JUNE, MAY, 2020
VANQUISH CARTOON VILLAINS—
THE CRUX OF A CRUCIAL STORY RELATIONSHIP
By: Alice Orr
What distinguishes a cartoon from a credible villain who shivers along our nerve endings? The
difference is that we understand, on a mentally engaging level, the reasons for the credible villain‘s behavior.
We don‘t have to sympathize with him, but we need to comprehend him.
You must conjure for us the genesis of this character’s twistedness. You make him real, and, consequently,
scarier than ever. Then, you must present him objectively. Your role is not to judge your adversary
but to give him life on the page, which means you tell his story as he would tell it.
Here is my secret for imagining your way into the evil soul. Every villain is the hero of his own
story. He is convinced his actions are justified because, in the world as he perceives it, they are. He has motivations
that are clear, strong and believable, but warped.
The specific nature of that warp is yours to create. Brainstorm the possibilities. Choose the most
original option. Think as your villain thinks. Dare to go there. Such characters are illuminated in dark places.
The result is the opposite of a cartoon. He lives with chilling authenticity. Your reader longs to turn away but cannot. There is no more
riveting story hook than that.
For more insights into writing and publishing – Visit my blog at www.aliceorrbooks.com.
Biography:
ALICE ORR has spent most of her professional life
in publishing as book editor, literary agent, workshop
leader, and published author. She has published sixteen
novels, three novellas, a memoir, and No More Rejections:
50 Secrets to Writing a Manuscript That Sells (revised version
coming soon). Her current work includes Hero in
the Mirror: How to Write Your Best Story of You. Alice‘s
books are available at amazon.com. and other online
retailers. Alice has two grown children and two perfect
grandchildren and lives with her beloved husband
Jonathan in New York City.
Alice Orr
Contact Info:
Website & Blog
Facebook
Twitter
Amazon Author Page
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