There are a few tropes I really love, and usually they involve great character growth. Think enemies-to-friends or enemies-to-lovers, in which we see two people at such odds that we think they could never resolve their differences. When they do, it's magical.Another one I love is when a villain flips to the good side, or is reframed as a victim, or both. It's a powerful transformation, and the journey of how they get there can be truly compelling. The challenge is developing a "bad" character so fully and strategically that they become sympathetic.The reason we love this is because characters, like real people, aren't static. They're always evolving, and sometimes they surprise us. We're drawn to villain-to-victim arcs because real people are complex, and a lot of us love a redemption story. Writers who nail this technique create characters that audiences will love for years to come. Here’s how you do it.How to Write the Villain-to-Victim ArcRemember Plant and PayoffOne mistake writers make is treating the villain-to-victim reveal as a twist. Surprise! They were good all along. It usually doesn't work. And even if a villain has a sad past, it doesn't change the fact that they do terrible things. Don't wait until the final act to reveal crucial backstory and expect sympathy.Instead, plant clues about motivation and background from your character's first appearance. Every cruel action should have an understandable root in some emotion, whether it's jealousy, fear, anger, or something traumatic. You should know what those motivations are,...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday