The Writer’s Lens – E38: Are Villains More Fun To Write Than Heroes?

Source: The Writer’s Lens – E38: Are Villains More Fun To Write Than Heroes?

“Truth is stranger than fiction.” – Mark Twain

This old adage, as coined by the late Mark Twain, speaks about the nature by which truth can sometimes outweigh our sense of imagination. What happens in our waking life can seem more incredulous than the most extravagant and imaginative fiction.

And with that in mind, are fictional villains just constructs of our darkest imaginations? Or are they proper reflections of ourselves? And if the latter is true, why is it more fun – from a writer’s perspective – to come up with a really good villain, as opposed to a really great hero?

In this episode, I unpack some of my own experiences with writing villains. And why – from a creative standpoint – making a great villain can sometimes be more enjoyable than writing a great hero.