Update: That prompt to write from the villain's side totally threw me off

Now I can't figure out how to make my hero look good anymore.

3 comments

3 Comments

Ever get so into the villain's head that the hero just seems dull? That prompt messes with your focus. Villains often have strong drives. Heroes can feel weak in comparison. Maybe show the hero struggling with a similar choice. But they pick the harder, right path. It takes time to adjust back.

alexw741mo ago

Totally get where you're coming from with that. Villains do have that pull because their wants are so clear. Focusing on the hero's tough choices helps make them interesting again.

moore.stella1mo ago

What if you flip the script and write FROM the hero's doubt first? I've hit that wall where the villain just STEALS every scene. My trick is writing the hero's biggest fear on a sticky note before any dialogue. This makes me sit in their doubt, so their final choice feels huge. Readers care about that fight inside them more than the villain's simple goals. You have to show the real cost of doing good in every single step they take. That turns a boring hero into someone you really root for.