Masyn

Thanks. I appreciate it. Just for future reference, though.

To the rescue! *Glares* Order in the Court!
Ahem. Now.
Our independent farm girl is afraid of leaving the farm because her older sister did the same thing a long time ago, and our independent farm girl (Karen) doesn’t know what happened to her. She’s afraid it was something awful, because it is only ever discussed in whispers. So she clings to the…[Read more]

Okay you guys… I mean, really.
I’m back, and hopefully some sanity will return to this topic. I’ve a question for you. Either of you. I will assume you like questions. That, I believe, is what you call a logical assumption.
Why are all writers crazy?
Just curious.
Okay. Now for serious. Nice point you made about antagonists, Hannah. I like that…[Read more]

Don’t be afraid to smash me if you don’t agree with something I post, Ezra. I mean, really. I can take a fair amount of criticism. It’s part of being a writer. Just don’t complain if I smash you back. Haha!
You gave the next stage of the argument. I really can’t think of anything to add to it. You took what I gave as ‘guidelines’ and applied it…[Read more]

Thanks!
Okay, I’m back. I wanted to do a more in depth post after Ezra’s post, but I didn’t have time then, and now my computer is about to die, so bear with me if the poor thing kicks the bucket in the middle of this post.
Actually, there was one villain whom you referenced, Ezra, that I am definitely familiar with and have studied in depth. As…[Read more]

No problem! So glad I was able to be of some assistance. One of my very favorite things about writing, if not my most favorite, is designing and filling out my characters. Nothing compares to getting to know all these fantastic different personalities, and talk with them, and have them live inside you. Nothing.

I’m pretty miffed at Melissa for rejecting Manfred, so I’m going to say he finds another girl who will appreciate him.
One thing we forgot to give Manfred was something or someone he’s afraid of. Everyone is afraid of something. Maybe he’s afraid of failure— and yet he allowed his opponent to win the case and sacrificed himself in that way all…[Read more]

A-men!
Wow! That was amazing. I haven’t seen any of the movies or villains you referenced, but all of your points were excellent—thought provoking. Very thought provoking.
Wow. You covered everything else I wanted to say. Thanks for writing my post for me! Now we’re out of a discussion. Ugh. I hope I’m wrong. I like this topic.

And I don’t…[Read more]

Right— there you go. I had a dominant character on paper. You took him to the next level. You found what I didn’t put in my… ahem… lecture above. I had the hard side of him. You brought out the focus more on his soft spot. Ugh. How painful it is to have a soft spot. I have several. Sorry, but prime rib is not one of them.
I like the idea of…[Read more]

Okay… it begins.
Specifically for fantasy and medieval stories: I like what you can do with these characters because of their setting. Think of all the societal issues— all the conflicting interests. The cruel barons who rely upon their serfs to work their land, the serfs who cannot leave him, the king to whom the baron answers, the advisors…[Read more]

Bones? I don’t eat bones.

Depth is perfectly agreeable to me!So… okay. Wow, how do we start? Umm… let’s start with an extremely dominant character. Let’s say this guy has very strong opinions, can be stubborn (usually is stubborn) doesn’t always like other people’s opinions… is… yeah. Dominant.
To make the reader love him, we need to…[Read more]

Good points.
Morbid?! My dear young lady, you sound like a girl after my own heart!

Oh and by the way, Daeus, I thought of a literary villain that fits your category of conflicted, I think. Captain Nemo, from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Have you read it? He was my favorite character. I know, I’m not supposed to love the villain, but I pitied…[Read more]

Oh boy, what an extensive topic! Are we being general, or covering all the different personalities in depth? One thing I can tell you regardless of personality, though. The perfect protagonist… is the one who is by no means perfect. (That was supposed to be funny— you were supposed to laugh).
One of my all time favorite books is Howard Pyle’s…[Read more]

Hey! Another fantasy author! Join the club.
Do you mean specifically for fantasy, or for any character in any genre? Is there anything about writing a fantasy character you think should be different than writing any of the other genres? (Despite the fact that they can use magic, some of the time).
I’d love to be in this discussion with you.…[Read more]

A band of trusty renegades! I would give anything for one of those at my beck and call. (Not). Haha!
For myself, I have to admit I like my villains to come in all different shapes and sizes and types. I don’t think I have a definitive favorite to either read about or write about— just so long as it is well written, and by that I mean is both…[Read more]

Good thoughts. What are some good ways to actually show this in the story, instead of giving it to your reader in so many words?
Say we have a number one type villain— the one who thought his original actions were justifiable, and did not notice when he slipped farther and farther into evil. We could tell the reader that such was the case, but…[Read more]

You had no idea your introductory post would turn into such a deep and touching discussion, did you Daniel?

I’d have to agree. There’s something very specially human about those kinds of villains. It’s like you can almost relate to them— you can look at them, and you can see sometimes that they may at one time, at one point, have had a chance to be good men— and they could have done it, too, if they had only tried a little harder. Sometimes you are…[Read more]

I think a battleaxe, if held in the right hands, could penetrate almost any form of armor. It would actually be easier, I think, for a battleaxe to penetrate hard armor because there is solid resistance and something very substantial to cut, but if the blow struck on the mail covered leather shirt was not a glancing blow I think it would…[Read more]