I’ll start planning it out, thanks for the vote of confidence. Might be useful in convincing people to have some confidence.
I’ll see how my schooling goes this coming week and if I can get some work done on that front and the podcasts I already have scheduled done and then starting in the second week of Juin will look at having the first episode recorded.
I'm voting for the Villain and Hero hour too! I agree totally about needing a strong villain. Morally grey villains can ruin a story, unless the purpose is to explore that morality and not to entertain. At least I consider that an exception. Of course, I prefer to be entertained when I read and not forced to think or make moral judgements!
In my writing, I have to pull back from the evil in my villains though. I find it fairly easy to create something that does terrible things just because it's evil. The Demeid in my fantasy serial is just that. An evil force looking to corrupt and ultimately destroy the world.
In my other stories, I like to give my villain a motive. They do evil things (murdering millions of people without a second thought? Yup. Torturing children? Yup. Enslaving an entire population? Yup.), but they believe it is the right thing to do. They either have a different moral compass or they are themselves depraved. I hope readers will find them believable (not a caricature) and also be screaming at them about how wrong they are. Or watching in horror as they do the terrible things. But I'll admit I don't know if that's the right approach, or if I'm finding the right balance for the villainy. Again, I want to entertain, leave an impression, and not make the reader think too much.
I'm a scaredy cat! Horror gives me nightmares but I occasionally get one in. On the other side, I'm rather forced to watch true crime documentaries so I have insight into those real-life forms of evil like serial killers. H.H. Holmes still terrifies me.
This is excellent advice. For me, it is also timely. My Sword Mage character is at the point where she will be introduced to some proper villains. Not only the ones she is sent to defeat, but others who seek to exploit her power.
The villain can do things behind the scene that's truly villainous. Like, I don't know, releasing a shadow creature on an unsuspecting monastery, where it kills everyone, thus desecrating the ground around it. Or how about releasing 5 of them, one of which brings complete darkness to a city, striking fear into citizens and feeding on terror. All in the name of chaos.
"The villain MUST absolutely have one major moment where they commit an absolutely Evil Act. I emphasize this fact and must repeat it: The villain MUST absolutely have one major moment where they commit an absolutely Evil Act."
Of course. And comic villains get laughs by doing things that they believe are evil, but actually are not.
I think a Villain and/or Hero hour is a great idea.
I’ll start planning it out, thanks for the vote of confidence. Might be useful in convincing people to have some confidence.
I’ll see how my schooling goes this coming week and if I can get some work done on that front and the podcasts I already have scheduled done and then starting in the second week of Juin will look at having the first episode recorded.
I'm voting for the Villain and Hero hour too! I agree totally about needing a strong villain. Morally grey villains can ruin a story, unless the purpose is to explore that morality and not to entertain. At least I consider that an exception. Of course, I prefer to be entertained when I read and not forced to think or make moral judgements!
In my writing, I have to pull back from the evil in my villains though. I find it fairly easy to create something that does terrible things just because it's evil. The Demeid in my fantasy serial is just that. An evil force looking to corrupt and ultimately destroy the world.
In my other stories, I like to give my villain a motive. They do evil things (murdering millions of people without a second thought? Yup. Torturing children? Yup. Enslaving an entire population? Yup.), but they believe it is the right thing to do. They either have a different moral compass or they are themselves depraved. I hope readers will find them believable (not a caricature) and also be screaming at them about how wrong they are. Or watching in horror as they do the terrible things. But I'll admit I don't know if that's the right approach, or if I'm finding the right balance for the villainy. Again, I want to entertain, leave an impression, and not make the reader think too much.
Agreed, on every point, you think maybe watching Horror or reading some to know how a Villain ought to behave might also be useful?
As to the Villain/Hero Hour, I’ll see what I can set up for next week. X)
I'm a scaredy cat! Horror gives me nightmares but I occasionally get one in. On the other side, I'm rather forced to watch true crime documentaries so I have insight into those real-life forms of evil like serial killers. H.H. Holmes still terrifies me.
Serial killers are fascinating and horrifying I’ll admit. I see, in that case best you avoid Horror.
Still I really appreciate your insight into things.
This is excellent advice. For me, it is also timely. My Sword Mage character is at the point where she will be introduced to some proper villains. Not only the ones she is sent to defeat, but others who seek to exploit her power.
Merci, I’m glad you think it good advice, also sounds like your sword-mage heroine is about to have some great adventures.
I like your idea of Villain or Hero Hour. I have a few of both I could "brag" about.
Thanks, will have to look into starting that podcast.
The villain can do things behind the scene that's truly villainous. Like, I don't know, releasing a shadow creature on an unsuspecting monastery, where it kills everyone, thus desecrating the ground around it. Or how about releasing 5 of them, one of which brings complete darkness to a city, striking fear into citizens and feeding on terror. All in the name of chaos.
Sounds truly cool… or maybe I should say cruel ;) haha. Yeah he can totally do all those things.
"The villain MUST absolutely have one major moment where they commit an absolutely Evil Act. I emphasize this fact and must repeat it: The villain MUST absolutely have one major moment where they commit an absolutely Evil Act."
Of course. And comic villains get laughs by doing things that they believe are evil, but actually are not.
Agreed, makes sense to me. Comic Villains can be a riot like Harley Quinn in the original 90s Batman cartoon.