If you’ve ever studied any form of visual art, such as photography, you know that light and shadow are equally important to making a well-balanced image.…
This writer is willing to bet you know no perfect people. You probably love (at least a few of) them, anyway. Sometimes you like them, sometimes…
Today’s ‘Ask Inkitt’ Question: I’m thinking about writing a story featuring an anti-hero, but I’m not sure what makes a good anti-hero. Can you help? Yes,…
Great villains make great stories. They may be more loved than the hero. But what cocktail of devious traits and nefarious schemes makes the perfect monster?…
Video games – more than tools of procrastination? Yes, actually. Today’s video games tell stories like no other media can. They engage directly and deeply with…
Last week, I presented a webinar for an online science fiction and fantasy writers conference. My topic was character development, and I had fun exploring the…
Q: What career, besides politics, gives you complete authority to treat others badly? A: Fiction Writing! Crafting villains is your opportunity to explore diabolical tendencies in…
In the previous post, we explored the basics of effective character arcs. To create a compelling story, your protagonist should have a Goal, a Lie, and…
Darth Vader, Smaug, Lord Voldermort, Lady Macbeth. Villains are delightfully disgusting and so much fun to craft. Follow these tips to make your villain so memorable…
I’m about to begin a new novel featuring an antihero for a protagonist. In my previous science fiction series, the heroes were truly heroic. They were…