, take your time creating your antagonist. It/they are extremely important to your story. They push the protagonist and the story along.

3. Have a Goal

• Make sure your antagonist, like your protagonist has a goal. Whether you have an external or internal antagonist, it/they need a goal that they consistently work toward. Have them grow, change, and develop throughout your story.
• They don’t have to be evil, but they have to put a constant wrench in your protagonist’s goals.
• If your antagonist is a person, they should have a reason for everything they do.
• Remember, to them, they are not the antagonist. They feel that what they are doing is right. Give them a reason for everything they do.
• Give them faults and vulnerabilities so the reader can identify with them.

4. Conflict

• Without conflict, your story goes nowhere.
• If everything were to work out for your protagonist your story would be over before it got started.
• If your protagonist has to work for what they want, the reader has something to root for, hoping the hero wins in the end.
• The antagonist causes all that conflict. They give your story the zhuzh it needs.

REMEMBER- Everything you write, everything, should further the plot. If it doesn’t it will bore your reader and they’ll put down your book. No one wants that!

Ok, writers, pens to notebooks. Go bring the perfect antagonist to life. If you need more help, feel free to contact me.

Happy Writing!

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