Advice For Fiction Ghostwriters
I know a lot of psychology.
At one point, I wanted to become a therapist. I never have (so far), but the knowledge has helped me avoid cardboard cutout characters.
The Mistake 99% of Writers Make
You think “evil” means cackling in a tower while plotting world domination.
Wrong.
Real evil is your narcissistic ex-boss with unlimited power. It’s the charming psychopathic politician who convinces entire nations to trust them. It’s the paranoid ruler who sees threats everywhere and acts accordingly.
Your character should be evil because their psychology makes it inevitable, not because the plot needs a villain.
When Generic Evil Actually Works
Look, sometimes you need Sauron.
Generic evil works when:
- You’re writing action-heavy adventure
- The focus is pure hero’s journey
- Readers want clear good vs. bad
- You need obstacles, not character studies
But if you want readers obsessing over your villains years later? That’s when psychology comes in.
Creating Unforgettable Villains
Study narcissism and other antisocial personalities. They’re basically villain blueprints.
Why this approach works:
- Readers recognize these manipulation tactics from real life
- Creates the kind of unsettling behavior that feels authentically threatening
- Provides genuine motivation for extreme actions that goes beyond “because evil”
- Makes magical power feel terrifying when wielded by someone with these psychological patterns
Your narcissistic god doesn’t want to rule the world for power. They want worship because they genuinely believe they deserve it. That’s infinitely more disturbing than “me want power.”
The Hybrid Approach
Start simple. Add layers.
Ask yourself: “What psychological wound drives this behavior?”
Your dark lord conquering kingdoms? Maybe he’s trying to prove something to the father who abandoned him. Your manipulative queen? Perhaps she learned early that charm was the only way to survive.
The beauty is that these deeper motivations don’t need to be spelled out for readers. They just make the villain’s actions feel more inevitable and real.
Which Approach Should You Choose?
Ask yourself:
- What does your story need?
- Action-focused? → Generic evil as obstacles
- Character-driven? → Psychological complexity
- Epic series? → Start simple, develop depth over time
No “Right” Villain Type
There are only villains that serve your story and villains that don’t.
But knowing psychology, and weaving those insights into your characters, will keep readers talking about your books long after they’ve finished them.
