Write a Worthy Nemesis
If the Protagonist is most often your story’s most important character, the Nemesis is not far behind. Indeed some of the greatest characters in film history have been Nemeses including Darth Vader (Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope), the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz), Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), and the shark (Jaws).
If conflict is the stuff of great drama, there is perhaps no conflict more compelling than that of a Protagonist versus a Nemesis. But what makes for a worthy Nemesis? How to develop them?
Hans Gruber, Die Hard
Following up on my recent Create a Compelling Protagonist course, I’m offering Write a Worthy Nemesis which begins Monday, May 16. It is a 1-week screenwriting course that takes a unique approach to developing this pivotal character in that the starting point is the Protagonist. Here are the 7 lecture titles:
Lecture 1: Nemesis v. Antagonist
Lecture 2: Shadow v. Light
Lecture 3: Fear v. Need
Lecture 4: Disunity v. Unity
Lecture 5: Overlord v. Underdog
Lecture 6: Intelligence v. Wisdom
Lecture 7: Empathy v. Sympathy
Notice the clever theme of v. for versus? There’s a reason for that, one you will discover when you take the class. In addition to the seven lectures that I am writing, there is 24/7 forum feedback, six insider tips, a teleconference, and an opportunity to workshop one of your story’s Nemesis characters.
Warden Norton, The Shawshank Redemption
The most recent Create a Compelling Protagonist session has been phenomenal. In fact, I have extended the class for at least another week because of all the incredible conversations we’ve had along with great workshopping of participants’ Protagonists. I fully expect the my Nemesis class will just as stimulating.
To download Lecture 1: Nemesis v. Antagonist and get some idea of what we’ll be studying and working with, click here.
So sign up today right here and join me for a week’s journey into the dark side of the human soul, the place where great Nemeses figures dwell, waiting for you to find them. Start date: Monday, May 16.
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