RavenCon: Writing a Believable Villain

Heroes generally have most of these characteristics: Smart, Resilient, Inspiring, Strong, Reliable, Charismastic, Selfless,and Caring. Good villains generally also have most of those, except "Selfless" and "Caring".

A hero will do whatever it takes to get what he wants at his own expense. A villain will do the same, except at others' expense.

A villain is a hero whose goals are not compatible with yours.

In the Hero Journey, the hero faces a choice and chooses to overcome his weakness. The villain doesn't make that choice. (Note: I don't necessarily agree with that one; the hero might instead decide "to stick to his morals"; the difference being that "morals" aren't generally seen as "weakness").

The best villains believe they are heroes, and that what they do is justified. He may have lines he won't cross--he might kill your whole family but not hurt a puppy.

A villain does a bad thing for good reasons; an anti-hero does a good thing for bad reasons. (Alternately: an antiero is a villain seen as protagonist).