Writing

How to Write Villains With Credible Motivations

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 30, 2021 • 3 min read

A superhero like Batman would be nothing without a supervillain like the Joker. Villains enrich your story by providing obstacles for your hero to overcome. In the same way that your protagonist’s wants and desires should be clear, your villain should have well-defined motivations to help the reader better understand the root cause of their villainy.