Today, I sat down to try to start shaping my antagonist, but before I could get to the character profile, I ended up having to do a little geopolitical work. Since this is an epic fantasy, ultimately, the fate of kingdoms needs to be at stake (in fact, the back cover copy for my book says exactly that). So, I needed to nail down why my antagonist was seeking power.
I am trying to avoid the straight-up baddie villain. I like the idea (again from Truby’s Anatomy of Story, that the antagonist should be competing with the protagonist over the same thing. I am also following the advice from the How to Write a Bestseller Course that the antagonist needs to have a reason to do the horrible things that he does – a reason based out of fear that drives him to desperation.
I got that nailed down – I know why my antagonist wants power, what he is competing with the hero over (her life or death, as it happens) and why. I’m also working on his physical description and habits. So far so good. Character interview to follow tomorrow as I continue with my work.
At this point, though, I have no intent for my antagonist to even appear in book 1. So there is going to have to be a much larger cast of baddies to come. (Plus the good guys, too, of course!)