The protagonist grows from his adversary, only the villain turns the main character into a heroine. What would Star Wars be without Darth Vader and the Emperor? Wouldn’t Alien be boring without the treacherous android? Who commands the troops that descend on the idyllic planet? Who hunts the child on whom the hope of the universe rests? Who terrifies not only the protagonist but also the readers?
In the writing workshop The soul of the rogue (Die Seele des Schurken) with Robert Corvus and Bernhard Hennen, we look at what makes a gripping villain and how to introduce them into a story in a way that makes it as exciting as possible. In small groups, we set off into darker realms: deep into the dark soul of the villain with its evil desires and merciless cruelty – but perhaps also with the tender light that awakens our empathy. We design villain characters worthy of our protagonist!