29 June 2026·3 min read
Give your antagonist a life beyond the conflict
An antagonist becomes easier to understand when we can see what matters to them.
Write a short account of the conflict from your antagonist’s point of view, as if they were explaining it to someone whose opinion matters to them.
Look for what they want and why their actions make sense to them. You don’t have to agree with their reasoning to make it understandable.
Make the conflict specific
Consider why this antagonist is difficult for this protagonist.
They might want the same thing, know each other’s weaknesses or hold opposing beliefs about something important. A specific connection gives you more to work with than an obstacle that could stand in anyone’s way.
Look beyond cruelty
A cruel act can establish a threat, but it tells us only so much about the person behind it.
Consider the reasoning that lets your antagonist justify what they do. A reader who can follow that reasoning, even while rejecting it, has more to respond to.
Read more
These books explore the ideas in more detail, with examples you can try in your own work.
The Anatomy of Story · John Truby
An approach to structure through character, conflict and the ideas a story explores.
On Writing · Stephen King
A memoir of writing alongside advice on drafting and revision.
Writing the Breakout Novel · Donald Maass
An agent’s perspective on character, stakes and what keeps a story moving.
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