Bullies, Bastards And Bitches - How To Write The Bad Guys Of Fiction

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.