Antagonists - WriteFoxy Nuts & Bolts Part 7
Why baddies can be so much more than people to boo...
Hi lovely writers!
In this series of my WriteFoxy Foxy Notes, we’re going back to basics, looking at twelve different aspects of story writing. This time, we’re looking at ANTAGONISTS…
Altogether now, BOOOOOO! Antagonists are the baddies of the story, the characters hell-bent on preventing our protagonists from achieving what we want them to and standing in the way of the happy ending they seek. But how do you write antagonists that feel authentic and not two-dimensional cartoon villains? And how can you use antagonists to reveal key information about your main characters?
In these notes, I’m going to share tips, tricks and ideas to help you write the best antagonists for your story, and discover how even the friendliest characters can antagonise your protagonist.
Prepare your best baddie evil laugh and follow me to my Bond villain lair… (or just grab a cuppa and enjoy the notes!)
ANTAGONISTS – Dastardly plans…
As Tony Jordan, famous screenwriter and TV showrunner, says, the key to a good story is taking your main character from where they are to where they want to be and putting as many obstacles in between as you can. Antagonists are people-shaped obstacles – characters that divert, cause doubt, oppose either directly or indirectly or just cause hassle for your protagonists (main characters). But they can be so much more than out-and-out baddies. Here are some ideas for making the most of your antagonists:
Identify your villains – When we think of antagonists, we often think of villains – people hell-bent on scuppering our main characters’ best-laid plans. And it’s true that they can be. But you can also make your antagonists subtle, doubt-weaving, well-meaning characters who get in the way of your protagonist. Try this: make a list of potential antagonists for your main character – people they work with, family members, friends, faces from the past, etc. For each person write down the subtlest thing they could do and the most overtly horrible thing they could do. Now consider points along the way between subtle actions and overt actions. Imagine each one is a sliding scale and adjust accordingly to create the perfect devious mix to fox your protagonist!
The Element of Surprise – When planning your antagonists, think about which characters could provide the biggest betrayal to your main character. Is it a family member? A work colleague? A friend? A face from their past? A lover? If you’re not sure where to start, try this: write down four or five characters from your story on separate pieces of paper or sticky notes. Now, write down the worst betrayal each one could deal to your main character. The ones you feel as a stab to the heart as you read them back are the ones that will shock your readers most, causing them to root for your main character to overcome the blow!
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – The antagonists you choose for your story can serve more than just the purpose of getting in your protagonist’s way. They can also reveal key points about your main character. Do they represent your protagonist’s biggest fear? Are they voicing the doubts your protagonist secretly battles? Has something they have done in your protagonist’s past caused a barrier they can’t overcome? As you’re writing your story, think about what your antagonists’ actions can reveal to your reader. Try this: for every scene that your antagonist appears in (or every action they make), write down what that interaction reveals about your protagonist. What will readers learn about your main character when we see them with the antagonist?
Antagonists – In summary
1. Antagonists are people-shaped obstacles – consider the ways they frustrate and get in the way of your protagonists.
2. Consider the layers – no antagonist is wholly evil or one-dimensional. Consider the reasons why your antagonists are opposing your protagonists, including their background, personal traumas and fears and world-view.
3. Consider what the antagonists reveal about your protagonists’ deepest fears and drivers. Use antagonists as mirrors to reflect what the protagonist doesn’t want to see!
NEXT TIME: TWISTS!
That’s all for this week…
…but remember to give yourself credit for what you achieve, give yourself grace for what you don’t and give yourself permission to have fun with what you write. Have a great writing week and see you next week for more Foxy Notes!
Happy writing!
Miranda x