How to write a manipulative villain

As a reader, I love to be tortured. I love the suspense, the waiting, the anticipation as a novel unfolds. It’s my favorite part of reading a story. Sure I love it when the love interests finally get together or the murderer is finally revealed, but the really fun part is the tension: The anticipation […]

There are a lot of poorly written manipulative characters out there. So here is the ultimate guide to writing a manipulative character.

Tips How to Write Villains that Play Mind Games with Their Victims. Do you love to write manipulative villains? Try these writing tips to write your villains.

Some of the most memorable villains are those that mimic your hero’s key traits back at them—also known as a foil character. Here's how to write one of your own.

How to write A Game-Changing Villain. It’s the last quarter. There are only 30 seconds left in the game. The rivalry is heated and both sides want the WIN but

From Darth Vader to Count Dracula, some of the best fiction writing contains unforgettable villains. Villains help define your story’s hero, [drive the conflict](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sharpen-your-writing-skills-internal-vs-external-conflict), and capture the reader’s attention. For that reason, villains are just as important as the good guys in your story.

Sometimes, the most effective villain is the one you didn’t see coming. It’s the helpful friend who turns out to be the villain’s stooge, the kindly inn-keeper hiding cannibalistic intent, or the sage master whose long-game is to tempt you to the dark side. Of course, for these villains to work, you have to trust