How and when should I introduce my main character's superpowers?
This story includes a select group of individuals who contain superpowers and the main character is obviously one of those few. I don't want to throw it out there straight away and am trying to hint towards it throughout pages and paragraphs, but can't figure out when to finally say that they contained this hidden power all along?
Any opinions and suggestions are helpful!
creative-writing characters novel
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
add a comment |
This story includes a select group of individuals who contain superpowers and the main character is obviously one of those few. I don't want to throw it out there straight away and am trying to hint towards it throughout pages and paragraphs, but can't figure out when to finally say that they contained this hidden power all along?
Any opinions and suggestions are helpful!
creative-writing characters novel
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08
add a comment |
This story includes a select group of individuals who contain superpowers and the main character is obviously one of those few. I don't want to throw it out there straight away and am trying to hint towards it throughout pages and paragraphs, but can't figure out when to finally say that they contained this hidden power all along?
Any opinions and suggestions are helpful!
creative-writing characters novel
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
This story includes a select group of individuals who contain superpowers and the main character is obviously one of those few. I don't want to throw it out there straight away and am trying to hint towards it throughout pages and paragraphs, but can't figure out when to finally say that they contained this hidden power all along?
Any opinions and suggestions are helpful!
creative-writing characters novel
creative-writing characters novel
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
asked Jan 12 at 5:56
KylKyl
1929
1929
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08
add a comment |
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
You'll need to establish that superpowers are part of your world early on.
Whether it's magical realism, urban fantasy, or comic book standards, your novel needs to set the framework within the first few chapters.
If you're showing other superpowered folks up front and just not revealing that your MC has this in common with them, then you can take longer to reveal the truth.
If the existence of the other superpowers isn't part of the early story, then have your MC uncover the truth with the reader. Did s/he lift something exceptionally heavy, or not get a scratch after a fall from a bicycle. Or maybe s/he thinks she's going crazy hearing other people's thoughts. Something related to her/his eventual power.
When you reveal it depends a lot on your story and genre. If other superpowered people are active in the story, then it may seem odd to withhold your MC's powers. Or it could work, it just depends. If your story is more straight forward literature and the fantasy elements are there but subtle, then the revelation could come late in the story.
The standard method would be to have the MC suspect something is up and go looking for more information. Then the reader experiences the journey with her/him.
If you want to emphasize the journey, reveal everything late. If you want your MC spend time using powers, then reveal things fairly early. If you want a balance, place the reveal in the middle.
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "166"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f41234%2fhow-and-when-should-i-introduce-my-main-characters-superpowers%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You'll need to establish that superpowers are part of your world early on.
Whether it's magical realism, urban fantasy, or comic book standards, your novel needs to set the framework within the first few chapters.
If you're showing other superpowered folks up front and just not revealing that your MC has this in common with them, then you can take longer to reveal the truth.
If the existence of the other superpowers isn't part of the early story, then have your MC uncover the truth with the reader. Did s/he lift something exceptionally heavy, or not get a scratch after a fall from a bicycle. Or maybe s/he thinks she's going crazy hearing other people's thoughts. Something related to her/his eventual power.
When you reveal it depends a lot on your story and genre. If other superpowered people are active in the story, then it may seem odd to withhold your MC's powers. Or it could work, it just depends. If your story is more straight forward literature and the fantasy elements are there but subtle, then the revelation could come late in the story.
The standard method would be to have the MC suspect something is up and go looking for more information. Then the reader experiences the journey with her/him.
If you want to emphasize the journey, reveal everything late. If you want your MC spend time using powers, then reveal things fairly early. If you want a balance, place the reveal in the middle.
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
add a comment |
You'll need to establish that superpowers are part of your world early on.
Whether it's magical realism, urban fantasy, or comic book standards, your novel needs to set the framework within the first few chapters.
If you're showing other superpowered folks up front and just not revealing that your MC has this in common with them, then you can take longer to reveal the truth.
If the existence of the other superpowers isn't part of the early story, then have your MC uncover the truth with the reader. Did s/he lift something exceptionally heavy, or not get a scratch after a fall from a bicycle. Or maybe s/he thinks she's going crazy hearing other people's thoughts. Something related to her/his eventual power.
When you reveal it depends a lot on your story and genre. If other superpowered people are active in the story, then it may seem odd to withhold your MC's powers. Or it could work, it just depends. If your story is more straight forward literature and the fantasy elements are there but subtle, then the revelation could come late in the story.
The standard method would be to have the MC suspect something is up and go looking for more information. Then the reader experiences the journey with her/him.
If you want to emphasize the journey, reveal everything late. If you want your MC spend time using powers, then reveal things fairly early. If you want a balance, place the reveal in the middle.
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
add a comment |
You'll need to establish that superpowers are part of your world early on.
Whether it's magical realism, urban fantasy, or comic book standards, your novel needs to set the framework within the first few chapters.
If you're showing other superpowered folks up front and just not revealing that your MC has this in common with them, then you can take longer to reveal the truth.
If the existence of the other superpowers isn't part of the early story, then have your MC uncover the truth with the reader. Did s/he lift something exceptionally heavy, or not get a scratch after a fall from a bicycle. Or maybe s/he thinks she's going crazy hearing other people's thoughts. Something related to her/his eventual power.
When you reveal it depends a lot on your story and genre. If other superpowered people are active in the story, then it may seem odd to withhold your MC's powers. Or it could work, it just depends. If your story is more straight forward literature and the fantasy elements are there but subtle, then the revelation could come late in the story.
The standard method would be to have the MC suspect something is up and go looking for more information. Then the reader experiences the journey with her/him.
If you want to emphasize the journey, reveal everything late. If you want your MC spend time using powers, then reveal things fairly early. If you want a balance, place the reveal in the middle.
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
You'll need to establish that superpowers are part of your world early on.
Whether it's magical realism, urban fantasy, or comic book standards, your novel needs to set the framework within the first few chapters.
If you're showing other superpowered folks up front and just not revealing that your MC has this in common with them, then you can take longer to reveal the truth.
If the existence of the other superpowers isn't part of the early story, then have your MC uncover the truth with the reader. Did s/he lift something exceptionally heavy, or not get a scratch after a fall from a bicycle. Or maybe s/he thinks she's going crazy hearing other people's thoughts. Something related to her/his eventual power.
When you reveal it depends a lot on your story and genre. If other superpowered people are active in the story, then it may seem odd to withhold your MC's powers. Or it could work, it just depends. If your story is more straight forward literature and the fantasy elements are there but subtle, then the revelation could come late in the story.
The standard method would be to have the MC suspect something is up and go looking for more information. Then the reader experiences the journey with her/him.
If you want to emphasize the journey, reveal everything late. If you want your MC spend time using powers, then reveal things fairly early. If you want a balance, place the reveal in the middle.
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
answered Jan 12 at 7:16
CynCyn
6,4071739
6,4071739
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
add a comment |
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
1
1
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
+1 beat me to it. I'd highlight what to do if superpowers are uncommon/unknown in this world.
– NofP
Jan 12 at 9:12
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Writing Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fwriting.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f41234%2fhow-and-when-should-i-introduce-my-main-characters-superpowers%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
All up to you. You can have a story where your character is flying wearing a cape in the opening scene, and a story when his superpowers awake only in the grand finale to save the day.
– Alexander
Jan 14 at 18:08