To have a great hero, you need a great villain. In this episode, Russ and Tim dig into what makes an effective antagonist. Whether they’re an equal, an opposite, or a force more powerful than the hero. They dig into why villains get a bad rap, why they deserve as much care as your protagonist, and how to sidestep the tired tropes that flatten them out. If you want your hero to grow, it starts with writing a villain worth facing.
Backstory is essential to establishing who your characters are and the decisions they’ll make in your story, but how much is too much? In this REPLAY episode from 2024, Russ and Tim discuss backstory, how Read more
Have you ever read a book and thought the end wasn’t particularly satisfying? Well, you’re not alone! In this REPLAY episode, Russ and Tim explore common Act III pitfalls, why they can make your final Read more
When self-publishing there are many decisions to be made. The biggest is how you’ll publish and distribute your novel. In this episode Russ & Tim chat about the Pros and Cons of publishing exclusively with Read more