by Tari Faris,
A few years ago, my boys were playing superheroes and my daughter not wanting to be left out (but still as girly as they come) stood up and said, “I want to be a cake superhero.”
She said she would drive around and make cakes for everyone who didn’t have one. She cracks me up.
But this got me thinking about my writing. In
Novel.Academy, we learn that a heroine needs a superpower. No, she doesn’t have to leap tall buildings and lift cars or even drive around making cakes for everyone. But she does need some inner strength or special skill that can help save the day in the end.
In the Hunger Games, Katniss’ superpower is her bow and arrow skills. It saves her and Peeta in the arena in the first book, destroys the arena in the second, and takes down the enemy in the third. In Twilight, Bella’s superpower is her ability to shield her mind. This saves everyone in the end, even Edward. (Man, YA books have really great superpowers)
My current work in progress is not YA but my everyday character still needs a superpower. My heroine’s superpower is her ability to see the potential in a situation. Not glamorous as a bow or a mind shield, but in the end, it is what saves the day for the town, the hero, and her own journey.
Think back to one of your favorite books. Does the heroine have a superpower?
What do you think would make a cool superpower for a book? Baking cakes? It could work. And who knows, maybe it will show up in one of my books someday.
Tari Faris has been writing fiction for more than eleven years. Represented by Wendy Lawton at Books & Such Literary Management, she is a member of ACFW and My Book Therapy. She was the 2017 Genesis winner, 2016 Genesis finalist and double semi-finalist, 2014 Genesis finalist, 2012 Genesis semi-finalist, and a 2012 Frasier bronze medalist. In addition to my writing, I also work for My Book Therapy as a special project manager and blog coordinator for LearnHowToWriteAnNovel.com . When I am not writing or working, I spend time with my amazing husband. We have been married for fifteen wonderful years and have three sweet children. In my free time, I love coffee, rock hounding with my husband and kids, and distracting myself from housework. You can connect with me at www.tarifaris.com
