tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post8708199432673497682..comments2024-03-27T03:25:59.119-04:00Comments on Robyn Campbell: Strong Protag, sure. What about the antag?Robyn Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-69959361668565038842009-11-09T18:48:00.155-05:002009-11-09T18:48:00.155-05:00I love messing with my antagonist's life. I wa...I love messing with my antagonist's life. I want the reader to feel sorry for them. Then it's always harder to hate them. ;) Great post.B.J. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10767654810069240472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-53812275109032495462009-11-09T16:04:22.975-05:002009-11-09T16:04:22.975-05:00I'm dealing with an old geezer that is determi...I'm dealing with an old geezer that is determined to have his own way. My story is just opening up to start hearing his side of things.<br /><br />Great post!Tamika:https://www.blogger.com/profile/04874834971492028558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-18789365867804957382009-11-09T13:46:17.250-05:002009-11-09T13:46:17.250-05:00I heard somewhere the protagonist derives his stre...I heard somewhere the protagonist derives his strength from that of the antagonist to match it. I try to keep this in mind!<br />have fun!PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-83735685310278830132009-11-09T13:30:36.422-05:002009-11-09T13:30:36.422-05:00I love a good villain. In fact, I often think of ...I love a good villain. In fact, I often think of Much Ado about Nothing where I was really rooting for the villain, Don John, just because he was doing it for no reason other than being a villain and he was pissy. Quote: "Though I cannot be said to be a flattering, honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain." I LOVE IT! I love me a good villain. I think it's really important for you to know why the villain is behaving as he/she/it is--just as much as the protagonist.Wendy Sparrowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06240583852940769313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-63017770379196155052009-11-09T12:20:08.494-05:002009-11-09T12:20:08.494-05:00We work so hard on the protagonist that sometimes ...We work so hard on the protagonist that sometimes we forget that the antagonist needs to have a character arc as well.Pattihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00685341739870191402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-40344685641968528742009-11-09T11:56:33.110-05:002009-11-09T11:56:33.110-05:00Woo hoo! A YA story with an unsuspected antagonist...Woo hoo! A YA story with an unsuspected antagonist. I'm excited!<br /><br />Often my antagonist is either the protagonist himself, or outside circumstances. It makes for a challenge sometimes but it's also simpler in a way. If the antagonist is conflict and you already have conflict in your story, then you just have to boost it up some and really give your characters a hard time and some major internal struggles and you've made progress.Cindy R. Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13488732331021750408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-17158502984969835712009-11-09T10:44:06.353-05:002009-11-09T10:44:06.353-05:00Yep, the antag is just as important. Funny, thoug...Yep, the antag is just as important. Funny, though, our WIP's sound a little alike. :)Susan R. Millshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09578747592345750650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-84773239519203023992009-11-09T10:31:35.578-05:002009-11-09T10:31:35.578-05:00With the antagonist I try to have him want what th...With the antagonist I try to have him want what the protagonist wants, or at least want something similar. He may have a twisted way of trying to get what he wants, he may be dysfunctional or angry or just scared. I try to make him complex.Paulhttp://paulgreci.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-88828940063269172402009-11-09T10:01:40.959-05:002009-11-09T10:01:40.959-05:00Sounds like an interesting story. I always worry ...Sounds like an interesting story. I always worry I'm going to make my antagonist too interesting and readers will cheer for her/him instead of the protagonist. But that hasn't happened yet, so I guess I should stop worrying!Linda Kagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00259042112816376940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-8678845598036873862009-11-09T09:46:25.143-05:002009-11-09T09:46:25.143-05:00One thing that really developed my antagonist was ...One thing that really developed my antagonist was to do an author to character interview. Ask the antagonist questions about his childhood, etc. and let him answer first-person. This is a great exercise and leads to lots of usable stuff that you learn when you let them talk to you in thier own voice. Happy writing!Tricia J. O'Brienhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993110400088806252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-57312536843429657422009-11-09T09:17:51.029-05:002009-11-09T09:17:51.029-05:00This is one area I struggle w/ as a writer. I know...This is one area I struggle w/ as a writer. I know that my protag needs to be evil but how do you do that w/out sounding cliche at times? well, some do it well, but I'm still working on it....Tesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10014195715998913268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-24907138134955508112009-11-09T08:43:56.381-05:002009-11-09T08:43:56.381-05:00Kristi, hmm, I can't wait to read it. Is that ...Kristi, hmm, I can't wait to read it. Is that the one I read a little of? It sounds exciting. Aren't the bad guys FUN to write? :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-14906360964195799152009-11-09T08:37:41.599-05:002009-11-09T08:37:41.599-05:00Scott, well it's obvious that nature is the cu...Scott, well it's obvious that nature is the culprit in Seventy Two Hours. But in my YA mystery there are a couple of guys you would never suspect. Which one? You'll have to buy the book to find out. :)<br /><br />I love characters that we love to hate. They're what makes it so much fun. :)Robyn Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17356555082768185840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-6693156224283955562009-11-09T08:29:32.902-05:002009-11-09T08:29:32.902-05:00I agree and I love antagonists that you love to ha...I agree and I love antagonists that you love to hate. :) My current WIP has a group of antagonists, but the one closest to the protag is her mentor. *evil eyebrow wiggle*<br /><br />Great post, good reminder!!!Kristi Faithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17527544253341529009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8281953808326156682.post-53277967384581931862009-11-09T08:24:44.300-05:002009-11-09T08:24:44.300-05:00Okay, fine, now I know who did it??? Gee, take all...Okay, fine, now I know who did it??? Gee, take all the fun out of me reading the novel and trying to figure out who done it! : )<br /><br />I agree! The antag, when the antag is not the protag (internal vs. external, and all that jazz), must be just as defined. I think every character, even the peripheral ones need great definition, but not so much as the protag/antag.<br /><br />Even if I'm going to hate a character, I want that character defined, vibrant, leaping off the page at me. I want characters I can relate to on some level, even if that level is hate.<br /><br />Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter. OMG! I don't think I have ever despised a fictional character more than I despised her. J.K. Rowling wrote that character so well, made her deeds so evil and mean, that I couldn't help but hate that character. She also made her fall from grace quite wonderful as well.<br /><br />So, yes, the antag needs to shine as brightly as the protag.<br /><br />SScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.com