Who you are vs. What you did

Not everyone deserves a redemption arc

“Hey, I steal things but I’m not a thief!” - quote from a troubled youth I heard on Oprah one time.

The key to writing a good villain is to understand how they view themselves. Rare is the villain who twirls his moustache and muses to himself, “Yes, I shall cause misery for its own sake!”

Nah, he always has a reason, which is why we’ve seen a rise in morally grey villains of late (see Killmonger, Thanos of the MCU) vs unambiguously evil villains like Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’s Gul Dukat.

We’ve also seen a rise of redemption arcs for villainous characters, largely due the increased popularity of tropes like enemies to lovers, bully romance (seriously wtf?), and the HOT villain.

I’m actually working on a redemption arc for a villainous male character and, honestly, it’s tough. There are limitations on when a redemption arc is even possible, which I touched on in my captive woman/sexy kidnapping post.

Because not everyone deserves grace do they? And most of us have lived long enough to notice that some of the worst people are the first ones to pull out the “if you’re a good person, you’ll forgive me” card.

Not all transgressions are the same. The key distinction to consider is between two types of villains:

1. The misguided idealist: Characters who do evil things in service of what they believe is a righteous cause.

2. The true villain: Characters who revel in evil and commit atrocities for their own sake.

This difference is critical because it shapes how believable and satisfying a redemption arc can be. We often see this type of redemption arc with characters who start as antagonists but become allies or even heroes. Their initial villainy stems from misplaced loyalty, a traumatic past, or genuine belief in a flawed ideology. These factors make them sympathetic… up to a point.

There are some things that can’t be forgiven, even if you only do them once. Take for instance the lady who made the news for throwing her ex boyfriend’s dog over the balcony, killing it in the fall. “I just snapped,” she said. The article mentioned no history of mental illness or even prior arrests. She was drunk at the time. But I’ve been drunk before and so have you (probably). Kill any beloved pets? No? Me neither.

That’s because you’re not a fucking monster who should be put down like one.

Does it matter if that woman had a track record of giving to charity? Or maybe she worked in a caring profession with a good track record. None of it matters. Because that singular episode revealed what she is, and there’s no un-seeing it.

If you’re going to redeem a villain, or even a grey character, you need to make sure your reader is happy about it, instead of fuming at what you’ve done. Ask yourself if any of their actions put them squarely in the cannot be forgiven category (see Kylo Ren and his planet-wide genocide). If not, if he’s (or she, less frequently) just been a baddie on a smaller scale, then we can work with that.

Redemption arcs can be done smoothly in most cases:

• Establish clear motivations: Show the reader why the character believes their actions are justified.

• Create moments of doubt: Have the character question their methods or encounter consequences that make them reconsider.

• Provide a catalyst for change: This could be a personal loss, a shocking revelation, or an encounter with someone who challenges their worldview.

• Show the struggle: Redemption shouldn't be easy. Depict the internal and external conflicts as the character tries to change.

• Allow for setbacks: Real change is difficult. A few steps backward can make the eventual redemption more believable.

It’s also important not to rush it. Effective redemption arcs require time, struggle, and significant character development to be believable. That way, your readers end the book feeling satisfied, even if not necessarily pleased.

We all fall and, much as we hate to admit, we have all believed something that wasn’t true and made decisions accordingly. Because of that, the misguided villain is particularly sympathetic, and it makes for a good message when he can be redeemed.

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Speaking of good messages, starting on Monday, my other newsletter, Serial Journeys will publish new chapters of the The Prince’s Pawn. If you like romantic suspense with a touch of the paranormal, you might want to subscribe over there too:

I've spent my whole life avoiding touch. One brush of my skin against another person's, and suddenly I'm drowning in their thoughts, feelings, and memories. It's not just invasive—it's exhausting. This "gift" has made for a lonely existence, but at least I've managed to keep my sanity... and my secrets.

Then I slipped up. One moment of weakness, one touch too many, and Prince Khalid saw what I could do. That single mistake changed everything.

Now I'm trapped on his yacht, forced into an engagement I never agreed to, and thrust into a world of royal intrigue where my "gift" isn't just desired—it's demanded.

They say desperate times call for desperate measures, but whatever Khalid has planned, I'm pretty sure it crosses every line I've ever drawn.

With my freedom at stake and secrets lurking around every corner, I'm quickly learning that in this world of power and betrayal, I'm nothing but a pawn in their game.

And the most dangerous move of all might be falling for the prince who kidnapped me.