A hero without adversity is just a person, and stories without bad guys simply don't exist. From unlikable protagonists and dark heroes to bullies and mischief makers to villains and arch nemeses, Bullies, Bastards & Bitches shows you how to create nuanced, three-dimensional bad guys who are indispensable to the stories in which they appear.

Through detailed instruction and examples from contemporary bestsellers and classic page-turners, this book delineates the moral continuum of protagonists and antagonists; explores the connections between opposition, adversity, and evil; and illuminates a bad guy's many purposes in a successful story. Morrell also explores the rise in popularity of anti-heroes, how anti-heroes possess some of the same qualities of villains but with the soul of a hero, and how these complicated characters reflect contemporary society.

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Online Exclusive: Q&A with author Jessica Morrell