Delving Deeply Into Your Antagonist's Psyche

The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

Bianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

How To, Books, Education, Fiction, Arts

4.8 • 733 Ratings

🗓️ 20 February 2025

⏱️ 52 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this segment of Books with Hooks, Bianca, Carly and CeCe discuss a gothic horror novel submission as well as a psychological thriller.

They highlight the importance of starting a story in the right place, the challenges of multi-POV narratives, and the need for clarity in character perspectives. The critique emphasizes the balance between emotional depth and curiosity in storytelling. The hosts discuss the challenges of originality and character development in psychological thrillers; while navigating the complexities of writing compelling protagonists, particularly those with darker traits.

The discussion also emphasizes the need for curiosity-inducing plots and the delicate balance of character portrayal to captivate both agents and readers.

Note: Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra are literary agents at P.S. Literary Agency, but their work on this podcast is not affiliated with the agency, and the views expressed by Carly and CeCe on this podcast are solely that of them as podcast co-hosts and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, policies, or position of P.S. Literary Agency.

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello from CeC. I'm so excited to announce an all new class called Starting It Right, which is all about how to begin your story in the best place and in the best way.
0:10.0	Now this is going to be a four-day class, so come prepared to take lots of notes.
0:15.0	We'll cover the different types of beginnings and how to choose the best one for your story, how to frame your inciting incident in a compelling
0:22.4	way, common mistakes writers make when starting a story, how to balance exposition and mystery,
0:29.3	how to make readers connect with your protagonist, and how to make the reader want to turn to the
0:35.0	next chapter, and so much more. And guess what? For the first time
0:40.0	ever, there will be an interactive component to my class. Everyone who is registered will have the
0:46.2	option of sending in the opening scene of their work for a chance to be critiqued during the
0:51.7	webinar. Writers of all categories and genres are invited to attend, and there are limited spots.
0:57.0	So if you're interested, sign up now.
1:00.0	And don't worry if you can't attend one or more live sessions
1:03.0	because the recording will be sent to everyone who is registered.
1:07.0	This class will begin on March 20th, and like I said, we'll go on for four days.
1:13.2	For more details, check out the link in my bio on Instagram. I hope to see you there.
1:19.1	Would you like to win an appearance on Books with Hooks so we can discuss your work while you're on
1:24.2	the show with us? If not, no worries, you can choose a whole other prize.
1:28.7	We're hosting an awesome giveaway in which you get to choose your own prize, because in my
1:34.2	upcoming novel, a most puzzling murder, I pay tribute to all the choose-your-own-adventure books
1:39.6	I love so much as a child. So, how can you win and be guaranteed an exclusive invite to a Zoom
1:46.7	discussion between CCM ourselves as we spill all the behind the scenes tea on how this book came to life?
1:53.8	There are two easy steps. One, go on to Goodreads and add a most puzzling murder to your
2:00.4	want-to-read list while entering the Goodreads giveaway add A Most Puzzling Murder to your want to read list while entering the
	...

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