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Hellooo, everybody!
Friendly reminder, my TSC fantasy prize pack giveaway is still going down.
One lucky winner is going to receive a signed hardback of The Savior's Champion, along
with a TSC swag pack, a notebook, a tote bag and a bunch of fantasy themed goodies. This giveaway is
open to anyone who checks out the TSC audiobook. It's available on iTunes, Amazon and Audible, and
if you are new to Audible, you can open an account right now and get the TSC audiobook for free! All
the information is listed below. Moving on. Today, felt like a good day for sharing the love, as well
as appreciating good old fashioned reprehensible behavior. I am listing my top ten favorite tropes
surrounding villains in fiction, because yay evil. Before we get started, major props to
Skillshare for being so kind as to sponsor today's video. Skillshare is my all time favorite online
learning platform with over 25,000 classes in a variety of topics ranging from creative writing,
web design, painting, business, whatever. I'm a huge fan of Skillshare. One, because it's cheap,
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you. I'll be dishing out the details at the end of this video. But first here are my favorite
villain tropes, the stuff that makes me hate the bad guy so much, that I feel it in my soul.
Number One (1): Privileged villains. Privileged villains are the best villains because they're
realistic. Take a look back at history, who’s fucked shit up the most? Privileged assholes.
This is not just my opinion, there is statistical evidence and psychological studies stating that
experiencing hardship is a proven way to develop compassion and empathy. Thus, a spoiled brat who's
done jack shit to get to where they are today is more likely to become a douchebag. Of course this
is not a hard and fast rule, but my point is the scenario is a lot easier to believe. Plus,
no one likes a coddled arrogant piece of shit, am I right? They’re easy to hate. Give me a rich
bitch and I'm a happy camper. Number Two (2): Betrayal. Betrayal is one of the all time best
villain tropes because everyone has been betrayed at some point. It is hurtful and enraging at the
same time. It stirs up at every horrible feeling that you don't want to feel. Taking a character
your protagonist trusts or depends on in some way, and then having them go ‘just kidding,
eat a dick’ is a surefire way to piss your reader right off. And I wanna be pissed off. I wanna look
at this character and say “You just did what? Eh tu Brute?” Betrayal is such an effective plot
device because it's a knife in the heart that both the protagonist and the reader can feel. Number
Three (3): Who done it? There's a bad guy wreaking all kinds of havoc throughout the novel, and the
protagonist along with the reader is trying to figure out who it is among a host of characters.
Typically this trope pops up in mystery novels. However, you can find it in a variety of genres:
sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, whatever. So long as it fits the plot and the clues are well hidden, it's
really entertaining. I enjoy this trope because it's kinda like a puzzle. I'm trying to piece the
clues together before the big reveal so that I can say, “Ha! I figured it out. I'm right. I'm smart.
So there.” Any villain that boosts my own ego is a villain I can get behind. Number Four (4):
They’re the villain? This trope is when the villain is someone that you almost never see
playing a villain. Maybe the villain is a five year old boy, a little old lady, or a defenceless
kitten. Take someone who looks completely innocent and turn them into an evil mastermind. I'm here
for it. Obviously this can't work all the time and for every story, but when it does,
it's super engaging. One, because it's shocking. And two, because it's original. We don't see a lot
of killer grandmas or vampire bunnies, but when we do we remember them. Bunnicula, I’m looking
at you. Number Five (5): The final boss. There are a few things that set off a series better than the
hero going head to head with the big baddy, only to find out they're not the big baddy. The bad guy
you've been battling this entire time isn't even a big deal. They’re just a lackey. This is round
one bitches, better buckle up cuz shits gonna get wild. I love this because not only does it
make for a great plot twist, but it also sets up the action and story for the sequel perfectly. If
you thought the villain was a piece of work, just wait until you meet their boss. Number Six (6):
Religious basket cases. I love a pious nut job, give me a deranged cult and I'm on board. This
kind of villain is so effective because they're genuinely scary. People do crazy shit in the
name of religion. So as a reader, you really don't know what to expect. Sacrifice a bunch of
innocent people? Sure, why not. It's what Krogh would have wanted. Religious figures and cult
leaders also make for great villains because they very easily and successfully recruit followers,
which means lackeys up the ass. Your hero is never safe because anyone could be a Daughter of the Sky
God, or worshiper of Lord Farquaad, or whoever the fuck your villain reveres. It's even juicier when
the villain doesn't even believe in their deity, and is just using blind worship for personal gain.
That's some real life shit right there. Number Seven (7): Monsters. I love monsters. This is
one of the reasons I'm such a huge fan of Greek mythology, there are so many cool ass monsters. I
want ‘em. Look guys, I'm gonna be honest, as long as it's not some stupid green blob, I don't care
if the monster is cheesy or if it doesn't make sense. Just give it to me. And if the monster is
somehow tied to the water, even better. Why? Cuz the ocean is fucking scary. Have you seen deep sea
fish? They’re horrifying! I just want some evil creatures that'll give me nightmares, okay. Do me
a solid, hook girl up. Number Eight (8): Villains you love to hate. Villains you love to hate are
fantastic characters for one key reason: they’re entertaining. You know this person's a piece of
shit, you know, they have virtually no redeeming qualities, but there's something about them that
captivates your attention. And it's not that you think they're good deep down, or that you're
sympathetic to them because let's be real, they're a garbage human. It's just that you love how
garbagey they are, and you want them to keep being garbagey for as long as the series will allow. For
me, villains I love to hate typically get this title because they're funny. They may be heinous,
but they give me the giggles. And as much as I want the hero to win, I also kinda want the
villain to survive. I know you don't deserve to live, but just stick around for a while and
entertain me. Please. Number Nine (9): Sick burns. I feel like in so many books, and especially in TV
shows, the villains' dialog is pretty predictable. “Pitiful mortal. I will destroy you!” Wow…scary.
What I really love is when the villain actually says something that makes you go “Ooooh!” If I'm
not making this face, and this noise “Ooooh!” I'm not interested. I think a lot of writers are
afraid to take it there, but dear God I beg you, take it there. Hit below the belt, capitalize on
insecurities. I want to see the protagonist cry like a little bitch. When the villain’s got sick
burns, I'm stuck in this position where I hate them so much, but I'm also impressed. And then
I'm horrified with myself for being impressed. What have I become? That's the exact place I
wanna be. Give me a personal moral dilemma, that’s all I want out of fiction. And Number Ten (10):
Unrequited hatred. This is a trope I see so infrequently and I wish that were more common,
because I live for it. I cannot get enough of the hero hating the villain with every fiber of their
being. And then meanwhile, the villain looks at the hero and thinks ‘Who are you again?’ Maybe the
villain doesn't see them as a threat, maybe they see them as beneath them. Whatever it is, they’re
not taking them seriously. What I love about this, is it only fuels hatred for the villain
even more. Few things are more infuriating, than wasting all this emotion on someone who barely
acknowledges your existence. It helps to solidify the authority of the villain because they can't
be bothered to give two shits about the hero, they must be pretty damn untouchable. Of course,
as the story progresses, and the hero becomes more powerful, this dynamic will likely change
and that's fine. I just love it when the dynamic at least starts this way it makes the hero's
ultimate win even more satisfying. So that's all I got for you today. A huge thank you to Skillshare
for sponsoring today's videos. They helped make it possible for me to produce regular content for you
guys, and I really, really appreciate the support. As promised, Skillshare is not leaving you guys
empty handed. Right now you can get two months of Skillshare premium for free by clicking the
activation link below. Only 500 People are gonna get in on this offer. So if you want two months
worth of classes available for free, that's over 25,000 classes, and you don't have to pay a dime,
click the link. Get in on the offer. Do it now. Don't forget to subscribe to my
channel. I post new videos on Wednesdays. And if you want to be alerted as SOON as I upload,
ring that bell. The Savior's Champion is available in ebook, paperback, hardback, signed hardback,
and now audiobook. All of the information is listed below. Check it out. Do it now,
it’s the best. And be sure to follow me on social media. I'm on Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, and of
course you can tweet me @JennaMoreci! Bye!
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