Write What You Know

*Inspiration for today’s blog comes from Daniel Fraizer of Comic Hero News*

After taking a screenwriting class with the world famous screenplay instructor Robert McKee (http://mckeestory.com/?page_id=27), Robert signed The Photon Effect writer Dan Poole’s textbook with “Write the truth”.  Once reading that, it may seem impossible to to conjure up a fictitious superhero using only your past experiences.  I mean, it’s not like a real life superhero with extraordinary powers hangs out in your neighborhood!  However, lessons can still be learned from that quote.

Is there any field of expertise in which you are knowledgeable of that could be harvested to create an original superhero/superhuman community?  What rules must be adhered to while working in that field?  What happens when those rules are broken?   Use those facts and consequences as a basis for your story instead of just some idea that sounds cool in your head.

For example, TPE director/writer Dan drew on his experience of climbing communications towers to develop the powers his protagonist would have. Couple that with dealings with shady business owners and real family struggle and you have a solid foundation to begin your creative process.

To sum it up, create characters and a plot based on what you know, and then have fun with all the little details.  If you don't know of a field in which superpowers could be developed from, start researching!  Get to the library or call on the power of Google to discover something new!