by Gerald Drueppel

Created on: July 16, 2009

Eclectic Suspects

There are several methods one could employ to finding a decent selection of names to help personify the antagonist in a work of fiction. The first being the summation of the primary characteristic the antagonist employs on more than one occasion. For example, Dr. Graves as the sinister mortician who after losing his credentials in a organ harvesting scheme gone awry turns to a life of grave robbing and deviant sexual behavior. Not only am I disgusted I am also intrigued. The name described the villain as well as the situation as well as providing a discretionary income to our hard luck villain. So, Dr. Graves, Dr. I.C. Graves is what we call in the fiction writing industry, a given.

Another method one could utilize in this task is to troll your nearest on-line dictionary of Latin terms for an extensive list of choices. Nothing denotes good base villainy than a name with ancient roots that have a more than poetic translation. For example the Latin term acerbus can be used as the last name which defines itself as bitter, harsh, sarcastic, sour and cynical. A perfect outlook for the wayward villain. Give him a first name like Max and you have Maximilian B. Acerbus. The most cynical, sarcastic and most bitter soul on the planet. How did he get that way? I am sure you have an idea or two.

The next method consist of letting your description How you reveal his or her characteristics is your preference but the initial description could be an ironic twist upon a more friendlier name like, dare I give this example, Sprinkles. Not a real name mind you but a name that chose its own time and place in which to bestow itself upon the villain in question. If any secondary character, especially if of the expendable variety has the opportunity to ask the inevitable question? Why do they call him Sprinkles? You decide why.

Yet another method entails the multiple name approach. Where more than one name is necessary to convey several strong attributes or to display a title to lend description to his name. Let us use Vlad the Impaler as a more recognizable example. I do recall watching an extensive back story and impaling was more than just a hobby with this guy. Though it is a real individual I'm giving as an example it still serves its purpose In showing that the added description to the name Vlad kept his infamy intact which is perfect for any villain real or imaginary.

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