The Wild, Wild West

When you think “cowboy”, a few things come to mind. A cowboy hat, boots, and maybe a large belt buckle are items that you immediately envision for the western protagonist. However, any real cowboy would tell you that clothes don’t make a man. If you’re going to create a fictional cowboy, make sure his dirty boots aren’t just for show. You won’t find many Westerns that don’t include a cowboy, Native American, or a sheriff. This classic genre survives based solely on how an author can spin cliches into unique characters that the reader becomes invested in. So, start with your cowboy and then work from there on how to give nuance to the inner and outer appearance of your characters.

A Worthy Antagonist

A large part of a Western is the fight between good and evil. Our hero may be flawed, he may frequent the local saloon a bit too much but in comparison to his nemesis, he should seem “somewhat” saintly. Westerns are rooted in lawlessness, so our protagonist may be worse for wear but he should have a clear sense of justice and a desire to punish those who abuse their freedoms. In classic Westerns, there is often a reward or bounty for capturing a fugitive but the reader should know that the protagonist is motivated beyond financial gain and that the antagonist is ruthless even when he is dueling for his life. If the “hero” cowboy is a rebel himself then the antagonist who juxtaposes him must truly have heinous intentions to justify his downfall.

As we know the hero of a Western is usually motivated by bringing justice to those who have done wrong. There may even be a reward for the capture of such a villain, but to give weight to the character there should be more at stake than a bag of cash. Think about how the villain’s acts might personally resonate with or personally affect the protagonist. Whether the protagonist is acting for justice, vengeance, or some combination of the two the reader needs to believe in his desire to risk his life to take someone else’s. If the antagonist is lawless in a setting of lawlessness that doesn’t necessarily invest the reader into our hero’s journey. Try a timeline that necessitates a swift resolution before danger escalates such as a ransom or vendetta.

Research the American Old West

The opportunity that comes with writing a story based on history is that there is a sort of built-in foundation to work from. The downfall of this is that the potential to misrepresent or twist facts will have readers questioning the credibility of both the story and the author. The West is rich with stories of lawlessness and outlaws, but also of lawmen like Wyatt Earp who have served as an archetype for many Western characters since his time. Watch Western films, visit Jesse James’ hideout or walk through an old ghost town if you can. There has never been more information on the past at any prospective author’s disposal, so there is no excuse to create a one-dimensional story when the keys to bringing the past to life are right in front of us. If it’s a modern Western including classic elements from the genre will help keep loyal followers reading and may even attract a newer audience.

Bring the Setting to Life

If you have ever read a Western or watched a show like Yellowstone you may have pondered giving up the hustle and bustle for a patch of land and some horses. The feature of sweeping landscapes and riding horses into the sunset is intentional for balancing chaos and peace. Nature can serve as solace to the protagonist but it can also be reflective. If there is a town of gunslingers, it is usually juxtaposed with nature because animalistic behavior exists in both. In the same vein that the protagonist attempts to bring peace to lawlessness, it should mirror the laws of nature that surround them. If the protagonist is depicted as practically living in the town saloon, then the saloon should appear as alive as the protagonist. The West isn’t called wild for no reason so make the town and its surroundings vivid. If you’ve researched the geographical locations then building characters might even come easier if they take on similar characteristics to nature.