Your protagonist is only as compelling as the person standing in their way.
Not every antagonist announces themselves. Some do—confronting the main character directly, raising the stakes through threat or force. Others work more quietly, through concealment, misdirection, or the simple determination to keep a secret buried.
Join us to explore what makes these characters truly work across genres as fully realized figures whose motivations feel credible whatever form their opposition takes.
In this FREE one-hour session, you’ll discover:
- How to give your antagonist clear, coherent motivations that make their behavior feel credible rather than convenient
- How to identify whether your story calls for direct, open opposition or something quieter and write that dynamic so it feels true to the character
- How to use your opponent to deepen conflict, raise the stakes, and push your main character to their limits
- How to write scenes that do double work—advancing the plot while revealing who this figure truly is
Perfect for:
- Fiction writers who feel their conflict falls flat or whose foil reads more like a plot device than a fully realized person
- Writers in any genre who want to build tension by giving your antagonist goals that are just as coherent—and just as urgent—as their main character’s
- Authors ready to move beyond “the bad guy” and write an opposing force readers will genuinely remember
A live Q&A follows the presentation to answer your questions.
Fill out the form below to reserve your FREE virtual seat.
Sorry! Sign-ups for this event are closed. However, you can check my Webinar Replay Library for a replay of the presentation or view my latest event offerings on my Events Page to join me for a future topic.
The Perfect Enemy: Crafting Antagonists Your Readers Will Love to Hate
The antagonist is the engine of your story’s conflict. Without a well-developed opposing force, even the most compelling protagonist can feel like they’re pushing against nothing. That holds whether they’re confronting your lead directly, operating from the shadows, or doing everything possible to keep a secret buried.
During this FREE one-hour presentation, we’ll work through what separates a memorable opposing force from a convenient plot obstacle, how to align their choices with your story’s stakes, and how to write scenes that make this character as complex and driven as your protagonist. The goal isn’t to make readers root for this character—it’s to make readers understand them well enough to feel the full weight of the threat they pose.
Join us at our FREE virtual discussion:
July 25, 2026 at 1 p.m. Eastern
Reserve your spot at this FREE virtual workshop. I’ll send you the access details shortly before the event!
In Beat the Bots: An Author’s Guide to Surviving and Thriving in the Age of AI, published in August, Jane K. Cleland shares practical exercises to nurture imagination, spark original thinking, and resist creative conformity. Her other books on the craft of writing, Mastering Suspense, Structure & Plot and Mastering Plot Twists, both won the Agatha Award.
Jane has also written fourteen novels in the multiple award-winning Josie Prescott Antiques Mystery series [St. Martin’s Minotaur, with short fiction published by Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine]. The series has been optioned for film and TV.
In addition, Jane is a contributing editor for Writer’s Digest magazine and the chair of the Black Orchid Novella Award, presented by the Wolfe Pack in partnership with Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Jane has served as President of the New York Chapter and Vice President of the Florida chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and was on the national board.
