My WIP was an actiony sci-fi story with a whole lot of superhero stuff. The MC is incredibly strong, but has numerous significant weaknesses. Not falling back on the clunky exposition or tired tropes that make up an awful lot of what we see in between those covers and which don’t come naturally to me, at least to arrive at some finesse and subtlety takes time. In this article, we will explore how to well-take advantage of a few of these techniques in order to instill the indication of a character’s superior capabilities in an action-oriented plot.
In lieu of telling the reader in a character’s own voice what they can or cannot do, show them through nuance and interactions in the unfolding narrative. 48. OR, HONE THEIR SKILLS To Make the character a smooth operator, unlimited training and practice make sedentary activities look just that, sedentary. Show, don’t tell and we will believe you, they are amazed.
Use hints and subtext in dialogue to show how powerful a character is without saying it outright. Have other characters admire, respect, or fear the powerful character in dialogue. Use quiet comments, looks, and reactions to give the feeling that everyone recognizes that this character is in charge, and when that character says jump they all jump.
Notice the character’s physical description and what they present. Describe their posture, their demeanor, and how confidently and assuredly they carry themselves. Employ imagery to describe their towering figure, penetrating stare, or presence of authority, ensuring readers know without a doubt of their power and supremacy.
Drive home the character’s cunning and tactical prowess during action scenes. Show how they predict their opponent’s moves, find cracks in their defenses, and outsmart them with their gameplay. You imply that they are not only smarter than the opponent but also more strategic through the fact that they are outwitting the opponent.
Use metaphor and symbolism to highlight in what ways the character has power and agency. Paint it viscerally: there’s a predator in the woods watching its prey, or an unstoppable force of nature has been unleashed. You resource mythic significance and grandeur by symbolic associations更↳r。
Use the character’s reputation and back story to indicate their great powers and feats. Drop some bombs of gossip, lore, or past adventures that tell tales of their might and mastery. Creating a mythos around the character increases the enigma and breach of protective walls around the character.
Add light foreshadowing that touches the characters potential that suits greater measures or hidden facets. Spread hints and clues throughout the story that imply there’s more to the character than you see. Plant the seeds of curiosity and anticipation for what revelation and revelation of their power could lie ahead
The key to this is an artful mix of showing, hinting and suggesting rather than this is what the character can do. If you use these tricks, I promise you will create strong, competent and forceful characters who dazzle the reader with their simple presence and high level of skill.
