How to Go Third Person Bad Business: A Guide to Creating Memorable Villains
The world of bad business is ripe with potential for compelling storytelling. Whether you're writing a novel, screenplay, or even a comic book, creating a compelling villain is essential. But how do you create a villain that's not just evil, but also entertaining and memorable?
One technique that can elevate your villain from generic to unforgettable is the use of third-person narration. This technique, often used in fiction, allows you to delve into the mind of your villain, giving readers a glimpse into their motivations, fears, and even their justifications for their actions.
Why Go Third Person?
There are many reasons why using third-person narration for your bad business character can be beneficial:
- Depth and Complexity: The third-person perspective allows you to explore the villain's inner world, revealing their vulnerabilities, their past experiences, and the factors that shaped their worldview. This creates a more nuanced and complex character, even if their actions are morally questionable.
- Emotional Connection: While it might seem counterintuitive, a well-written third-person perspective can create an emotional connection between the reader and the villain. By understanding their motives and struggles, readers can empathize with them, even if they disagree with their actions.
- Control and Perspective: With third-person narration, you have complete control over how information is presented. You can choose to focus on certain details that highlight the villain's cunning, their manipulation tactics, or their inner turmoil. This allows you to steer the reader's perception of the character.
How to Master Third-Person Bad Business:
1. Define the Villain's Goals: What are they striving for? Money? Power? Revenge? Their goals should be clearly defined, motivating their actions and driving the plot.
2. Create a Backstory: Every bad business character has a past. What events shaped them into the person they are today? Did they face betrayal, hardship, or perhaps witnessed the corruption of the system?
3. Develop a Compelling Narrative Voice: The voice you use to narrate your bad business story plays a crucial role. It should be engaging, insightful, and reflect the character's personality. A cynical, sarcastic, or even poetic voice can add a layer of intrigue.
4. Use Internal Monologue: The internal monologue is a powerful tool for revealing the villain's thoughts and feelings. What goes through their mind as they plan their schemes? What justifies their actions?
5. Show, Don't Tell: Instead of simply telling us your villain is cunning, show us through their actions. How they manipulate others, how they exploit loopholes, or how they exploit weaknesses.
6. Introduce Internal Conflict: No villain is purely evil. Even the most ruthless bad businessperson has their own struggles. Perhaps they doubt their actions, or they fear facing consequences. These internal conflicts add depth and realism.
7. Don't Forget the Reader: While you want to provide insight into the villain's mind, remember that the reader's perspective is important too. Don't let the narration become overly subjective or biased.
Example:
Let's take the classic example of the "ruthless businessman" who uses unethical tactics to climb the corporate ladder. In a third-person narration, we can delve into his mind, exploring his motivations and his justification for his actions:
"The board meeting was a mere formality," he thought as he surveyed the faces around the table. "They were pawns, easily manipulated. All it took was a little pressure, a carefully placed rumor, a well-timed leak. He'd learned it all from the best, the masters of the game. And now, he was ready to take his place at the top."
This example showcases the inner workings of the villain's mind, revealing his cynical outlook, his ruthless ambition, and his belief in his own superiority.
Conclusion:
Using third-person narration for your bad business villain is a powerful tool for creating a memorable, engaging, and complex character. By exploring their inner world, their motivations, and their inner conflicts, you can craft a villain that's both compelling and relatable, even in the morally gray world of bad business.