Recognize the need for adversity.

Real life is just fine without any ups and downs. Who wants to repeatedly dodge pitfalls or live on the run because you are being pursued by a stalker? Silly question, I know, but books would be pretty boring without chaos. Without bad guys.

Although I’m partial to the action-packed Thriller genre, even the sweet Romance needs an antagonist. Who else is going to put Rapunzel in the tower for the prince to rescue? There wouldn’t be a story without a hero-and a hero is made through terrible trouble.

Understand the anatomy of a villain.

Now that you see the need for villains in your story, I bet you’re wondering what makes him a terrific, albeit memorable, bad guy? What keeps your readers coming back for more misery? I’ll bet my bottom dollar they don’t just want a hum-drum character. No. They want a villain detestable enough to be called a fiend! Someone who is a cheat and a louse. No one will make you raise your fist in the air like a swindler or give you the creeps like a delinquent or sociopath. In other words, everyone loves to hate a bad guy. Right? Whether their sins are blatantly apparent from the beginning of chapter one or remain hidden for a while, tucked away in the complexities of relationships so they become-may I dare say-likable, they’re going to be the ones to create both the story’s chaos and the climax.

Ensure your villain creates a ruckus.

His or her badness must become obvious and make the reader want justice for the main character or protagonist. Yes, women can be bad too! The wicked woman can appear even scarier than a man because, according to nature as mothers, women are the nurturers. Think Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians and Jadis the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia. And these are children’s tales! Imagine the depth of cruelty to be witnessed from the grown-up versions. If you are familiar with my debut novel, Eve’s Covering, you will have already met a few of my female villains. For instance, Marigold says she is a prophetess-but is she, really? Or does she just like to control people? As her name implies, she is as beautiful as a flower. But hidden in her name is the love of money. That might not seem so bad, but did I mention her green eyes are almost reptilian?

Perform a name analysis before you start to write.

Although people from my past inspired my characters, I have given them new names and embellishments to protect the innocent… and the guilty. To create depth to my number one bad guy, I made his name symbolic. Meet Mr. Simon C. Blackwell.

So, here is my analysis: I’ve named Simon after the sorcerer in the New Testament who tried to buy the power of the holy spirit and was therefore cursed by Paul. The C. stands for Clyde, which rhymes with hide. He is hiding secrets—skeletons in his closet, you might say. The initial C can also stand for Cain, Abel’s brother—you get my gist on that one. Last, Blackwell brings to mind images of a dark cistern or hole. It can be a deathly trap to those who fall into it. It is also a symbol for a dry well, so unlike Christ’s well of living water.

Don’t forget the gallantry.

Although a book may have many “flat” characters or those lacking personality, a good antagonist is a scoundrel with many layers. I believe the best ones also have qualities that draw us to them, making them feel more real – like we might bump into them in line at the grocery store or sit down next to them at the coffee shop. Thank goodness that there are few Hannibal Lectors and Adolf Hitlers among us! Most bad guys can be pleasing and even gallant, if only for selfishness’ sake.

My Mr. Blackwell is charming, charismatic, and handsome… a self-proclaimed prophet and apostle, willing to sell snake oil to get what he wants. In fact, in Eve’s Covering only a few characters ever realize he is a con man. In my sequel-which is my current work in progress-Mr. Blackwell is resurrected and lives a double life as part of the criminal underground world. To most people, he is noble and good. Unfortunately, my main character, Eve, gets too close and must decide how far she will go to uncover the deception and fight for truth…and the lives of those she loves.

Here’s to a good fight,

Elsie