July Third Thursday: “Men and Monsters: Writing Compelling Villains”
Lisette Huerta August 20, 2026
“I think there’s a little bit of a villain in all of us.” – R.J Joseph.
“I think there’s a little bit of a villain in all of us.” – R.J Joseph.
“To be perceived is an element of putting things out in the world.” – Kalehua Kim.
“When the rejections come (because they will) don’t let them stop you. Persistence and patience aren’t just nice qualities to have in this industry, they’re essential.” —Elizabeth Copps, Confluence Literary Agency
“Books are entertainment. They should delight, and they can delight in serious and comical ways.” – A. Natasha Joukovsky
“[R]emember how to create joy and safety in your writing process, because it won’t always be an easy thing to reach for.” —Ariana Brown
“[W]hen I process the world, I do it through words.” —Erin Roberts
“[E]very story is about character, and the individual characters in the narrative are what will make or break a story.” —John Pipkin
“Try not to worry about the patterns of an ever-changing market, and focus on the book.” —Taylor Martindale Kean, Full Circle Literary
“Writers who publish are athletes of the word.” —Barbara Jones, DeFiore and Company
“When [writing] works, you feel less alone on either side of it.” —Sara Kocek