Tag Archives: bad guy

Why you need “good” bad guys. (Encore)

If you don’t take your bad guys seriously, how can you expect your readers to feel any differently? We’re talking about villains here, and for most adult fiction, two-dimensional bad guys like Snidely Whiplash rate no better than what they … Continue reading

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I’m in need of a bad guy….

Here I am, ready to start work on a new novel, and I’m stuck before I start. I have a wonderful protagonist, a strong female, about whom I’ve already written several scenes. This gal, Andi, could be the best character … Continue reading

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Villains, part two (Encore)

This is the second installment of Villains, Virgins and Vigilantes. Just How Mean Is Mean Enough? Remember, we’re still working on the first “V” in our Villains, Virgins, and Vigilantes hierarchy. Presumably, you have a working version of your villain, … Continue reading

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Are all superheroes really vigilantes? (Encore)

Short answer: yep, pretty much. At least in the context of my Villains, Virgins and Vigilantes thesis which holds that these three character types are the primary staples of popular fiction. There are two other categories I’ll also discuss — … Continue reading

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