Bullies, Bastards And Bitches

Bullies, Bastards And Bitches

How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction

About the Book

Get to Know Your Character's Sinister Side

A truly memorable antagonist is not a one-dimensional super villain bent on world domination for no particular reason. Realistic, credible bad guys create essential story complications, personalize conflict, add immediacy to a story line, and force the protagonist to evolve.

From mischief-makers to villains to arch nemeses, Bullies, Bastards & Bitches shows you how to create nuanced bad guys who are indispensable to the stories in which they appear. Through detailed instruction and examples from contemporary bestsellers and classic page-turners, author Jessica Page Morrell also shows you how to:

   • Understand the subtle but key differences between unlikeable protagonists, anti-heroes, dark heroes, and bad boys
   • Supply even your darkest sociopath with a sympathetic attribute that will engage readers
   • Set the stage for an unforgettable standoff between your hero and your villain
   • Choose the right type of female villain—femme fatale, mommy dearest, avenger, etc.—for your story


Bullies, Bastards & Bitches is your all-encompassing bad-guy compendium to tapping into any character's dark side.
Read more
Close

About the Author

Jessica Page Morrell
Jessica Morrell is the author of Between the Lines: Mastering the Subtle Elements of Fiction. She has been teaching writers since 1991 through a variety of venues, including online at iVillage.com. She works as a developmental editor and writing coach working with a variety of fiction writers, and currently writes a monthly column for the Willamette Writers newsletter as well as her own monthly newsletter, The Writing Life.
www.writing-life.com
thewritinglifetoo.blogspot.com More by Jessica Page Morrell
Decorative Carat

By clicking submit, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and understand that Penguin Random House collects certain categories of personal information for the purposes listed in that policy, discloses, sells, or shares certain personal information and retains personal information in accordance with the policy. You can opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information anytime.

Random House Publishing Group