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The antagonist doesn't have to be a "bad guy" merely an opponent of the main character. Accordingly, though I don't know of any specific books on the subject, I would expect you develop them just like you would the "protagonist" and then put them in opposition. After all, the protagonist is in opposition to the antagonist also - for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. If you can do one, you can do the other. My ten cents (inflation) for what it's worth. Take care. Vern

Best rule of thumb I've ever heard:
"If you don't like what a reviewer says about your writing, it's your obligation and privilege to ignore it and move on."
Luke Peters

Take care. Vern

Let's make it simple here. You don't need a gazillion steps. You know how to get to any book you've already started and posted. Simply go to the book any way you wish whether from the front page, your portfolio or whatever, and click on edit. On the edit page click on "Content" in big letters across the top. When you do that it will take you to a page which will show "Add Chapter" in a big block outlined in blue. Just click that big blue block and proceed as indicated. That's it in a nutshell. Take care. Vern

When you first start your book and post a chapter, the next time you add a chapter to that book, you go to that same book and select "Add Chapter" by clicking on that option (highlighted in blue) and then you post the chapter which will be the number you choose for that chapter in the basic info section. Take care. Vern

I don't know if it's a joke or not, but at present you don't pay money or points to enter a contest. Any money paid is to subscribe to the site, which of course would get you into any and all contests at no charge of any kind other than preparing a submission if so desired. And any newcomers which presumably contests are meant to entice would not have accumulated points to enter a points contest other than of course the free points they get for subscribing and thus it is again free for being a member of the site. Another line of thought would be that what possible good would a prize of points be to the many on site who have already accumulated more points than they will ever use. Could be a problem, so I'm just throwing things out to ponder should it be of interest. Take care. Vern

Alas, the contests are getting fewer and further between. Take care. Vern

I disagree with expanding the free trial period. In fact I think it is more of a hindrance to being a meaningful member. The free trial only encourages those who aren't already serious about writing. They see an opportunity to throw something out and get some "applause" without really having to commit to reading and reviewing to gain enough points to publish beyond a sparse beginning. And then when they don't receive the expected accolades, they simply quit without any investment having been made. Yes, there are/may be exceptions to my skepticism, but if so, they are few and far between.

On the old site, I read and reviewed for months before publishing anything in order to get a head start on the many credits I would need to post an entire novel which was already written at least in draft form so that I could sustain a regular posting every few days. It was frowned on to post multiple works at once since the home page was a bit more limited. Of course I never did accept the rationale for that particular unwritten rule since you could click to another page and get all the posted works not just a top ten list. But I digress. Anyway, I would suggest doing away with the free trial to post writing and leave the free option of reading and reviewing to accumulate points. Like putting your words in the bank. Take care. Vern

You don't copyright a name, it would be a trademark. In the case of trademark, the name would have to be uniquely associated with a brand or business, not a common name. I couldn't just trademark Jimmy Smith as it is a very common name. I could trademark it in conjunction with a specific business such as say, Jimmy Smith's Old Winery so that no one else could then open another Jimmy Smith's Old Winery within an area in which you have registered the trademark. You can get the trademark for each state or you can go for a national trademark if it hasn't been trademarked in any state previously.

In my past business I had a name trademarked for several states in which I operated, but did not have a national trademark. Another company was trying to get a national trademark using the same name. We worked out an arrangement whereas my company would retain the trademark for specific products and they would retain it for other products in the beverage category. If we had not reached an agreement, I would not have been able to expand under that name into other states where I didn't have the registered trademark and they would not have been able to use it in the states where I owned a trademark prior to their filing for the national trademark. A simple characters name in a book, have at it. Take care. Vern

I would suggest that unless the description actually adds something to the story other than description it is probably too much. If I turn my back, I most likely couldn't tell you what my wife is wearing or how her how is fixed; I can't describe the details of a street I just walked down, or the details of the policeman's uniform I met along the way; I can't recall what pictures are hanging on the wall in my house, or how many steps attached to the deck. But I do remember what an old girlfriend was wearing on a particular date a half century ago because it made an impact. Ordinary detail in ordinary circumstance don't really make an impact so I could care less about reading them in a story; it only bogs it down.

Yes, I'm sure some folks can name famous authors who go on ad nauseum with details which are irrelevant, but I don't read those and I doubt agents/publishers or most casual readers give a flip about them. Our minds fill in details from sparse info. I read somewhere that people were asked what color hair a character had in a story they had read and most came up with a definite color when none was mentioned in the story. That's the type description which is relevant to the reader imho. Take care. Vern

From Daily Writing Tips:
Here are some guidelines for the use of italics with foreign words in an English text.
1. If only one unfamiliar foreign word or brief phrase is being used, italicize it.
2. If an entire sentence or passage of two or more sentences appear in a foreign language, type the passage in plain type and put the passage in quotation marks.
3. If the foreign word is a proper noun, do not italicize it.
4. If you are using two foreign words or phrases, one familiar and one unfamiliar, italicize both of them for consistency and appearance.
5. Common Latin words and abbreviations like etc., et al., and ibid. need not be italicized. An exception is sic, which should be italicized and placed in square brackets.

It would seem you could use italics of foreign words when needed or expected and any overuse -- or not -- will take care of itself. Take care. Vern

You do know she's joshing, right? Take care. Vern

Lung cancer

Goodpasture syndrome

Valley fever -- rash involved

Take care. Dr. Vern

PS: A google search will produce more, but if you need specific symptoms you should just make up your own "newly discovered" disease.