Today's IWSG question looks like a fun one - Whose perspective do you like to write from best, the hero (protagonist) or the villain (antagonist)? And why?
Now that I'm thinking about it, I've only ever written from a hero's point of view - don't know if that's a subconscious choice, but it felt like the natural one. Shouldn't we see events from the perspective of someone on the side of right? Their epic battle to overcome the forces of evil? Of course, I'll still give insights into what the villain is thinking, their motivation and background (this is easier with third person). But overall, the story is told very much from the hero's side.
This question got me thinking, though. What could a story told from the villain's perspective look like, at least in my hands? It would involve a very different take on things, because of course a villain usually believes that the nefarious activities they engage in are for the best and perfectly justifiable. Maybe a dual POV story, showing both sides, would be fun. Definitely something to bear in mind!
Some IWSG news now: Showing that my home country has great taste (not to mention great writers, of course), the IWSG recently made the UK Writer's Hub's 50 Best Writing Blogs in 2018 list! A great accolade.
Which perspective do you prefer writing from - the hero's or the villain's? Don't forget to check out more IWSG posts here.
26 comments:
Hope the tour was a success! (Even if I made it a day longer...)
Story told from the villain's perspective - Maleficent. And it worked.
I agree with your thought on Dual POV. I don't think I'm built to write or read a story based on a Villain. I would need to back and forth from a break from the pain. Happy IWSG Day.
I agree with you that it would be hard to write from the villain's POV and create a story that grabs readers' attention. Glad your blog tour went well.
I hope the blog tour went well, Nick!
You could write a story where it looks like the main character is the hero and it's not until later we realize he's the villain. Because yes, even a villain thinks he or she is doing the right thing.
Writing from a villains perspective makes me feel weird, good weird, but weird. It's like, should I be thinking about killing a person? The answer is yes. Be a good villain. :)
Teresa
I do tend to write from the hero - but prefer the villian. I need to work that out in my writer brain! haha
The villain is the hero in his own story. So, I wonder if anyone really writes from the antagonist's point of view, unless it's just to show what the protagonist is up against.
I enjoy writing about my villains, but have never written in their perspectives before. I think it'll be tricky for me, because I like the mystery and surprise I can create in the hero's/heroine's POV when the villain does something bad. I'd want to keep that, but how do you do that when writing in the villain's POV, showing what they do, plan, and revealing their thoughts? Hmm...
Yes, the villain thinks his/her goal is perfectly justified. Thus the reason villains are so fun to write. We have to figure out a way to make them lose at their goal all while teaching them something. Kind of like we do with a hero. Or we can change their goal, make them grow in ways that surprise themselves. Okay, all this talk has got me brainstorming!
I mostly write from the hero's perspective, but I think it would be fun to write a story from the villain's POV.
I like stories where the "hero" and "villain" are always obvious. Where even the "heroes" have flaws that make you hate them sometimes, and the villains have a sympathetic side that can make you see their point of view.
I'm not saying I'm good enough to write any of that mind you, but I do enjoy reading it.
Sometimes I like to blur the line between good and evil, but other times, it is fun to root for a "good" character.
One thing these questions do is open up our minds and let us consider other options.
Congrats on the blog tour. I hope it was successful. I enjoyed having you on my blog. It seems natural to me to write from the hero's (male & female) pov. No way would I want to be in a villain's mind. I can't watch Criminal Minds for that reason.
I think tellin the same story from the villian's POV would result in a different story – if you see what I mean.
My current work has a protagonist POV, and what I'll call a flawed protagonist. They bump up against each other, but neither is really bad. Life conspires against them both...
I think it'd be a fun experiment writing from the villain's perspective. Because you're right, they probably feel justified in what they do!
I agree with Diane.
I struggle to write villains who aren't cliche, so not sure I could pull this off.
Alex - That's a great example.
Erika - It could be heavy going!
Natalie - It would be hard to root for them.
Madeline - Thanks! It was fun.
Diane - That could be fiendish!
Teresa - It's a weird mindframe to get into.
Tammy - Villains can be fun.
Liz - Good point.
Chrys - I see what you mean. Part of the fun is the hero outwitting the villain.
Sheri - Ha! Anything a villain learns would probably make them more villainous.
Patricia - Worth a try at least!
C. D. - Good to aim for something.
Sara - Blurring the lines is good!
Lee - It gets you thinking.
Diane - Thanks. We have to get in their mind a little bit, to understand their motivation.
Patsy - That would be interesting - two takes on the action.
Liza - Sounds interesting!
Loni - Yes!
Melissa - Tough to avoid those clichés. There's more to them than twirling moustaches.
Sounds like you have your next challenge ready for you Nick: write a story or flash from the villain perspective. You'll rock that, I'm sure.
I usually write from the hero's point of view too- but I have written some short story from the villain's POV and I really enjoyed doing it.
Happy writing!
~Jess
Hope your blog tour went well.
The villain's POV can be fun, but in short doses ;)
I'll sometimes do the villain's POV in small amounts. Showing their motivation and justification for their evil is sometimes fun to dig into.
Ooh. Dual POV can be fun. I tend to write from the heroic perspective, though it's especially fun giving them flaws. Happy Writing!
Post a Comment