The villain or antagonist in a novel or screenplay is critical to the story. Author and screenwriter Brandyn Cross follows the same process to develop his antagonist as he does his protagonist, ensuring that his villainous character is just as complete as his main character. Both have wants and needs, both have motivations. The key to a good villain, Cross says, is that he doesn't really think he's the villain. Your villain needs to be a real, layered, and complex person. Make your readers sympathize with your villain by giving him compelling reasons for his actions. Even though he is creating conflict, your readers will like him more if he is relatable.