How to Check If Your Antagonist Is Actually Working
- Iris Marsh
- 28 mrt
- 4 minuten om te lezen
We all know a story needs conflict. But where does that conflict come from?
The antagonist.
Now, don’t worry—your antagonist doesn’t have to be evil or wear a cape (unless you want to). An antagonist is simply the person (or thing) standing in your protagonist’s way. They want something that directly clashes with what your protagonist wants.
Yet, I often see writers focus heavily on their protagonist's arc and completely forget about the antagonist. And that’s a problem—especially in the middle of your story, when things tend to sag if your antagonist isn’t causing enough trouble.
So, let’s break it down. If you're in the revision phase, here’s how to evaluate whether your antagonist is doing their job.
Step 1: Who Is Your Antagonist?
This might sound obvious, but you'd be surprised how often the antagonist is unclear. Especially if you’re more of a pantser, you might not have had a clear antagonist in mind when you started your story.
Or perhaps you thought your main antagonist was one character, but it turned out to be another character (yes, I speak from experience here).
Ask yourself:
Who does your protagonist face in the climax?
Who causes the most trouble for them throughout the story?
If no one fits that description... we’ve got a problem. Time to dig through your characters. Who’s most likely to oppose your protagonist’s goal? Who could be rewritten to stand in their way?
Or could you brainstorm a new character or force who could act as your main antagonist?
Remember, an antagonist doesn’t have to be a person. It could be a monstrous creature, a corrupt system, or even a brutal environment.
Step 2: Do They Fit Your Genre?
Every genre has its own flavor of antagonist.
Epic fantasy loves the dark lord type. Think Sauron in the Lord of the Rings.
Romance? The love interest is usually the antagonist (they challenge each other’s beliefs and goals). Like how Elizabeth and Darcy challenge each other's prejudice and pride.
Horror has its monsters, detective stories their murderers, and so on.
Have a look at books in your genre. How does your antagonist compare? Do they feel like they belong in your story world?
Step 3: What Does Your Antagonist Want?
Your antagonist needs a goal. Just being annoying for the sake of being annoying isn’t going to cut it.
They should want something tangible—something that makes sense to them, even if it feels despicable to us. Or their goal could even be noble. But then their methods are questionable.
Wanting balance in the universe? A noble goal. Killing half the Earth’s population to achieve it? Not so much.
Don’t have a goal for your antagonist? Try the following: have your antagonist want the opposite of your protagonist, or have them both want the same thing for wildly different reasons. That contrast builds tension fast.
For example, both characters might want to win a competition. Your protagonist wants the prize to help their family. The antagonist wants it for fame, power, or petty revenge—and they’re willing to sabotage to get it.
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Step 4: Are They Consistent?
Once you know what your antagonist wants, go through the manuscript and see if their actions line up.
If their goal is to claim a magical artifact that grants power, would they really ignore a clear clue just to have a random side quest?
Maybe they have a reason—but make sure the reader knows it. Otherwise, it just feels like a plot hole.
Step 5: Who Are They, Really?
Not every story calls for a sympathetic villain, but even your darkest antagonist should have clear motivations.
Ask yourself:
Why are they doing this?
What made them this way?
Do they have softer sides or contradictions?
Even Cersei Lannister wasn’t evil just to be evil—she was trying to protect her family and preserve power (albeit in increasingly horrifying ways).
Add layers. Maybe your villain loves to visit the museum on the weekends (and their victims are the people mocking their favorite painting). Maybe your monster just wants to protect its territory.
It doesn’t make them “good,” but it makes them real.
(For fun: want to know what to avoid? Check this article by Mythcreants describing five obnoxious villains.)
Step 6: Are They Causing Enough Conflict?
If your story feels flat in the middle, your antagonist probably isn’t doing enough.
Your antagonist should be active. They should have their own plans in motion, regardless of what your protagonist is doing. In fact, they might be deliberately messing with your protagonist’s goals.
In the middle of your story, ask:
What is the antagonist doing to raise the stakes?
Are there mini-antagonists connected to the main one (like minions, rivals, or other love interests)?
How is your protagonist being pushed to make harder and harder choices?
Conflict is growth, and your antagonist is a key driver of that.
Pulling It All Together
Once you’ve gone through this checklist, look at your notes:
Is your antagonist clear and present throughout the story?
Do they provide meaningful, escalating conflict?
Are their motivations believable (even if terrible)?
Do they fit your genre and strengthen your protagonist’s arc?
If not, you may need to revise—maybe by reshaping a character, rewriting scenes, or digging deeper into their motivations. Don’t worry, it’s worth the effort.
A strong antagonist can elevate your entire story. So give them the time and attention they deserve.
To continue, either leave the notes for now and continue with your structural analysis or revise your manuscript first (recommended if you need to make large revisions).
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