Writing Wickedly Good Villains (Watch Now!)

How do you create an antagonist like Hannibal Lecter or Annie Wilkes?

Watch Now!

In this interactive 2-hour workshop, you’ll discover how to craft an unforgettable, wickedly good villain that keeps readers up past their bedtime. Best-selling author and longtime speaker Shayla Raquel teaches novelists how to:

1. Choose Your Type: There are different types of antagonists, so we’ll first determine if you have an Evil Antagonist, Opposing Antagonist, Superior Antagonist, or Internal Antagonist.

2. Determine Your Villain’s Trigger: Your antagonist did not just wake up one day and decide to be bad. There was a trigger that led them down this path.

3. Find Your Villain’s Saving Grace: There must be a redeeming quality when it comes to your villain. Help your readers relate to your antagonist by finding their saving grace. (This section includes a fun “Who am I?” game, real-life villain style.)

4. Answer the Age-Old Question: Was it nature or nurture that created your villain? Could it be both?

5. Pinpoint Motive: From revenge to honor, from betrayal to desperation, there is a motive, a reason, for why your antagonist opposes the protagonist. Give them a strong motive, and the reader will stay captivated.

6. Sketch It Out: By using an in-depth character sketch, you can create an antagonist that feels 100% real to the reader. (Class attendees will receive their very own character sketch template to download!)

7. Special Q&A: Why is your antagonist falling flat? What are you struggling with? Let’s brainstorm together in this special Q&A.

INCLUDES: Antagonist Character Sketch Template + Annie Wilkes (Misery) Character Sketch Example

Note: You will receive a PDF with instructions on how to securely access the workshop.