If you're interested in publishing a novel, particularly one that abides by the standard set of story elements and plot structures that you see in most narrative (fiction and non-fiction) books, then learning how to create an antagonist is essential. The antagonist in your book is going to be the motivating force that pushes your protagonist to act, and thus is essential for the story to move forward.http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/Conflict.htm
Your antagonist could bring a lot to the story, so, unless you are specifically creating a story with a simplistic enemy to augment another element of your story, it might be a good idea to flesh out the antagonist as much as is feasible. The main focus is typically on the protagonist or the hero in the story, but a memorable (even likable in a contradictory fashion) villain generally has much more of a lasting impression on readers and might make your book stand out above others.http://www.musik-therapie.at/PederHill/Conflict.htm
How to Publish a Novel: Antagonist Video
Donna Sozio, author and publishing consultant, speaks about how to create an antagonist in this video produced by the Mahalo video team. She discusses the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist, explaining that while they are two halves of a whole, they directly oppose each other. Sozio also speaks about how the antagonist goes out of their way to thwart the efforts of the protagonist.
Step 1: Character Creation
The first step in having an interesting antagonist for your novel is to think up the character's physical or metaphorical traits, their past and their motivations. Determine whether the antagonist will be acting alone or will have help from other characters, places or objects in the story. During this time, you should think about what the relationship between the protagonist and the antagonist will be.http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-topic-badguy.html
Step 2: Implementation
Once your antagonist is fleshed out and you're ready to write your story, make sure to balance their introduction with that of the protagonist. Generally, the protagonist will take the main focus, but make sure to strongly establish and then consistently check in with the antagonist. That is, of course, unless the antagonist is purposefully left mysterious.http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-topic-badguy.html
Step 3: Climax
It's important to bring the conflict between your protagonist and antagonist to some form of conclusion. Whether you want the antagonist to win or the protagonist to win, they should face each other in an effort to bring some closure to your story. This is the moment in your story where the opposing forces give it all they have and the victor is determined thusly. The plot is typically resolved in this moment.http://www.creative-writing-solutions.com/creative-writing-topic-badguy.html
