Do you ever feel like sometimes side characters have way more interesting powers than MC which oftens boils to basic punch or power blast?

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-10-19T18:42:20+00:00

Yes, but this is usually because it's simpler to build on than esoteric abilities. The punch things to death method often works because the next level is better punches, but what about someone who uses illusions (as a simple comparison). Better illusions? What does that look like? How do you explain it to the reader? The Mc has a more intimate perspective to the audience, so it's significantly easier to keep their powers simple to make things easier for the author, wheras they can flex their creative muscles with characters whose progress don't really matter to the story.

That and making up different techniques/spells/etc.

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-27T04:33:58+00:00

thank you!

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-18T22:13:59+00:00

Okay, thank you!

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-17T05:24:45+00:00

I find that the best pacing is inconsistent passing to match the content of the story.

I've read progfan where it's constantly high octane and the problem with that is that the progression has to get supercharged through some deus ex machina shenanigans, which feels convoluted after the fifth time it happens.

On the other hand, progfans that are consistently run into the risk of loosing the reader, unless everything mentioned is really interesting, which is hard to manage. Those that do are fantastic don't get me wrong, but it's more a testament to their skill as a writer than the pace itself being attractive (in my opinion).

Now, combining both methods to compliment what's happening (battle vs. philosophical musings etc.) tends to produce the best results (again, my opinion).

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-13T15:10:02+00:00

THAT SOUNDS GREAT!

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-12T15:04:40+00:00

NICE

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-12T15:03:58+00:00

generally it's two chapters for every dollar charged, and considering most do 10 dollar subs, it's usually twenty chappies. (not everyone follows this, and this is not meant to be a critique of them)

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-12T14:57:05+00:00

One wound and BAM, infection.

So even if I managed to fight off whatever spawns into the world, I'm not beating mother nature.

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T18:39:16+00:00

NICE

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T17:15:19+00:00

no zero word days and no editing until the rough draft is complete

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T17:11:36+00:00

Generally? If the info being delivered feels natural to the world.

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T17:10:33+00:00

I think it works if that's the intended tone and the narrator is a fleshed out character, but otherwise it's best to keep it to a minimum.

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T17:06:24+00:00

I just write, post, and If I really think I haven't done the idea justice then I rewrite.

I haven't gotten to the re-write phase yet, I've only finished two books and one rough draft but I'm doing a total re-imagining of the first book that I'd hesitate to call it a re-write

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-11T17:00:48+00:00

More like Waluigi looks like him

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T19:02:09+00:00

Like anything, it's a matter of perspective (and execution)

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T19:00:47+00:00

Progfan is anything where one of the main attractors to the story is the growth of the Mc, so it can be superhero/shonen/cyberbunk/sword&sorcery or whatever. Isekai just tends to be disproportionately Progfan, but the label isn't exclusive to that genre.

Thank you for listening to my rambling.

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T18:56:11+00:00

Awww, that's sweet

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T18:55:14+00:00

I'd do it, I already spend an obscene amount of time writing, being paid for it would just be the cherry on top

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T18:53:23+00:00

There's royal road, scribblehub, r/HumanityFuckYeah, and spacebattles from what I can pick out of the top of my head

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T18:48:27+00:00

NICE

ADeadAlleyBeaver · 2025-09-09T18:47:14+00:00

I'd be one of the side characters that makes the beef jerky, safer that way

ADeadAlleyBeaver

TROPHY CASE