The chance to learn techniques from established authors is definitely worth the price of admission to Pikes Peak Writers Conference. Yesterday, science fiction author Kevin Ikenberry delivered a great lecture on the care and feeding of antagonists in the novel.
Ikenberry was personable, funny and informative. He offered great examples to illustrate his points, delving into both literature and film.
I love that he started out with this great quote from Clive Barker: “I firmly believe a story is only as good as the villain.” Not a surprising statement from the great Barker.
I’ve written a few villains but they have always been a tool for me, a way of forcing growth and change on my protagonist. Ikenberry said that villains are the heroes of their own story and I hadn’t ever considered that aspect of my various evil doers. So I’m excited to go back to the various things I’m working on with that idea in mind.
Also, as I think about my antagonists, I’m pleased to realize that one of them, at least, I have given great thought to, and that particular character is among the strongest of my bad guys. I am guessing that on the flight home, I will cue up my other antagonists and start thinking about them more deeply.
Another point he made that seems self-evident once you think of it, but really caught me by surprise. Sometimes, the adversary is nature, relentless, an entity that can’t be bargained with. I’m throwing that into my hip pocket for future use.
Susan Palmer's Exquisite Now 