Building a Villain Who Feels Human

Writing Craft
2019
Featuring Bruce Robert Coffin, D.E. Funk, Jim Nesbitt, Roger Johns, Shaun Assael, Shirley B. Garrett

This audio session is available to KNU members.

Explore Membership Options

ABOUT THIS SESSION

Bruce Robert Coffin, D.E. Funk, Jim Nesbitt, Roger Johns, Shaun Assael, and Shirley B. Garrett explore what makes a villain truly compelling. They discuss motivation, psychology, moral ambiguity, and the challenges of writing complex antagonists who feel authentic and human.

MORE LIKE THIS


Writing Police Stories: Character, Setting, and Realism
Alex Gray, James L’Etoile, Mark Edwards, Michael Dymmoch, R.T. Lawton
2016
Creating Believable Worlds from the Ground Up
Christine Mager Wevik, Maggie Toussaint, Tracie Provost
2021
What Makes a Book Irresistible
Cal Stone, Charles D'Amico, Dianne McCartney, Judith Gaines, Sandy Clements
2025
Telling the Truth That Matters Most
Belinda Leigh Underwood, Carla Conti, Christina VandePol, Kem Hinton, Sam Severn, Sonja Dewing
2025
Designing a Writing Life That Lasts
Clay Stafford, Jaden (Beth) Terrell
2023
Keeping Readers Engaged From Beginning to End
Alex Marwood, Glen Erik Hamilton, Karen Dionne, Linwood Barclay, Michael Sears, Steph Broadribb
2018
Timeless Mysteries: Writing Mysteries That Bring the Past Alive
Alana White, Carmen Amato, Linda Petrilli Duncan, Thomas A. Burns Jr.
2022
When Love Raises the Stakes: Blending Romance Into Suspense
Annie Solomon, Bente Gallagher, Karen Gallahue, Laura Elvebak
2010