Creating The Perfect Fictional Bad Boy

Let's be honest, most of us love a fictional bad boy! There are countless examples out there to choose from, but it's not always easy to see why some bad boys work and others don't quite hit the mark. Here are a few tips on making your bad boy everyone's new favourite book boyfriend.

Clear Definition: To begin with, you need to really know who your bad boy is. Is he the high school sports star with a bad attitude? Is he the rock star with respect issues? Does he fall into the super dark morally grey areas? Once you know that, you can dig deeper.

What's His Backstory?: What makes a memorable bad boy is depth of character. Readers love complex characters, so think about what drives your bad boy. Quite often, this comes from an event in his past that changed him. So, what was his life-changing event and how did that shape who he is in your story?

Add a Touch of Vulnerability: Every bad boy needs that one thing that makes them feel more relatable. This is often strongly weaved in with his backstory. Is it his love interest that makes him feel vulnerable? Does he have a pet cat at home that shows he has a softer side? Find the point of vulnerability and gently ease it into the story so readers can begin to fall in love with him.

An Abundance of Confidence: Bad boys are almost always described as cocky. That can be shown in their attitude, their tone, their physical presence, sometimes even in the way they dress. HOWEVER, a bad boy doesn't always have to be oozing arrogance (though it helps!) Just give him enough that it piques the readers' interest. 

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More blogs by Karen:

You Are Not Your Character 

How to Hook Your Reader