Rising Star Adventures and Beyond

Antagonist Background story

CONTEST ROUND: Antagonist Background Story

Write a story about your antagonist that takes place outside of your novel. The object of the contest is to make your judges understand and empathize with the antagonist's motivations.

If your antagonist is a situation rather than a person, write a background story about that. The Tom Hanks movie ""Cast Away"" famously features only one character (unless you count Wilson), and his antagonist is loneliness. Could you personify loneliness? Why does loneliness exist? What motivates it? How would a lack of loneliness affect survival of the human race? How did it drive main character Nolan to survive for years alone on a deserted island? Loneliness has a job to do. Make us believe it's a valid one.

*Contest Round entries may be any rating. Follow these instructions ("IMPORTANT: How to compete in a Contest Round" ) by 1200 noon WDC time on Sunday to compete. WDC time is New York City time and can be found at the top of the IM Console. If you miss this deadline or choose not to compete, you must still log the assignment complete (without linking your work) for the grand prize, per the standard Prep guidelines.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grief

I am grief, an annoying emotion for many. I have a purpose though. I can be good sometimes or I can be very harsh. I can make some people go completely crazy. Ha-ha!

Oh no! I can't live without him, her, them, or it!

Yeah, whatever!

I come as a shock to some people. They will try to ignore me, but I am not going away. They deny my existence as though that will make me not exist. I will not be ignored. I will stay with you relentlessly until you face me.

Then people think they can bargain with me. As if! They think if only this and if only that. They regret and struggle to make their loss not so. If only they can figure out a way to change reality. Sorry guys, not happening. What will be will be and you don't control it.

I happen as a result of some one losing something or someone that they value or love. Love hurts. Yet, hate hurts more. Chose your pain. Deal with me or be isolated and angry and miserable all the time while making everyone around you the same. That's your options.

I make people angry. Anger usually happens when someone is hurt or fearful. With me, people hurt because they have lost something important to them. They resent that reality. They fear their new life without what they have lost. This unfortunately only makes them face their new reality that much more.

People feel sadness and depression with me. Sometimes, they have to take medicine and get counseling to get rid of me. Sometimes, I am so complicated, they don't know how to deal with me and become overwhelmed.

Eventually, if they are ever to get over me, they must accept that I exist. They must embrace me. They must allow themselves to feel me and experience me. They must learn and grow from me. Most of them are stronger than or capable of more than they think. You can be strengthened from me in the end. I will do a work deep inside of your heart if you will let me.