Thoughts Came To Me.

“this character should kill their abuser” i agree. unfortunately they wouldn’t do that.

How to Write Better Villains (Because Your Story Deserves One)

There’s nothing worse than a forgettable villain. You know the type: cartoonishly evil for no reason, monologuing their master plan to no one in particular, and vanishing from memory the second you finish the book. A great villain, though? They haunt your thoughts, challenge your hero, and—sometimes—you catch yourself *agreeing with them*. If you want to level up your storytelling, here’s how to craft villains that stick.

1. Give them a reason to be bad (and make it make sense)

Nobody wakes up one day and just decides to be evil (unless they’re in a Saturday morning cartoon). Real people are shaped by their pasts, fears, and desires—and your villains should be, too. Maybe they believe they’re saving the world, just in a way that costs too much. Maybe they were betrayed and now trust no one. Whatever the case, give them a *why*. Even better? Make your readers *understand* that why, even if they don’t agree with it.

2. Avoid the evil-for-evil’s-sake trope  

Mustache twirling is out. Complexity is in. A villain who kicks puppies just to prove they’re the bad guy is boring. But a villain who feeds stray dogs while orchestrating a political coup? *That’s* compelling. The best antagonists aren’t evil—they’re driven. And when their goals put them in direct conflict with the hero, *that’s* where the tension comes from. Let them think they’re the hero of their own story.

3. Let your villain challenge the protagonist in meaningful ways  

Your villain shouldn’t just be a physical threat—they should challenge your hero’s beliefs, force them to make hard choices, and maybe even make them question themselves. When the antagonist represents a deeper, thematic opposite to the protagonist, you’ve got literary gold. Think of how The Joker unravels Batman’s moral code, or how Killmonger forces T’Challa to reconsider Wakanda’s isolationism. Conflict isn’t just punches—it’s philosophy.

4. Make them unforgettable

Whether it’s a chilling line of dialogue, an eerie calmness, or a twisted sense of humor, give your villain something *distinct*. Personality matters. A unique voice, a specific mannerism, or an unexpected vulnerability can elevate your villain from “meh” to “iconic.” Think about what makes them tick—and what makes them *memorable*.

5. Don’t be afraid to make them right

The scariest villains are the ones who are *almost* right. When a reader can see where they’re coming from—or even agree with some of their points—that’s powerful. It creates tension not just in the story, but in the reader’s own mind. And that’s exactly what a good villain should do: make you question, make you uncomfortable, and make the story impossible to forget.

What are some of your favorite villains in fiction? Drop your favs (or your own villain WIPs) in the tags or replies—I’d love to see them!

he refuses to eat anything but the zombie meat

Been re-reading wings of fire and thought why not draw them as humans. The first image is at the beginning and the second is the after it all.

Honestly, I love it when characters relapse. When someone who’s gotten over their anger issues falls into a situation so out of their depth they fall back on their old habits. When someone who’s learned to open up becomes a recluse again in order to cope with something outside their control.

There’s just something so horrible, so toxic, about watching a character grow and then slip back into their old selves in order to cope, bc you know they still care, that they’re the same inside, but watching them hurt so hard they don’t know what else to do brings a sense of catharsis.

violent birth

characters have to be a little bit awful in ways that you cant defend. its good for the ecosystem. your honor he did do that. He did in fact do that

I have observed 3 types if trans masc people

1.) Very aesthetic - they have a fashion sense. Often has dyed hair and possibly some elaborate jewelry on. Definitely has a pinterest and is usually an artist in one way or another. They also usually adopt different core styles like cottagecore etc.

2.) The average Joe - they tend to blend in quite well, and can be stealth or straight passing. More natural hair colors, and button up shirts.

3.) The rodent - Looks like they just climed out if the gutter. Caffeine is their life source. Most likely to see them in the late/early hours of night. Often wears the same clothes for multiple days and faintly smells of cheese.

Keep in mind there is overlap and any person can definitely embody all three. These are just some general observations I've made on the different types of trans masc people I have seen/met.

When you share a story you wrote with a friend and they only appear on the doc for 5 seconds before sending you a text saying it's good.

it's november 16th and my best friend brought up my tweet from 4 years ago where i said that if anyone was overwhelmed by what was happening on the dsmp they could go watch phil because he made sure he would have a chill stream that day and oh this did not age well LMAOOO whenever i see this i just have to laugh