tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post6990191972156242701..comments2024-01-07T07:07:36.972-07:00Comments on Discover. . .: Do You Love Your #Villains? By Barbara Bettis #WickedWednesdayBrenda Whitesidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-74841758415641081852018-12-06T08:59:50.506-07:002018-12-06T08:59:50.506-07:00Great post, Barbara! I will always remember what m...Great post, Barbara! I will always remember what my editor told me during edits on my second book in a five book series. Be careful you don't back your villain into a corner. If he's going to be doing his evil deeds for five long stories, you don't want him to become predictable. Taking those words to heart, I created many layers to my villain and this also allowed me to expand my creativity with him. By the time I was finished writing the final book, I was extremely happy he met his demise. Mary Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11999861032120466782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-42068006654034922302018-12-06T08:25:03.718-07:002018-12-06T08:25:03.718-07:00When I create villains, I think about all the trai...When I create villains, I think about all the traits that make me angry with people, and I'm able to punish the bad behavior. Not all of them find a horrible end though. Great post!Ilona Fridlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-49796329850690545072018-12-06T08:14:56.496-07:002018-12-06T08:14:56.496-07:00I've had all sorts of villains, from unredeema...I've had all sorts of villains, from unredeemable sociopaths to some that were more simply misguided and weak. In my current book, a medieval, my villain is so devoted to his cause, he can't see past it. The main thing is that you have to properly motivate them and make them seem like real people. Interesting post!Mary Gillgannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03576518364465232493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-2881533327042930182018-12-05T22:13:54.856-07:002018-12-05T22:13:54.856-07:00[Sorry about that – my post had glaring problems. ...[Sorry about that – my post had glaring problems. I'm trying again.]<br /><br />Thanks for the interesting post, Barbara. <br />I like writing villains but have to add some redeeming traits to keep them from becoming clichés. But not too redeeming or sympathetic, just enough to keep them three-dimensional. I like to see them have their own story arc, too.<br />CatCat Dubiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16468996085840675920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-23442162023856298832018-12-05T22:03:18.432-07:002018-12-05T22:03:18.432-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Cat Dubiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16468996085840675920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-75681372034129332442018-12-05T18:20:00.069-07:002018-12-05T18:20:00.069-07:00I kinda, sorta, like writing villains! My latest -...I kinda, sorta, like writing villains! My latest - wow, I love him. He is both strong and weak, a wee bit messed up, and completely flawed with his own character arc...but I think the readers will find sympathy with him but alas, he is still the villain and I won't let him steal the show. I found the Ackerman and Puglisi Thesaurus series (pos and neg traits, emotional wounds) helpful in defining my protagonists and my villains. Jean M. Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12495227043618994354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-78946936353716798032018-12-05T16:31:19.499-07:002018-12-05T16:31:19.499-07:00Reformed villains. So they can't be too bad to...Reformed villains. So they can't be too bad to begin with--which is what makes the tricky to create, right? :) Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-2052671039623172272018-12-05T16:30:23.178-07:002018-12-05T16:30:23.178-07:00Aren't they challenging to write? Love 'em...Aren't they challenging to write? Love 'em :) Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-49794145208760091512018-12-05T15:33:32.335-07:002018-12-05T15:33:32.335-07:00You're always a welcomed guest!You're always a welcomed guest!Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-30172168597653290332018-12-05T13:21:38.111-07:002018-12-05T13:21:38.111-07:00Tena, how funny. I just remarked that some villain...Tena, how funny. I just remarked that some villains were redeemed. Which book of yours was that? I don't know if I've read that one--thought I had all of yours. Hmmm. Email me :) I want to make sure I have it. Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-74372533332404006672018-12-05T13:19:44.936-07:002018-12-05T13:19:44.936-07:00Sorry about removing -- but I had a dandy typo LOL...Sorry about removing -- but I had a dandy typo LOL. I've read some books that have redeemed the villains in subsequent books that have worked out well. One of the first was a Georgette Heyer Regency.Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-5665691881664636212018-12-05T13:17:00.851-07:002018-12-05T13:17:00.851-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-8182991090544378822018-12-05T13:15:24.066-07:002018-12-05T13:15:24.066-07:00That's true, Laura. And I like modeling them o...That's true, Laura. And I like modeling them on unnice people from the past!Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-19873668796938781562018-12-05T11:57:22.976-07:002018-12-05T11:57:22.976-07:00Nothing better than a reformed villain! Great inte...Nothing better than a reformed villain! Great interview.Cyndie Zahnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02690612181128964101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-79766671415165643762018-12-05T10:09:58.131-07:002018-12-05T10:09:58.131-07:00I love villains. They're so complex and fun to...I love villains. They're so complex and fun to write.JENNIFER WILCKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16218241106543538422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-17615178562345458542018-12-05T10:08:13.102-07:002018-12-05T10:08:13.102-07:00Yep, sometimes love my villain too much. I fully a...Yep, sometimes love my villain too much. I fully agree. In one of my books, I did the same as you reformed him and the next book n the series was his story. Enjoyed your post. Thanks for sharing!Tena Stetlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17728074623573439351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-72022524689483704722018-12-05T10:07:00.618-07:002018-12-05T10:07:00.618-07:00Great post! Sometimes you can't help but love ...Great post! Sometimes you can't help but love the villain!Debby Grahlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10100135421306117675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-74129791704703140422018-12-05T09:55:12.274-07:002018-12-05T09:55:12.274-07:00I tend to model (and name) my villains after peopl...I tend to model (and name) my villains after people who were less than kind to me in the past, or after present-day ogres. Naming them after real people tends to allow me a deeper understanding of their motivations. Nobody is all bad, but in my opinion, some folks truly are beyond redemption.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-86098124563506610282018-12-05T09:29:23.513-07:002018-12-05T09:29:23.513-07:00Thanks for hosting me today, Brenda.I so enjoy you...Thanks for hosting me today, Brenda.I so enjoy your blogs :) Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-51915255206629033932018-12-05T09:28:54.871-07:002018-12-05T09:28:54.871-07:00I'm glad your villains have some good points, ...I'm glad your villains have some good points, Liz! I loved a redeemed hero as well :) Barbara Bettishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16540961829243251471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-32981700401955437512018-12-05T07:45:04.229-07:002018-12-05T07:45:04.229-07:00It is a good post. Thanks for coming by, Liz.It is a good post. Thanks for coming by, Liz.Brenda Whitesidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04162555468154752820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3787196793070180268.post-10718392207278136922018-12-05T04:30:52.928-07:002018-12-05T04:30:52.928-07:00I don't mind villains, but I do love redemptio...I don't mind villains, but I do love redemption, so mine usually have some good things going on, too. Great post, Barb.<br />Liz Flahertyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06794565644883272260noreply@blogger.com