Tips How to Write Villains that Play Mind Games with Their Victims
Not everyone likes the idea of a villain that steps into the bank with an eyepatch, a cigar hanging out of their mouth, and an uzi in their hand.
Some writers like to write methodical villains. Some writers like to write villains that use their minds to dispense their evil deeds upon their victims.
If you are one of those writers than this post is for you.
# 1 Villains that methodically play mind games with their victims are often JEALOUS
Unrestrained jealousy can grow into some pretty evil thoughts and actions. A jealous person can let all kinds of things occur to themselves and especially unchecked jealousy. A jealous villain might plot out how to TAKE the thing they are jealous of and in the midst of taking it they may put their victim through terrible pain while taking it.
In the TV show Longmire, the antagonist wants to take the hero’s land. He not only tries to take his land, but he takes him to court and being a lawyer he drags the hero’s character through the mud with lies and tortures him along the way in the process and you can tell he enjoys every moment of it.
The villain was jealous of his land so he took time to develop a plan to take Longmire to court and create nasty stories about him to make it legally possible to sue him for his land.
If you love a good villain read you might love Serena Valentino’s Villains Box Set.
# 2 Mentally Abusive Villains are Full of Relentless Incomprehensible Hate
Hate that seems so ridiculous that it is hard to understand why the person is that hateful is hard for us as humans to understand. I mean have you ever met someone so uncharacteristically hateful and you find yourself perplexed almost thinking out loud, “why are you so mean and hateful?”
This happens to poor Peeta in The Hunger Games.
His mother happens to be a hateful villain that hates her own circumstances in life so she takes it out on her son in cruel ways. And none of it is his fault or because anything he’s done. His Mother beats him for small things like burning bread or giving it to someone starving instead of the pigs.
And being ultimately mentally abusive she hopes that Katniss wins over Peeta implying that if he died in the Hunger Games she would be happier than if he came back alive.
If you love a good villain read you might love Serena Valentino’s Villains Box Set.
# 3 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Creates Division Amongst Allies
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10 Tips How to Write Villains that Play Mind Games with Their Victims
A master manipulative villain that enjoys playing mind games will enjoy creating division among those against his goals.
The villain will enjoy watching allies tear each other apart all while getting away with their ultimate goals.
# 4 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Often Times They Were Abused
Villains that abuse others were often abused themselves at some point in their life.
People assume this means it has to be that their parents abused them or that they were abused as a child, but this doesn’t always have to be the case.
They could have been abused by a sibling, family friend, an uncle, or spouse.
They could have been taken advantage of by a co-worker or boss, or by many people along their journey, and this could have to lead them to an emotional breakdown, or seeing all people as bad because they have never met a good person in their life.
Whatever the case may be for your character, having them be abused as a part of their origin story is a good way to help readers understand why they are acting the way they are.
# 5 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: They Target the People the Hero Loves
IF you are a hero that has a mom, girlfriend, or any loved one watch them closely.
Villains love to beat up the hero emotionally by inflicting as much pain as possible on those they love.
If you’re going to make your villain stab your hero through the heart you will find ways for them to hurt and torment those that your hero loves.
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# 6 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Mind Game Villains Know How to Use the Heros words against them.
The villain will look for opportunities to use the hero’s own words against them.
If they can twist their words they will.
# 7 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Mind Game Villains Know How to Use the Heros Beliefs against them.
A true Villain will make fun of the Hero and make jest of their core beliefs.
If it ever appears that the Hero is about to lose and the villain wins, the Emoaiotnally abusive villain will take pleasure in reminding the hero of how ridiculous their beliefs are and how inferior that makes the hero compared to them.
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# 8 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Mind Game Villains Know How to Use whatever you love against you.
A truly manipulative villain will use whatever advantage they have against the hero to ensure victory.
They might even call it collateral damage.
The true villain isn’t afraid to kill or hurt someone the hero loves to use them against the hero to make sure they accomplish whatever their goal is.
In the movie “Angel Has Fallen” the main antagonist sends his men to take the hero’s wife and daughter as “insurance” to make sure that he has the advantage over the hero.
# 9 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Mind Game Villains Will Try to Make the Hero Look Like the Bad Guy.
The main villain will hatch a plan to make the hero look like the bad guy.
If they need someone to be the “fall guy” for their evil plan to succeed the hero is the optimal person to frame.
This puts the good guy out of the way and lets the villain get away with their evil plot.
By making the hero look bad the villain can enjoy the “goody-two-shoes” hero looking bad in the beloved publics’ eyes.
# 10 How to Write Villains that Like to Play Mind Games: Mind Game Villains Will Try to Make Themselves Look Like the Hero.
The manipulative villain loves to make themselves look like the hero while making the hero look evil.
The villain wants to have all the recognition and all the glory. They usually are very jealous of the hero and the fact that the hero is loved.
The villain wants to be loved but socially doesn’t know how to be selfless and gain respect and love from others.
The villain is usually extremely selfish and doesn’t know how to give love and therefore hates the hero for giving and receiving love.
If you love a good villain read you might love Serena Valentino’s Villains Box Set.
Related Post:
11 More Tips How to Write Villains that Manipulate Their Prey
I hope this helps! Now get out there and write something!
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Related Post:
11 More Tips How to Write Villains that Manipulate Their Prey
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10 Tips How to Write Villains that Play Mind Games with Their Victims
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Wow! All these characteristics of villains sound like the behaviors of Donald Trump!
Some good advice here!
Thank you Traci. We’re glad you enjoyed it!
This article is great inspiration for us!
That’s awesome Yolando! Glad to hear it.
Wow! I’ve read dozens of tips for improving my writing but this has been by far the best advice I’ve seen! It hits the nail on the head of what I’ve been trying to accomplish. Thanks!
That’s awesome Laurie. Glad to hear that it helped you and thank you for the encouragement!