Hi friend,
Let’s talk about villains for a minute.
Not the dramatic, over-the-top kind—but the ones who feel real.
Because here’s something that can quietly weaken a story:
A weak villain.
If your antagonist doesn’t feel believable, your suspense won’t feel strong either.
Here’s a simple shift that can make a big difference:
Most villains don’t see themselves as villains.
They believe they’re right.
That belief is what makes them dangerous.
When you understand why your antagonist does what they do, your story gains depth—and tension.
Try this:
Write a short paragraph from your villain’s point of view.
Let them explain their reasoning.
You don’t have to agree with them.
But you do need to understand them.
That understanding will sharpen every scene they’re in.
Quick question for you:
Do you struggle more with plot… or character?
Just hit reply—I’d love to know.
Cheering you on,
Kathy Cretsinger
Great advice about villains! It’s am trying to rewrite my Mandi mystery books and add a third to complete the series. I don’t really have a villain in the normal sense, but the conflict is the girls’ feelings about their step-father. I hope to have that resolved with the third book so as not to promote the “evil step-father/step-mother theme. I’ve decided non-fiction is more my cup of tea, but I’m going to continue to work on this since I promised one little girl I would do so!
Sometimes our villains are within us. The girls don’t know what to expect when they go back to California and have to live with a step-father they are not sure how to react to. The same for the him, feeling he will not be accepted by the girls. They are creating their own villains in their mind.
Thanks for commenting.