Man or Monster: Unmasking Villains

The fairy-tale villain is dead. Long live the character with many different faces lurking behind their most sinister mask.

Writing and Implementing Character Backstories

Everyone has history, even if nobody reads about it. Character backstories are the writer’s inspiration, cheat sheets, psychological evaluations, and vindication, all rolled into one.

Join the Conversation: Reexamining Dialogue

When it comes to dialogue, writers really do need to say what they mean and mean what they say.

Writing Mythical Creatures

Fiction writing lends itself to an endless array of characters, from humans to mythical creatures: borrowed, created, or something in between.