To Villain or Not To Villain

I won't be the first when I say moving is such hassle.

For over half a month the trivialities of moving and other small matters (I'll be honest, I got back into Skyrim) have kept me preoccupied. At the time of writing, I'd say I am about 90% moved in to my new home. All that remains is sorting various odds and ends.

As for the progress on my epic, it is quite the opposite picture. Moving (and Skyrim) have pretty much demanded my attention, but the creative mind never stops. I have compiled more details for my epic, mostly character oriented.

Developing characters is just as much as a challenge as writing the fic itself. No one wants to read about Mary Sues. One of the biggest and most rewarding experiences of being a writer is creating a character that is likable and most importantly, memorable. Creating the perfect balance (or imbalance) of dynamic and flat characteristics is essential to this.

Then one day I began to think.

I examined the beloved archetype of good versus evil.

This manner of storytelling has stood the test of time, and will continue to do so for years of existence. Who doesn't love a handsome superhero who saves the world from the evil mastermind? Some argue this method is becoming more bland. While I agree on some levels, I believe this basic archetype is arguably one of the most enjoyable. The heroes and heroines become icons and are recognizable by all.

But what if we removed the villain?

What becomes of the hero?

The argument is that villains are dull and too predictable. If there is a hero, then there must be a villain.

Exactly!

The villain is almost like an extension of the hero, and vice versa. You can learn a lot about who the protagonist is by learning who his antagonist is.

My epic will have a villain.

Details are still being compiled, but I'd wager that he/she is about a third of the way complete.

The same amount of thought and detail must go into the antagonist as what goes into the protagonist(s).