S5_E18. Do You Really Need a Villain? Or Is Life Enough?

Writers often wrestle with one big question: Does my story need a villain? What if “life itself” is what the characters are up against?

In this episode of The Storyteller’s Mission, Zena digs into the craft challenges of stories without a clear villain. She explains the important difference between an antagonist and a villain, why it’s easy to slip into victimizing your protagonist, and how to ensure your conflict has weight even if your opposition isn’t traditionally evil.

From disaster films to romantic comedies, Zena unpacks examples of stories that succeed—and fail—at pulling this off. She even dives into why the villain twist in Frozen didn’t work, and what writers can learn from it.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your story truly needs a villain, this episode will help you craft conflict that resonates and keeps your audience hooked.

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