Conflict is at the heart of every story and integral to every element. If your protagonist has no opponent – human or otherwise – your novel will lack tension and drive. For that reason, writers need to know their antagonists as well as they do their heroes. In a guest post on Jane Friedman’s blog, Angela Ackerman offers advice for developing the motivations and intentions of multiple kinds of antagonists, including competitors, rivals, bullies, frenemies, and meddlers. The more connections you develop between your hero and his opponent, the stronger your conflict and your story.
