High school English class taught us that all stories have a protagonist and an antagonist. But when it comes to developing characters, the protagonist tends to get all the attention. In this workshop, we’ll turn our focus to antagonists and villains. In particular, we will discuss ways to ensure that our antagonists are as fully developed as their more heroic counterparts. We’ll look at how the maxim “The best villain is the hero of their own story” plays out in practice. We’ll also look at the strengths and weaknesses of different villainous archetypes, such as sympathetic villains, anti-villains, hero-villains, and classical villains. And when students leave this workshop, they will have crafted a detailed character sketch for an antagonist or villain of their own.

Please note: This class or event is hybrid. Some attendees will be in-person and some will attend online. There may be a limited number of in-person seats available. If you are participating online (using Zoom or a similar live platform), students or attendees should have a stable internet connection. Class participants: you should have a computer or device with a webcam and microphone; and your Zoom link will be automatically sent to you after you register. Check your spam box if you don't see it.