If Hannibal Lecter were a real person, not many of us would invite him to dinner. Fewer people would accept a date with Dracula or sign a contract with the devil. Yet writers can make these characters sympathetic and compelling enough that they are as memorable as the protagonist-and sometimes more so. By creating a "sympathetic" villain, the writer enhances the character's dimension and allows readers to empathize with the character.

In contrast, the simplistic villain is mindlessly evil or mischievously wicked. This villain bedevils the hero, with or without reason, creating an obstacle-and conflict in the story. However, a one-dimensional villain isn't particularly interesting. His or her actions are predictable-the villain simply tries to thwart the hero. What makes a story's villain truly riveting are the same qualities that make the hero compelling.