: Fifty-Seven Ways it Can Be Used){kind=link}
I wrote Tuesday about how to make magic, the supernatural, or paranormal abilities believable in your story. Well, I skipped one—because it doesn’t have to do with the magic system, per se, but with how your characters will respond to a world where magic—or their cool technology, works.
You know that old saying, to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail? I’d argue that the same holds true for your characters. If they have a magical or paranormal ability, chances are that they will turn to it to solve a variety of nonmagical problems.
Take the following list of actions and ask yourself: how can my character accomplish these using his or her unique abilities?
- Play
- Show off
- Cheat
- Win
- Excel
- Screw up
- Hurt someone accidentally
- Hurt some intentionally
- Embarrass themselves
- Hide
- Run
- Solve a puzzle
- Create a puzzle
- Dominate
- Intimidate
- Trap someone
- Spy
- Eavesdrop
- Work
- Earn money
- Break into somewhere
- Break out of somewhere
- Mislead someone
- Catch someone
- Be overconfident
- Make a mistake
- Lose a contest
- Fight
- Control a situation
- Waste time
- Goof off
- Impress a girl/guy
- Protect something
- Keep a secret
- Travel
- Overcome a character flaw
- Heal someone
- Befriend an animal
- Accomplish basic household tasks
- Run for office
- Win popularity
- Fool someone
- Boast
- Cheer someone up
- Irritate someone
- Repair something broken
- Break something
- Sabotage something
- Indulge
- Entertain
- Fool someone
- Compensate for a handicap
- Find something
- Neglect to learn some basic skill
- Notice things that others do not
- Know things that others do not
- Survive
A caveat: no single story should include all of the above—the list is supposed to serve as a brainstorming aid. Really, what it does it help you to think of ways to make your story both unique and more true to itself.
Do you think your character’s unique skill or ability (magical or otherwise) changes some way in which he or she interacts with the world? How?
This is a really great way to get in the mind of individual characters, and how they would use their "abilities" differently. Great idea, Cheryl. Thanks!
-brandon
Excellent post, Cheryl! Thank you so much for this one. It hits at just the right time for me, too.
Hugs,
Martina
Hi Brandon, glad it's helpful. Now I wonder how these ideas would apply to zombines ?
H Martina! I'm so glad the post was timely. We must be thinking about the same sorts of story problems this week
Oh, this post got my brain working! Thanks, Cheryl!
I had to laugh at your caveat – that would be quite some story
Wow! That's a great list! Thanks for posting it. I need something fresh while I'm writing today.
Hi Andrea and Sarah and Taffy–so nice of you all to stop by
and I'm SO glad that this crazy list was helpful. Sarah, I think you should write that story incorporating everything on the list!
What a fun list and it raises good questions. If a character in a book has a power, I'm reading it! Lol!