Ep. 154: How to Write Unlikable Characters with Joe Abercrombie (Writing Masterclass)

SFF Addicts

May 13, 2025•56 min•Ep. 154

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Episode description

Join co-hosts Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly as they delve into a writing masterclass on How to Write Unlikable Characters with bestselling author Joe Abercrombie. During the episode, Joe unpacks the core traits of unlikable characters, including what makes an unlikable character likable, why readers are fascinated by awful people, the process of creating an unlikable character, the importance of character voice, conveying character details through dialogue, morally gray character arcs, active vs. passive characters, revealing character vulnerabilities and flaws, reader investment, morally gray worlds, external conflict and more.

NOTE: This is part two of a two-part chat with Joe. Click ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out part one.

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ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Joe Abercrombie is the bestselling author of The First Law trilogy, The Age of Madness trilogy and more. His latest release is The Devils, which you can purchase ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

Find Joe on ⁠Bluesky⁠, ⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠his personal website⁠⁠⁠.

ABOUT OUR HOSTS:

Adrian M. Gibson is the author of Mushroom Blues, which you can purchase ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

Greta Kelly is the author of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Queen of Days⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, The Frozen Crown and The Seventh Queen.

Find Greta on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠her personal website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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