Writing mistakes often made by young writers...
2. The "I-am-only-evil-because-I-have-nothing-better-to-do" villain.
How often have I seen this done in a budding author's novel, often on Wattpad, where the villain is either simply cruel to spite the main character or it appears he had nothing better to do with his time. As an author, you want to make your characters believable!
"Every villain believes they are a hero in their own minds." - Anonymous
That quote, right there explains everything that a budding author needs to know. In order to have a believable villain you must have that character believe that what they are doing is truly right. In their own minds, they must believe that everything they are doing is for some betterment.
Take Hitler for example (I know, touchy subject) but when he began to purge the world of the Jewish it was because he believed them to be different, unnatural even, and with this he believed that by ridding the world of them that he would make things better.
Another example could be when in the "Maximum Ride" series by James Patterson, what Jeb and all the other "whitecoats" are doing is believed to be for the betterment and survival of mankind. Even though they have been trying to "enhance" the world with their hybrids and rid the world of the humans, they still believe that everything they are doing is good.
Do you see what I'm getting at? If the villain thinks what he is doing is GOOD then there won't be anything in the world (your magical little world) that can stop him. Well, besides your main character who will inevitably come in and save the day.
