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Since beginning the second story in my MG series, I have realized the need to feature my antagonist much more in the sequel. While I introduced the villain in small snippets in the first novel, this next tale will include him as a primary character. Consequently, I have been developing a more detailed back story and character arc for my heroine's nemesis.
During this process I have found that "delving into the dark side" has made me feel quite creepy. One night I even had a nightmare in which I was my story's antagonist - it felt awful! Although this process has been unpleasant, it has given me a better understanding of my villain, which I'm hoping will enable me to write a more textured antagonist. After all, the strength of a story rests, in part, on the challenges placed upon the protagonist. Creating a well-developed antagonist is one way to attain the tension that so intrigues the reader.
Have you ever felt a "darkness" while developing your antagonist?
