so once again I've declared myself back to square 1-ish in planning the novel. I think i've figured out where my issues with my book are coming into play: I don't have a strong villain for young Emma to go against. I mean sitting here now and writing this it seems so freakin' obvious. I mean I always had this kind of play in the back of my head of generalities of the big villain but beyond him being a few general things I never really developed him much. Same goes for his team that works with him. For all of them I have quick sketches in notebooks and how their powers-or non powers- work.

so now I'm basically going to take the next couple weeks and try to sit down and truly develop a keen cast of villains that will run through the three volumes detailing Emma's life in Daelin.

In thinking of 'villains' I've begun delving into classic and modern heroes and their villain counterparts. So I started last night with the most famous in modern cinema: Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. I chose Vader to look at first because, well, up until the prequels he was the most evil mother fucker in cinema (sorry S. Wars fans- the prequels sort of klled it for me). the Way he just walked into that ship in the opening and just choked people to death and through the rest of the film he was set up as this overbearing force. He just had to be in the room and it was cold.

As always the villains must compliment some parts of the hero. share certain qualities with her- either portions of the past, maybe similar powers and then have them slightly twisted in ways that the hero wouldn't even imagine using them. Such is the same with Luke and Vader. Both have tremendous powers to use the force, wield the lightsabers, are effective pilots. Those three traits compliment eachother and are somewhat unique to them in the scehme of the films. in the original star wars the only other characters who held the abilities of the lightsaber and force were Ben Kenobi and the Emperor who can be considered the mentors to Vader and Luke respectively (again this is not including the back stories presented by the prequels).

In 21st century I suppose it can be also said for Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort. Both the hero and villain share certain qualities (parseltongue, adept at using the same wand, greatest wizard of all time etc.). It could almost be said that the story of Riddle and Potter has certain overlapping details of childhood: Both were orphaned as children (both at the hands of Tom Riddle himself), both had difficult childhoods adjusting to life and showed, at an early age, the power of talking to snakes. But it is single fact that Harry's life prior to his parents death was full of love (and his mother's final sacrifice) that made him a vessel of good wherein Riddle's family being notorious assholes made him the evil sonofabitch he would become. Like Vader in the first two movies- for most of the series Voldemort is mainly seen in glimpses but his power is ultimately felt wholly. Hell even the very mention of his name instill fear in people that they don't even say it.

so that's where I am. I'm trying to build a cast of villains that will compliment Emma and her merry band of heroes. thoughts on the subject?