Editing Rewriting An Older Story, Need Tips

[Arch9CivilReactor]

I have this story called ‘Talentless Hero: The Chosen Hero Is Unqualified’ and wanted to rewrite it into a better story than it currently is right now. What makes it easier to do than the other works I have is because of a simple core premise this story builds upon.

Though the title itself may also need work…

Anyway, the premise is that the Hero of the story is chosen and it’s seen publicly… but despite the name being important sounding, the abilities aren’t that powerful. This makes it so many second guess the main character’s role as a hero.

The purpose of this is to show throughout the story that heroism isn’t about power. Despite the main character’s flaws, what makes him stand out is his positivity and ability to act for selfless goals. Unlike those who have the power of heroes but fear injuries or getting political. Not doing anything if it harms their self-interests.

I feel like I shouldn’t make the focus about a ‘Job System’ since I’d already planned that in another book. At least, I want to portray the Hero role differently than I did in the original work.

My current thoughts is maybe making this a society with Superheroes… but that sounds boring to write for me (personally). I like Magical Girls and other Sentai types more than the Spider-Man or Superman superhero tropes.

The sequel is already about Sentai though so I’m still unsure what would be fun to write. Can’t think of anything right now.

What kind of worlds do you guys would be fun to write an ‘Unqualified Hero’ into? This isn’t an underdog trope, after all. It’s more the world seeing that heroism isn’t about the surface.

 

[expentio]

Maybe instead of Superhero go just superhuman? People gain powers, but most aren't gunghoo about doing social service. Society has to make an effort to have a system that can put them to use, according to their powers.
And then a formally strong status comes that doesn't actually have the level of abilities, but bureaucrazy still strikes hard.

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

Maybe instead of Superhero go just superhuman? People gain powers, but most aren't gunghoo about doing social service. Society has to make an effort to have a system that can put them to use, according to their powers.
And then a formally strong status comes that doesn't actually have the level of abilities, but bureaucrazy still strikes hard.

Sounds like a Xuanhuan. I forgot how to write them and haven’t been reading them recently. Got any tips? I know how Xianxia scaling usually works… but Xuanhuan is new territory for me.

 

[Fallen_Void]

Is it like the orginal hero died for some reason then a new one was chosen instead of their place to give the people hope? But the new hero is just an average dude with no power whatsoever or just really weak ability user? Maybe this could work, weak hero showing their worth... But society problem that you have.... Hmmm. Maybe you could reverse Isekai premise, some chosen people saving the world. And the government is using them to hold control on normal people... ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

 

[Arch9CivilReactor]

Is it like the orginal hero died for some reason then a new one was chosen instead of their place to give the people hope? But the new hero is just an average dude with no power whatsoever or just really weak ability user? Maybe this could work, weak hero showing their worth... But society problem that you have.... Hmmm. Maybe you could reverse Isekai premise, some chosen people saving the world. And the government is using them to hold control on normal people... ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

Like I said this isn’t an underdog story of that nature. Well… The premise is similar. It just explores the question of “Can you be a hero even if you’re average?”. It’s not like he’s that much weaker than others, but his averageness doesn’t fit that of a ‘Chosen Hero’. Anyway, do you know anything about Xuanhuan or any tips related to that? (I need some insight on that).

 

[Fallen_Void]

Like I said this isn’t an underdog story of that nature. Well… The premise is similar. It just explores the question of “Can you be a hero even if you’re average?”. It’s not like he’s that much weaker than others, but his averageness doesn’t fit that of a ‘Chosen Hero’. Anyway, do you know anything about Xuanhuan or any tips related to that? (I need some insight on that).

I don't think you so should write in Xuanhuan to be fair, you don't like writing about society if so then to make the hero impactful a Xuanhuan world should be your least choice. Just an opinion.

 

[RivCA]

First off, I commend you for wanting to rewrite your story to make it better, but I caution you regarding your definition of what “better” could be. If you’re fine with sticking to genre-specifics, then by all means write to please the audience. If making others interested in reading your work is your personal cup of joe (I’m drinking my morning coffee as I write this) then by all means, make it into a Xuanhuan (or Xhianxia, forgive me, I haven’t heard of the Chinese-named genres, so I know jack-all about them) or a LitRPG, or any myriad of successful series on the different websites.

Personally, I see filling one of those niches as like scratching an itch. I used to play D&D, but I don’t right now due to life not cooperating. (I’m almost in a place that I can pick up that hobby again, assuming my writing doesn’t consume my free time.) LitRPGs help to scratch that itch. No, my writing focuses on characters and plot development, and while I have a magic system in place, it’s loosely defined, with some hard-and-fast “do not cross” lines on those systems. I use such things as tools, not a straitjacket.

What’s the most important thing to your story? Is it the plot? The characters? The mechanics of the world they live in? Or could it be the entertainment of the outsiders to that world, such as your potential readers, or even yourself as the writer? Everything else will revolve around what it is you deem as “most important,” including if your world views the rules, such as a class system, as immutable. I live in the real world, and while D&D is fine and dandy with its hard and fast definitions about what a character is, people change. I enjoy stories in which people are allowed to change as the needs fit.

One thing I know for sure, in the end, I write to entertain myself. I choose to make those writings public in their own time, in the hopes that others are entertained. If they enjoy my slop, then I can take solace in the fact that that they aren’t reading instant-gratification AI slop. In so doing, I refine my craft and improve myself. My characters are written to be more like the people I interact with, in that they can change to make things better. Either they change themselves to adapt to the situation, or they change the world they inhabit to fit their view. I also consider how these choices affect those around them, and damn whether or not the choices are “good” or “evil;” the characters always make the “right” choice as they see them.