ARE YOU DIGGING TO THE BONE?

Villains—those pesky rapscallions who aren't happy unless they're antagonizing someone to death—are people too.

Gone are the days when readers will accept cardboard cutouts that stand on the sidelines in black clothes, rubbing their hands together. "Mmwaahaahaa!"

Can you find the three-dimensional villains below?

1.  Beauty consultant Naomi contests her younger sister's will. Why?

    a)  She wants the loot.
    b)  She wants attention.
    c)  She's attracted to little sister's husband, and fears his financial freedom will send him to greener pastures.  

2.  A ghost harasses a family who has just moved into an old beach house. Why? 

     a)  The ghost can't get to the other side.
    b)  The ghost wants justice for his murder.
    c)  The ghost believes the new occupants are the ghosts.

3.  The owner of a crematorium stores bodies in his backyard instead of burning them. Why?

     a)  He's one sick puppy.
    b)  He's exacting revenge on the townspeople.
    c)  The oven is broken and he won't pay to have it repaired.

4.  Witches abduct children in a nearby sleepy town. Why? 

      a)  To eat them.
     b)  To produce a youth serum.
     c)  To get high off the parents' fear.

5.  A 1000-year-old vampire stalks a blind teenage girl. Why?

      a)  To drink her virgin blood.
     b)  To use her eyes for an experiment.
     c)  She's the only person who can read the ancient recipe that kills vampires.

A  Boring. Readers have encountered these bland predictable villains a dozen times, and begin to yawn on the first page.

B Interesting. These villains show a bit more promise. With a deeper dig, they could turn into acceptable bad guys and girls.

C Compelling. These villains are the real deal. They stand out because their reason for evil is truly unique. 

Walk a while in your villain's clodhoppers. Find out what makes him tick. You may not appreciate her deeds, but you will understand her motivation. And that makes for a memorable villain!