tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post5047193465834346516..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: Where Do Antagonists Come from?Danihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-21468271029146948932016-07-16T17:16:22.839-06:002016-07-16T17:16:22.839-06:00Thanks for making the extra effort to share you co...Thanks for making the extra effort to share you comments through e-mail, S. K. Randolph. They're much appreciated. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-48495919395007357592016-07-15T08:52:57.255-06:002016-07-15T08:52:57.255-06:00The following comment came to me via e-mail becaus...The following comment came to me via e-mail because the sender is unable to post it via our site. This is an ongoing problem for her, as well as for some others who have come to me with the same complaint. Any ideas on how to fix the problem?<br /><br />Post from S.K. Randolph, author:<br /><br />Linda, I love the article on antagonists! One of the most intriguing characters to develop is a good bad guy. What I have found interesting in my own writing is that mine always start out drenched in their badness. But . . . by the end of the book, we discover the layers of life that have turned them into villains. Like humans in general, my protagonists seem to be in recovery from the woundings of their childhoods and their lives. <br /><br />Although I like my protagonists, my bad guys draw me into their psyches in a different way. <br /><br />Thanks for the article! <br /><br />S.K. RandolphLinda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-12439724237474581702016-07-14T17:38:29.717-06:002016-07-14T17:38:29.717-06:00As a writer, I can understand how a villain might ...As a writer, I can understand how a villain might attain that status. As a reader, it's unacceptable. As an editor, I must ask, "Where was the editor of this book?" Interesting comment, Diana, and a good reminder that we need to infuse all our characters with life.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-86827061042491982372016-07-14T14:25:00.130-06:002016-07-14T14:25:00.130-06:00In one story I critique, the villain is more inter...In one story I critique, the villain is more interesting and alive than the other characters. It's a bit of a problem.Diana Hurwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18216220574149672733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-72582601693731919682016-07-14T14:21:16.340-06:002016-07-14T14:21:16.340-06:00Me, too, Christopher. I try not to think about tha...Me, too, Christopher. I try not to think about that. (Sure hope that doesn't make me a closet villain!)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-88120729743484989332016-07-14T13:55:00.833-06:002016-07-14T13:55:00.833-06:00Antagonists come a little too easily to me, Linda ...Antagonists come a little too easily to me, Linda ... mmmmmm?Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-4135881632684045212016-07-14T12:59:59.498-06:002016-07-14T12:59:59.498-06:00Everybody has imperfections. The degree to which t...Everybody has imperfections. The degree to which those flaws govern their lives determines whether they qualify as antagonists, protagonists, or something in between. Thank you for your comments, Polly. :-)Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16056682992943171805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-45994861107498615892016-07-14T07:09:30.038-06:002016-07-14T07:09:30.038-06:00Good post, Linda. Yes, actors love to play antagon...Good post, Linda. Yes, actors love to play antagonists and villains. Some of the biggest names in movies have won Oscars for playing villains, from Anthony Hopkins, Denzel Washington, Daniel Day Lewis, Kevin Spacey, and the list goes on. Much meatier roles. Same in books. It's much easier to write a villain, with all his twisted characteristics, than it is to write a bland good guy. Personally, I love to make my good guys with a little twist too, or else he'd bore me to death. Unfortunately, you're right about something else. Examples of bad guys are all over the place on a daily basis. Great for writers; not so great for life.Polly Iyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05729656119287702191noreply@blogger.com