#149. 5 Questions To Write Better Antagonists

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Antagonists can make or break a story—both for the writer and the reader.

Writers who don’t spend time developing their antagonists tend to write drafts that fall apart in the middle. Anyone who reads a story with a weak or unconvincing protagonist is unlikely to finish it.

So, how do we go about making our antagonists just as compelling as our protagonists? How do we write an antagonist with impact?

In this episode, I’m sharing five questions that will help you create a compelling, genre-appropriate antagonist who will provide the central conflict in your novel.

In the episode, you’ll learn things like:

• [02:25] What does it mean to write “an antagonist?” Plus, my thoughts on the common misconception that antagonists are always “bad guys”
• [04:11] Tips for fleshing out your antagonist’s goal, motivation, and plans—aka THE KEY to writing a solid antagonist (and avoiding a middle that sags)
• [13:47] An easy way to determine what’s at stake for your antagonist should they succeed or fail in accomplishing their goal (hint: it’s related to your genre!)
• [19:26] How to determine the thematic significance of your antagonist (and how identifying this will help you write a more cohesive and impactful story)
• [23:09] Episode recap and final thoughts

If you’ve ever had trouble fleshing out your story’s antagonist, or if you’ve ever written a draft that falls apart in the middle, this is the episode for you!

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🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 131 - 5 Steps To Start Planning Your Book Series
• Ep. 145 - How To Develop Your Character's Backstory
• Pre-order my new book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: A Story Grid Masterwork Analysis Guide

Save your seat in my upcoming LIVE training > Your Start To Finish Book Blueprint: How to Write a Novel In 5 Easy Steps (No MFA Or Creative Writing Degree Required)

👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Chapters

1. Crafting Impactful Antagonists in Fiction (00:00:00)

2. Developing Antagonist Goals and Motivations (00:07:47)

3. Antagonist (00:14:43)