Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re looking at what fantasy writers can learn from James Gunn’s Superman. Yes, really. Turns out, this big-hearted, punch-heavy superhero flick has a lot to teach us about crafting godlike characters, writing vulnerability, and making your emotional arcs land harder than a Kryptonian haymaker. In this episode, we break down 10 storytelling lessons hiding under the cape, like how to ground overpowered characters in real emotional stakes and why your worldbuilding should serve your story (not the other way around). Plus, how you can use humor to raise tension instead of killing it. So whether you’re writing a chosen-one saga or a magical kitchen sink drama, there’s something here for you, especially if your protagonist is a little too good at everything. Have a question or topic you want me to get into for the show? Email us at
[email protected] or join our Discord and let us know what's on your mind. Fantasy Writing for Barbarians‘ host is Jon Negroni, author of The Pixar Theory, Killerjoy, and more. You can read some of his original short fiction for free over on Cetera. Our producers are Natalia Emmons and Bridget Serdock. You can find all our episodes and various podcast app options here. Intro music: "Adventures in Adventureland" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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