6 Tips for Writing Superheroes

Hullo, friends! As promised, here is the superhero post I talked about when I shared my superhero poem with you last week! Maybe you like superheroes, maybe you like writing, and maybe you want to start writing about superheroes. Just like anything related to writing, this is harder than you might think. While I don’t claim to be an expert on writing about superheroes, I do have quite a bit of experience, and one thing I’ve learned is that writing about superheroes is about way more than just writing about people with crazy abilities.

So here are a few tips from my own experience and what I’ve noticed in other superhero books and movies to help you when you’re creating and writing your heroes (complete with a lot of Marvel gifs).

[This post contains major spoilers (through gifs) for Captain America: Civil War and some minor spoilers for early MCU films. Also, FEELS warning!)

Poem: real

Once again, I’m dipping into the poems I wrote this past semester for my poetry class! This poem was really fun to write, and it’s a bit of a precursor to the post I plan to post next week about writing superheroes. Hope you enjoy!

real

c.b. cook

 

a small man

in a too-big suit

fights a man in an alley

who is too big

for him to beat

 

a broken woman

burdened by her past

mistakes tries

to erase them

by doing good

 

a sad man

with lots of money

drowns his sorrows

and PTSD

in alcohol

 

the small man

becomes a big man

who fights for good

even when he’s lost

all the things he loves

 

the broken woman

gives hope

saves a friend

and the world

by giving up her soul

 

the sad man

finds a new purpose

a true love

real friends

and gives them his life

 

 

not real

but real

and struggling

just like us

and maybe

that’s why

we like

superheroes

so much

 

What did you think of this poem? Do you know which superheroes these all are? Comment down below with your thoughts!

Welcome, Agent | A Blogiversary Role Play Game

*throws confetti* Guess who’s blogiversary it is? Answer: miiiine! Actually, it was Tuesday, but I wasn’t able to finish the post in time. So you get it two days late! I wanted my second blogiversary post to be both creative and interactive, and this is what I came up with. Enjoy!!!

 

You are an agent of IDIA. Please find a spare sheet of paper and write down a superpower of your choice. Then come up with a one or two syllable code name. If you can’t think of one, comment below and ask for help from others and myself! You don’t need a code name or a superpower to continue, but why not? 🙂

Welcome, Agent. Today I, Database, and IDIA have a desperate need for you. Several movie villains have found their ways into the posts and pages of this blog, and we need your help to weed them out. We only have a small bit of information on each of these, but you can use that info to find their hiding spots.

Loki: He’s full of himself, so you might find him in a spot where his name is on a tower…

Smaug: Sometimes dragons flock to other dragons, even if they’re from different books (not ones by me!).

Red Skull: He’s from the 1940s, so he might go someplace to revenge himself on an old friend, maybe with the White Witch by his side.

Kylo Ren: One of the newest villains on the scene, but his roots go way, way back.

Do us proud,

Database

And there you have it! Use those smart brains and superpowers of yours to figure out where these guys are hiding, then comment down below with what your superpower was and a clue to where one of the baddies is hiding. If you want to add a few extra red herrings, go for it! Enjoy, my friends!

Updates And A Schedule Change

Hullo, everyone! Not expecting a post today, were you? This is going to be just a short update post with a few changes in store, so let’s get on with it!

The first update-change: I will be temporarily pausing posting of Twinepathy. Right now, I’m working on editing the story, and some things are being changed in parts that have already been posted. Because of that, I think it’s necessary to stop posting while I finish editing and get ready for a final once-over before publishing. (Soooo close, guys!) I know you guys are on pins and needles, but hang in there! You’ll get more soon, hopefully!

But in lieu of posting Twinepathy… What am I going to post? I’ll be sticking with the Monday and Friday posting schedule I’ve had, but with different posts. Monday will be writing posts, about writing and storytelling in general, and topics that you guys can request (Have anything you want me to post about? You can post in the comments below asking me about them!). I currently have ideas for some posts about lessons from Star Wars: The Force Awakens about writing–specifically symbolism and speculation, and probably suspense too. Gotta have those S’s. I also have a few ideas for analyzing Captain America: Civil War for some storytelling techniques. So Mondays will be a lot of fun!

On Friday, I’ll be posting one of two things. I’ll either be posting something related to Twinepathy (fanart, fanfiction, collages, snippets, something like that) OR I’ll post something else I’ve written, like a short story or a fanfic. I’m currently brainstorming a fanfic for Civil War… Bucky and Sam are awesome, am I right?

So those are the changes that will be going on in the next few weeks. I hope you guys understand and enjoy the new schedule! I’ll leave all of you with this awesome collage that writefury made (You can check out some others she did for her own characters and other stories on her blog here.):

 

The Prisoner And His Mother – An Avengers AU Fanfic

Ha! You thought this would be Jen’s interview, didn’t you? Or an extra part? Unfortunately, no. But, fortunately, it’s an Avengers alternate universe fanfic! I don’t want to spoil it… so enjoy! 😀

Five people occupied the Quinjet, flying through the dark night. Natasha Romanoff sat in the front, piloting them to the Helicarrier, her nameless copilot at her side. Tony Stark, in his Iron Man suit, and Steve Rogers, brandishing his shield, monitored the prisoner in the back.

And then there was the prisoner himself. Bound and captured, he looked uncomfortable, but there was still a spark of humor that gave off the impression that he was inwardly laughing at their stupidity. He may have been beaten and caught, but he was still Loki. Nothing would really change that.

Then Loki got an odd look on his face and looked around in surprise. Steve Rogers looked at him as lightning blasted overhead. “What’s wrong? Scared of a little lightning?”

It didn’t happen suddenly, but it happened in a matter of seconds. One moment, the space in between the front of the Quinjet and the back was empty, and, in the next moment, she occupied the space. She faded in gently, silently, bringing the soft breeze of her aura with her.

Avengers’ Isle: The Consultant

Hullo, everyone! It’s been coming for a while (and been delayed at least a month), but sadly, this is the last episode of Avengers’ Isle! 😦 Well, let’s see how this thing ends… For past Avengers’ Isle posts, click here.

“I want a full explanation,” Fury said.

Steve sighed and settled into a seat on the Quinjet. Bucky sat down next to him, and the others found places to sit or stand. Natasha was in the pilot’s seat, and she had reluctantly agreed to let Tony be her co-pilot. Somehow Thor and Bucky had managed to shove Red Skull’s limp form into an overhead compartment. Agent Barton was latched into one of the seats, his head lolling to the side since he was still unconscious. All Steve wanted to do was talk to Bucky, but that wouldn’t be possible until Fury’s fierce interrogation was over.

Bucky rolled his eyes towards Steve, who struggled to hide his smile. “Would you like an info dump, Director?” he asked politely.

Fury scowled. “How come I don’t know about you, if you really are an agent?”

“Agent Coulson is the one who picked me up. I don’t know why he wouldn’t tell you.” Bucky shrugged. “It wasn’t in my job description to question his decisions.”

Fury’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Ah, so you’re his consultant. Now everything makes sense.”

“Hey, I’m the Consultant,” Tony protested, twisting around.

Natasha smacked him. “Pay attention.”

Fury rolled his eyes. “Tony, you’re the consultant that nobody wants to consult.”

Thor leaned forward in his seat. “I do not understand.”

Fury sighed. “We needed someone unofficial to use on missions where we needed to do things… not quite by the rules. Coulson said he had a consultant he could use. For security reasons, I never met the agent, and Coulson never told me about him. Coulson was our go-between.”

Steve thought of the agent. Sadness welled up as he realized that he’d probably never get to sign those antique Captain America cards. They were probably at the bottom of the ocean.

But if Loki could survive after being in a glass nearly-unbreakable prison in the Helicarrier, surely Agent Coulson and the others could have made it out. Right?

“Why did my magic not work?” Loki asked, breaking his silence. He’d been surprisingly cooperative, but Steve couldn’t help but be wary of him. It was only about a week since the incident in Germany.

Bucky shrugged. “I’m not technology expert, but he used some sort of force field… thing… to protect the island.”

Thor leaned forward. “So now that we are not in the clutches of the island, I will be able to call Mjolnir again?”

“Not while we’re on the jet!” Natasha yelled.

They landed in New York, right on top of Stark Tower, in spite of Tony’s grumbling. Thor called for his hammer, Tony yelled to JARVIS, and Steve helped Bucky drag Hawkeye out of the jet. Fury contacted SHIELD headquarters – made easier by JARVIS – and smiled after a little bit of talking. Steve couldn’t hear what was said, but he assumed it was good news. They headed down through the tower to ground level, where another quinjet landed. Steve was pleased when he saw Agent Coulson from the helicarrier. He gave Fury a warm smile and a handshake. “I’m glad to see you’re alive, sir.”

“You as well,” Fury said, the edge of his mouth turning up slightly. Then he looked solemn once more. “Hill?”

Coulson nodded. “Alive as ever.”

Controlled chaos ensued as several agents removed Red Skull. Thor convinced Loki of their need to return to Asgard, and after a last farewell (and a surprisingly emotional goodbye between Loki and Tony), they departed. Agent Barton finally regained consciousness, and although he was a little woozy, he got onto the quinjet, with help from Natasha . Fury and Coulson joined them, although Coulson reminded Bucky that he would need to report later. Dr. Banner looked lost, until Tony invited him inside to his lab.

That left only Steve and Bucky. Steve looked at his old friend, so different now. “Want to walk to my apartment with me?” Steve asked.

Bucky nodded, and they strode off down the familiar unfamiliar streets. They walked in silence, but not uncomfortable silence. They paused several times to look at what might have been familiar places. They reached Steve’s apartment too soon, and Steve lingered out front with Bucky.

“Coffee sometime?” Bucky asked. Steve could only nod as emotion welled in his throat. His friend reached over and grasped his shoulder.

“On the beach…” Steve swallowed. Dry throat. “The trail mix… was that you?”

Bucky nodded, and his lips twitched in a smiled. “I kind of stole it from the Director.”

Steve felt a smile come out in spite of himself. And then he was laughing. Soon Bucky was laughing too. Somehow, they managed to stop, and Steve blinked at his old friend. Just like old times.

And that, my friends is the end. If you’d like to cry, I have plenty of Kleenex, and if you want to bash me over the head, I also have frying pans. And apples, if anyone would like those. (Not you, Maximus!) Thoughts? Questions? Senseless blabbering? Comment away!

Avengers Prank War: How Thor Joined Steve’s Side And Pepper’s Thoughts

Hullo, everyone! I hope you’re having a wonderful Independence Day, celebrating our freedom and remembering those who fought to get and keep it. Make sure to give everyone hugs today! *throws red, white, and blue confetti* And as many of you know, today is also Captain America’s birthday, so what better way to celebrate than with a prank war snippet? Enjoy! Want to see how it all got started? Click here.

Pepper rubbed her eyes and sat up. The sound that had woken her up came again – Tony yelping. She sighed. He had gone to bed way earlier than usual the night before, so she had been pretty sure something was up. Of course, she had warned Steve of the possibility of an early morning prank.

Pepper put on her robe and headed over to the door. When she stepped into the hallway, she was nearly run over by Tony as  he raced frantically down the hallway.

“Tony…” she called, then sighed. It would probably be a while before she got her answers.

There was the sound of heavier footsteps approaching. Thor rushed into view and slid to a stop in front of Pepper. He gave her a slight head not and a smile of greeting. “Good morning, Pepper. Where–”

Pepper pointed in the direction Tony had gone, and Thor dashed away. She headed in they had come from, and soon another sound emerged: hysterical laughter. She entered the kitchen to find Clint doubled over laughing, Banner hiding a grin, and Steve ignoring both of them as he poured himself a bowl of Lucky Charms.

Pepper put her hands on her hips. “What happened?” She looked at Steve, who was clearly the most sand of the three at the moment.

He shrugged, looking for the milk in the fridge. “Don’t ask me. I walked in on this madness.”

Banner stirred his Coco Puffs. “Well, let’s see. Tony switched out the salt with the sugar, as a prank on Steve, of course, but he clearly forgot that today is Steve’s Lucky Charms day, not his scrambled egg day.”

Pepper rubbed her forehead. “And Thor was the first to find out.”

Banner nodded. “After he dumped half a gallon of what he thought was sugar onto his Frosted Flakes. Thor wouldn’t have known who did it if Tony hadn’t started laughing his head off,” he pointed out, scooping cereal into his mouth. Steve poured his milk and sat down to his cereal.

Clint’s face was cheery red when he finally stopped laughing and caught his breath. “Steve’s gained an ally,” he said, grinning. “At least now it’s two against two.”

Steve began picking out the rainbow charms one by one and eating them. Pepper noticed he was attempting to hide a smile. “Yeah.”

Pepper sat down at the table and poured herself some Cheerios. Clint finally sat down, too, eyeing Banner. “You’re not going to take sides, right?” he asked cautiously.

Banner held up a hand. “I am not getting involved in this. Too risky. And don’t you dare try to get me involved.”

Clint turned his gaze to Pepper, and she leveled her spoon in his direction. “I am the referee. I do not take sides.” She moved her spoon towards her bowl but stopped. “Where’s Natasha?”

Clint shrugged. “Who knows? But she hasn’t taken sides yet, so you don’t have to worry.”

Again, Pepper noticed Steve hiding a grin. She frowned at him, remembering that Natasha had joined his side, but as  soon as he caught her gaze he gave her a quick shake of the head. Pepper decided that if neutrality was not an option, she would definitely be on Steve’s side. She did not want to be going against Natasha.

Clint sighed. “I’d better head to my room. I want to get started at the target range early this morning.” He pushed back his chair and headed off down the hall.

The instant he was out of sight, there was a grating noise overhead. Natasha dropped down from an overhead vent.

“Is the deed done?” Steve asked ominously.

Banner sighed. “How did I know?”

Natasha nodded. “I set up a camera, too. Blackmail.”

“He’s heading there now,” Steve said.

Somewhere else in the tower, there was a high-pitched shriek. Pepper groaned. “Do I even want to know?”

“You know the classic prank with a bucket of water over a door?” Natasha asked. “It’s just that. Except with silly string and water guns.”

Pepper could only sigh.

Avengers’ Isle: Long Time No See

Oh, I know you guys are itching to find out if Tony kills Loki, or if Loki kills Tony, or if Natasha kills them both. I’m sorry to torture you, but you’ll have to wait… See past episodes here.

There was absolute silence around the campfire. The two men managed to avoid each other’s gazes by staring into the fire. The smaller one gave an involuntary shudder and pulled his legs up to his chest.

“Thanks,” Fury said quietly from the other side of the fire, subdued for once. “Wouldn’t even be alive now if…”

Banner shook his head. “It wasn’t exactly a choice I made. It just kind of happened. Thank the… the other guy.”

Fury gazed at him. Somehow his eye patch had stayed on. Banner wondered if it was glued to his head and shook the thought away. “Hopefully I won’t get the chance to thank him,” Fury said.

The two sat in silence for a while. “Do you think anyone else made it out?” Banner asked quietly.

Fury leaned forward, his hands on his knees as he stared at the fire. “We can hope.”

—

Thor and Steve both stared blankly at the small fire Steve had managed to build. Sometimes people made him feel stupid, but at least he was smart enough to know how to build a fire. He still had a brain.

Thor interrupted the silence. “I do not wish to be a, uh, wet blanket? But what shall we do next?” Steve felt sorry for the Asgardian. All Thor’s attempts to call his hammer had failed. Steve didn’t know how it worked, but it sure wasn’t working now.

He sighed. “I’m not sure, exactly.” He looked up at the dark sky. “I guess we should just get some rest. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, and we’ll at least have to find our own food.”

Thor nodded and immediately curled up in the sand. He looked back up at Steve for a second. “Do you think anyone else made it?”

Steve sighed. “We can hope.”

The Asgardian lay his head down. Steve felt a connection with him. They were pretty similar, in a way. This was a different world for both of them, and they were both sort of soldiers.

Steve started to lay down when his super hearing caught the sound of a twig cracking in the forest nearby. He stiffened and gazed at the forest, his night vision struggling.

He hadn’t even considered that they might not be alone.

Steve stood up, advancing towards the forest. He really, really wished he had his shield now. “Who’s there?” he demanded.

There was a chilling, bone-tingling laugh. So familiar. Steve fell towards a nearby tree, gripping it as his knees began to feel weak. In the darkness, the memories seemed almost real. There was a sneer in the voice.

“Long time, no see, Captain Rogers.”

He barely had time to register the words before he blacked out.

Mwa-ha, I am so cruel! Guess we’ll find out what happens next week… or the week after, who knows. Just FYI, we’ll find out later why Thor can’t call his hammer. (And yes, before you ask, I already have a reason. 😛 ) Any guesses on who this mysterious person is? It’s not any of the Avengers or Loki. Just so you know.