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Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How to hint at an antagonist’s identity?

How do you foreshadow a villain?

Hinting at the identity of a villain is a matter of subtle foreshadowing.



My suggestions would include:

  1. Introduce him as a tertiary character but spend more time on him than is warranted.
  2. Have him present when plans are made and then have MCs and sidekicks wonder who tipped the bad guys off.

How would you describe your antagonist?

What is the best definition of Antagonist? An antagonist is a character opposing the protagonist. They’re the character presenting obstacles or challenges that keep the hero or main character from getting what they want. It’s really that simple!

How do you write a hidden villain?

Hiding Your Villain in Plain Sight

  1. Use first-person point of view.
  2. Provide a sympathetic background.
  3. Establish motivations and goals.
  4. Throw a wrench in your hidden villain’s plans.
  5. Demonstrate virtue and show emotion.
  6. Show positive interaction with other characters.
  7. Watch voice and tone closely.



How do you give a villain a motive?

Because having a strong villain makes the entire story stronger and more interesting. So take these ideas and run with them!



7 Motives for Villains

  1. Romance. Yes, villains can fall in love just like the rest of us.
  2. Revenge/Justice.
  3. To Keep or Gain Acceptance.
  4. Fear.
  5. Desperation.
  6. Altruism.
  7. The Chosen One.



What are some foreshadowing techniques?

5 Types of Foreshadowing

  • Concrete (Chekhov’s Gun) Also called “Chekhov’s Gun”, concrete foreshadowing is the deliberate introduction of details that help develop the narrative’s plot.
  • Prominent (Prophecy)
  • Evocative (Flashback)
  • Abstract (Symbolic)
  • Fallacy (Red Herring)



Why are antagonists so attractive?

Some findings suggest that the reasoning behind our attraction is it allows us to explore our personality’s darker side without betraying our moral beliefs and convictions. Interestingly, the study showed that we favor characters whose traits are similar to ours.

What are the 4 types of antagonists?

4 Types of Antagonists

  • A villain. The traditional definition of antagonist is a villain—a “bad guy” in the story, often working for evil purposes to destroy a heroic protagonist.
  • A conflict-creator.
  • Inanimate forces.
  • The protagonist themselves.



How do you make a likable antagonist?

Villain Characteristics Checklist:

  1. He’s convinced he’s the good guy.
  2. He has many likeable qualities.
  3. He’s a worthy enough opponent to make your hero look good.
  4. You (and your reader) like when he’s on stage.
  5. He’s clever and accomplished enough that people must lend him begrudging respect.
  6. He can’t be a fool or a bumbler.

What are three ways to foreshadow?

Foreshadowing is, put simply, a warning or indication of a future event.



  • Covert Foreshadowing.
  • Overt Foreshadowing.
  • Event Foreshadowing.
  • Purposeful Foreshadowing.


How is foreshadowing done?

When a piece of foreshadowing shows up early in the narrative, then, it hints at or gestures toward something that is going to take place later in the plot: usually not by giving away precisely what’s going to happen, but by dropping a hint or make an allusion to something that’s going to occur down the road, so to

What actions make someone a villain?

A villain is defined as an evil or wicked character that enacts evil action and/or harms others. A villain may have a justification for their actions that is in line with their own principles, but their actions inflict harm and create ruin in the process. This is not the same as an antagonist.