The smart way to develop your antagonist
Every story has an antagonist — the person or thing standing between the protagonist and their goals. Whether it’s an evil supervillain, a well-meaning but overprotective parent, or a force of nature, the antagonist is the primary cause of conflict in the story. Without an antagonist working against them, the protagonist would get what they want immediately and the story would be very boring indeed.
Your antagonist should be believable and pose a genuine challenge to the protagonist — but mustn’t be so strong that there’s no hope of the main character triumphing. To help you navigate this balancing act, the experts at Reedsy have created a fully customizable antagonist template.
Prompts curated to your story’s needs
Antagonists come in all shapes and sizes — and some have no tangible form at all. Reedsy Studio’s antagonist template has a Q&A section for every type of antagonist. Sample them below:
Character
- What is the antagonist’s goal?
- What experiences have shaped them?
- How does the antagonist view the protagonist?
- In what ways is the antagonist a foil to the protagonist — or a mirror?
Society
- What is wrong with society at the start of your story?
- How does the system create obstacles for the protagonist?
- Who created the current system, and who enforces it?
- What happens to people who challenge the system?
Nature
- What specific natural phenomenon threatens the protagonist?
- What physical risks does it present?
- What skills would help the protagonist overcome or survive the natural force?
Technology
- Who created the technology and why?
- What went wrong (or right) with the technology?
- What will happen if the technology is not stopped?
Supernatural
- What is the specific nature of the supernatural entity?
- What does it want?
- What’s its origin story?
- What rules govern it?
Fate
- Who made the prophecy or curse, and when?
- What evidence suggests fate is real and unavoidable in your story world?
- In what way does fate oppose the protagonist’s goals?
- What would happen if the protagonist ignored their fate?
Self
- What specific flaw, fear, or belief is the protagonist at odds with?
- When and how did this internal obstacle originate?
- What external factor forces the protagonist to confront their inner demon?
Simply fill out the category that best describes your antagonist — and delete the rest.
Organize the chaos your antagonist creates
The antagonist is nothing without a protagonist. Reedsy Studio lets you keep track of your antagonist’s relationships and movements over time by allowing you to connect different planning templates. Watch your story’s web come to life and delight in the chaos your antagonist wreaks.
Your antagonist, with you at all times
Whether or not they’re a stalker, your antagonist will be with you wherever you go — thanks to Reedsy Studio’s automatic backup and syncing. Access your latest notes on any device, anywhere.
An antagonist template trusted by hundreds of thousands of authors
Hundreds of thousands of authors have already crafted their antagonists in Reedsy Studio.
The Antagonist Template includes:
- Customizable sections for each antagonist type
- Pre-built questions to make you think deeply about your antagonist
- A flexible structure you can adapt to any genre or story type
Beyond the template, Studio provides:
- A full universe of planning templates—worldbuilding, story structure, scene planning, timelines, and more
- Seamless integration between all templates and your manuscript
- A full-featured manuscript editor for drafting and revision
- Automatic saving and cross-device syncing
- Export options in multiple formats
- Collaboration tools for writing partners
- A distraction-free writing environment
