Arch9CivilReactor
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2021
- Messages
- 365
- Points
- 103
Recently a lot of things have happened that made it hard for me to write. One which is getting my phone broken among other stuff that just could be boiled into ‘A series of unfortunate events’ (lol). Anyway, I finally got over myself.
The only good thing is that I found that plan of a story I was thinking of reviving. I’d originally wrote it as a Light Novel but now I’ve found the original plan I can improve on the OG idea. The reason I want is pretty simple to be honest.
There wasn’t any other time I’d been able to write an interesting secret agent-like story with cool characters. Every other time I’d been missing background, characterisation, or some other aspect that made an interesting story.
Now was it perfect? No.
Whenever I set a story on my version of Earth, I always fall into the same pit of confusing my readers due to being unable to convey the complicated power system I gave my world. This story partially succeeded in expressing my thoughts through an urban Fusion Fantasy setting.
From feedback I remember my way of storytelling was flawed back then since I was so focused on the ‘plan’ I forgot to add things organically. It was originally a knockoff version of ‘Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Platoon’ so the lacking presentation was likely inevitable (The original wasn’t exactly one with a good start).
As you’d expect from a knockoff you’d see a lot of similarities besides the Power System. The main characters being: 1. A hot-headed leader/ 2. A pacifist sniper/ 3. A mysterious hacker medic/ 4. A prodigy new recruit/ 5. A spy from the enemy faction.
I particularly like adding a bad guy to my five-man bands since it adds to the dialogue when there is someone unabashedly suspicious on the team.
Let me get to the main plan so far:
Arc 1 is supposed to primarily introduce the team’s normal state. This is just your generic Battle Academy WebNovel introduction, but I wanted to make it special. There are planned scenes of them doing secret agent-like stuff but I’m a bit stumped on how to present the enemy.
Not WHO but the HOW.
Endgame is supposed to be fighting a Dragon of the End, but I feel like an early introduction of a villain could make them bland. If they’re introduced in Arc 1 and do nothing special, then they become less threatening as time goes on.
I could make the villain’s minions be doing the bad stuff, but that seems too easy for a secret agent-like story. If there’s no mystery aspects then they’ll just wonder why the main characters are waiting around for evidence to turn up.
I’m unsure of how to make searching for the villain sound compelling instead of passive.
Anyone have any examples or references I could use for this particular type of villain? Not a Joker but more a secretive mastermind behind the curtain. Someone who is somehow there since Vol 1 even if not overtly with a way to progress the mystery without it sounding like everything spoken is a red herring.
I’ve never really excelled in writing mysterious villains as I’m no author of Lord of the Mysteries.
I’m used to the villain either being personally invested in the protagonist but too OP for the team to catch (so they actively avoid him) or the villains being forces of nature that cannot be beaten traditionally. A fitting villain for this type of story isn’t my cup of tea.
I’ll be thankful for any advice or references.
The only good thing is that I found that plan of a story I was thinking of reviving. I’d originally wrote it as a Light Novel but now I’ve found the original plan I can improve on the OG idea. The reason I want is pretty simple to be honest.
There wasn’t any other time I’d been able to write an interesting secret agent-like story with cool characters. Every other time I’d been missing background, characterisation, or some other aspect that made an interesting story.
Now was it perfect? No.
Whenever I set a story on my version of Earth, I always fall into the same pit of confusing my readers due to being unable to convey the complicated power system I gave my world. This story partially succeeded in expressing my thoughts through an urban Fusion Fantasy setting.
From feedback I remember my way of storytelling was flawed back then since I was so focused on the ‘plan’ I forgot to add things organically. It was originally a knockoff version of ‘Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Platoon’ so the lacking presentation was likely inevitable (The original wasn’t exactly one with a good start).
As you’d expect from a knockoff you’d see a lot of similarities besides the Power System. The main characters being: 1. A hot-headed leader/ 2. A pacifist sniper/ 3. A mysterious hacker medic/ 4. A prodigy new recruit/ 5. A spy from the enemy faction.
I particularly like adding a bad guy to my five-man bands since it adds to the dialogue when there is someone unabashedly suspicious on the team.
Let me get to the main plan so far:
Arc 1 is supposed to primarily introduce the team’s normal state. This is just your generic Battle Academy WebNovel introduction, but I wanted to make it special. There are planned scenes of them doing secret agent-like stuff but I’m a bit stumped on how to present the enemy.
Not WHO but the HOW.
Endgame is supposed to be fighting a Dragon of the End, but I feel like an early introduction of a villain could make them bland. If they’re introduced in Arc 1 and do nothing special, then they become less threatening as time goes on.
I could make the villain’s minions be doing the bad stuff, but that seems too easy for a secret agent-like story. If there’s no mystery aspects then they’ll just wonder why the main characters are waiting around for evidence to turn up.
I’m unsure of how to make searching for the villain sound compelling instead of passive.
Anyone have any examples or references I could use for this particular type of villain? Not a Joker but more a secretive mastermind behind the curtain. Someone who is somehow there since Vol 1 even if not overtly with a way to progress the mystery without it sounding like everything spoken is a red herring.
I’ve never really excelled in writing mysterious villains as I’m no author of Lord of the Mysteries.
I’m used to the villain either being personally invested in the protagonist but too OP for the team to catch (so they actively avoid him) or the villains being forces of nature that cannot be beaten traditionally. A fitting villain for this type of story isn’t my cup of tea.
I’ll be thankful for any advice or references.
