Writing a Superhero Novel: 7 Powerful Tips

(See what I did with the title?)

Superhero novels are all the rage right now. Renegades, the DC Icons series, and more are popping up all over the place. And as someone who has written a superhero novel and would like to write another, I like that. So today I'm going to give some tips on writing one yourself as someone who has tons, okay, some experience and observations.

Before we begin, allow me to give my argument on why I think superhero fiction should be its own genre. (I've never had an opportunity before, so if you're not interested, skip on to the body of the post.) I think superhero fiction should be its own genre because A. It doesn't fit in any other genre (sci-fi, fantasy, adventure). B. It has its own set of tropes and cliches. and C. Just because it would be better that way.

Perfectly sound argument complete

Tip 1: Chose your powers wisely

I know, it's so hard to resist. You start a superhero story and the next thing you know you've got teleporters and super-strength people galore, surrounded by ones with more unusual talents like being able to control shadows or open portals or such. But despite how hard it might be, you need to learn to have self-control with your power bestowing power.

You have to start by choosing which powers you will have. Are you going classic, Superman style? Or are you going unique, like many of Marissa Meyer's superheroes? You can even have a combination. There are two things to be cautious of, however.

1. Don't be cliche. Or copy others. If you have a superhero with super-strength, flight, and laser eyes, no matter what you call him, he'll be Superman. Try to steer clear of the classic combinations and find something new.

2. Don't go overboard. Like anything, you don't want to go too crazy either. A few of Marissa Meyer's superpowers, to me, seem to go there. Creating marbles? Bleeding weapons? You don't want people to roll their eyes at the weirdness of your superpowers.

Tip 2: Worldbuilding is key

Some superhero fiction takes place in fictional cities, like Gotham. Others stay in the real world, like New York. When writing your own, you get to decide. But no matter where it takes place, you need to make sure to build your world. Are superheroes accepted, normal parts of society? Or are they outcasts, forced to be vigilantes? Or are superheroes considered fictional until your hero shows up (like in my story)?

You also have to consider things like if your powers are supernatural, magical, or scientifically based. Was it a disease that gave certain people powers, The Darkest Minds style? Some universes, like the MCU, mix various origins, but I'd suggest sticking to one kind. Less confusion and readers only have to suspend disbelief in one area.

Tip 3: Never explain

I read this tip in Stan Lee's graphic novel autobiography (which you should read, btw). He said that when they created the Hulk, they just said he was created by gamma rays and left it at that. They never explained more about what gamma rays were, how they worked, nothing. And people were willing to accept that because it sounded real and they didn't care that much.

You don't need a thirty page explanation about how your superpowers work and all the science behind it. It's okay if you know all that, but the readers don't. Give them enough to satisfy, but not overwhelm them. It's always better to give less explanation than more. Like in my superhero novel, she has a magic sword that gives her powers. I never tell you how the sword is magic beyond a mysterious vial that was used in its creation. And I think it works well.

Tip 4: Character is important

There are lots of fun stuff in a superhero novel. Powers, gadgets, cool cars. But you need to remember the most important thing. Your characters. Without strong characters for readers to love and empathize with, your novel will be a flop. We don't like Marvel movies simply because of their big set-pieces and epic action. We love them because we adore Steve Rodgers, Tony Stark, and Rocket Raccoon.

You need to start with building great characters before you get to all the fun superhero stuff. Know their backstory, what makes them tick, how many relations they have. All the juicy details. Then you can add on superpowers and gadgets. And make sure their character isn't defined by their power either, no more than you define a blind character by their disability.

Tip 5: Decided your realism

Not all superhero fiction has the same level of realism. Some are firmly grounded in science and fact. Others venture into the more mythical, while some go for a humorous take. One of the first things you should do is figure out how real you want things to be and stick with it.

My superhero novel, for example, is well grounded in reality. My main character lives in Los Angeles and goes to high school. The most magical part of the book is the sword, and I don't focus too much on that aspect. Remember the more crazy your book gets, the more readers have to suspend disbelief. I mean, it is a superhero book, so they're already suspending it some, but you don't want to push things too far too fast.

Tip 6: Think about the suit

It might be just me, but a superhero's suit is important, for many reasons. First, it's what protects their identity, and it needs to do that *cough*Superman*cough*. Second, it needs to protect them and help with their powers, and third, it's what they become recognized by. So you need to figure out a good suit, even if readers may never actually see it with their eyes (unless you put it on the cover, which would be cool).

Start by thinking about their powers and what sort of suit they might need. A person who can create fire needs something fireproof, while someone with super-speed needs something that will stand up to that stress. Color is important too. A shadow controller will probably wear grey or black, while a water controller will probably wear a shade of blue. All these things are small things, but will help elevate your hero.

Tip 7: No cliche villains

Please, avoid cliche super-villains like they're an Infinity Stone that you don't want to touch. We just talked why you should not make "bad guys", so you should already be caught up on all the things to avoid and do. But if not, go check out that post.

Anyway, your whole novel can be ruined if you have an excellent hero, strong world, and all that, but then a super-villain who wants to take over the world for no good reason and has cliche powers, like mind control or something. That's one thing I loved about Renegades so much. The villains in there weren't actually that bad and had more good points than the good guys. It was a cool reversal.

Have you ever written a superhero novel? What's your favorite superhero book? Tell me in the comments.

Suggested Posts:

Book Review: Miles Morales by Jason Reynolds
Death in Books and Movies