What’s Your Superpower?
Those of you who follow me on Twitter might have heard the news about my recent broken bone. *sigh* Again.
I have a special talent, it seems, for breaking my middle toe. That’s right. Not the big toe or any other appendage that sticks out. Nope. I have to be different and break that middle toe tucked between the others.
Note that I’ve never broken any other bones. (Yet.) Just this same toe—three times. Calculate the odds of that.
I broke it the first time two-and-a-half years ago, and it took over 6 months for it to heal because I kept re-breaking it before it was fully mended. (“Oh, I’m tall. I can reach that upper cabinet, no problem.” *stands on tiptoes* Crunch.)
The second time, I broke that same toe one year later, nearly to the same day. I think I rebroke it only once or twice that time before it healed.
About a month ago, a year-and-a-half after that last incident, I broke that same toe again. I’ve already rebroken it once, and this time I was just standing around, not doing anything. It’s enough to make me feel like I can’t win.
(Why yes, I do stub my toes a lot. There’s a reason I have the Klutz Queen crown. *smile*)
We Each Have Unique Skills
My point is that bad stuff happens to everyone, and it’s easy to let those setbacks bring us down. Each time I re-break this toe, the clock of six-to-eight weeks of healing resets and the pain comes back even stronger. But I think we all have special talents of the good kind as well.
I believe everyone can do something that hardly anyone else can do. Maybe that skill is useful. (I could sure use the superpower of writing perfect queries. *grin*) Or maybe it’s useless, or silly, or bizarre. But that talent is ours and ours alone.
That “superpower” makes us unique in the world. No matter how worthless that skill might be, it still makes us special and that’s something to celebrate.
Celebrate What Makes You Unique—No Matter How Bizarre
The sense of belonging to a group is nice, whether it’s as part of our family, our job, our hobbies, or something else. But it’s nice to remind ourselves that we’re one in a billion too.
We’re the only ones who can do what we do. That uniqueness means we have a way of looking at the world no one else does. No one else can be the kind of parent or employee or friend we can. We should celebrate that fact as well.
It’s easy to observe all the things we can’t do. Every once in a while, we need to remind ourselves of the things we can do and take for granted.
Maybe we give the perfect hug to a child in pain. Maybe our bright smile is the highlight of a grocery cashier’s day. Maybe our goofy klutziness brings a belly laugh to someone who’s down. We each have something to contribute to the world that no one else can.
Story Characters Should Be Unique Too
As writers, we can apply this lesson to our characters as well. They should bring a unique talent, skill, or way of looking at the world to the story. Ditto for them having unique flaws too.
Yes, character strengths and flaws often fall into broad categories: he’s arrogant, she’s forgiving, etc. But the way those traits manifest and affect the story should reflect the characters as individuals.
More importantly, we can think about how those strengths and flaws play out over the story’s arc. Do they recognize their superpower at the beginning of the story? What about at the end?
My Superpower Is…
My superpower? I can peel Clementines (like mandarin oranges) in a single S-shape 99% of the time. Useless, silly, and bizarre, but kids look at me in awe, so it’s all good. *smile*
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Also, a reminder that I’ll be holding a one-hour live Q&A session about all things WordPress this Thursday, April 11th, at 7 p.m. Eastern time on the WANA International Facebook page. Come pick my brain! *smile*
What’s your superpower? Have you ever impressed anyone with it? Do any of your characters have unusual abilities? What makes their strengths and flaws unique? Do their traits tie into the story arc?
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Well, I can look at something and tell you if it’s knit, crochet, macrame, etc. I can often even identify if a fabric or yarn is acrylic, wool, or cotton, to touch it.
I can also look at a knit or crochet item and make a copy of it, but I rarely demonstrate that particular ability.
Hi Carradee,
Well, you impressed me. That’s very cool! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
I have a heightened since of color. Does that count? I can distinguish all of the various shades of any color and I know all their fancy names.
Hi Buffy,
Ooo, a couple of years ago I saw an online test for color perception where you had to drag and drop a color chip onto a band of color at the right spot. I did fairly well. Better than the stereotypical guy who calls aqua, turquoise, and teal all “green.” LOL! (And yes, I know guys who can tell the difference, so I’m not slamming guys in general. Just the stereotype. 🙂 )
But I couldn’t tell you the names of many of those odd colors. I just learned what taupe was a few years ago. 🙂 Neat! Thanks for the comment!
P.S. You do realize that the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is try to peel a clementine in an S shape?
LOL! Let me know how it goes, Buffy. 🙂
Of course, for me the trick is that I can do it virtually every time without even trying. 😉
I’m expecting failure, but I have a whole box. 🙂
Just don’t waste the Clementines–they’re too yummy. 😉
I LOVE how you can peel a clementine in a single S shape. That’s awesome. 😀
Hmm…I’m tall like you, Jami (I’m 6’1″), so go figure my toes are like fingers. When I was a teen, I played “chopsticks” on the piano with my toes. *blushes* LOL! We were screwing around in band class one day and my buds dared me to do it. Haven’t done it since then, though. 😉
Another thing I haven’t done in a looong time, is I can play a tune by ear. It’s like Carradee’s knack for fabric. I only need to hear a song a time or two, and then I can play it on either the flute, the sax, or the piano. It’s been a while, so I’m rusty on this one. 🙂
Hi Melinda,
Wow, you’re even taller than I am (5’10”). I tried learning how to write with my toes when I was a kid, and since my handwriting is bad in general, my footwriting wasn’t much different. LOL!
Ooo, I wish I was better with music and had learned how to play the piano. My brother can do the playing by ear thing, but all musical talent skipped me. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and for the comment!
Really long toes or skillful?
I’m sorry you broke you toe (again), but this post is awesome. And I think I might be your toe cousin. I’ve dislocated my toe so many times that I don’t even go to the doctor anymore. I’ve learned how to pop it back in myself.
My superpower is that I’m an animal whisperer 🙂 I seem to be able to understand them better than most and I’ve never met an animal who didn’t like me. When I worked at the vet’s during high school, I could handle animals that no one else could touch without getting bitten. With my own pets, I know when they’re sick long before they start showing actual symptoms. My husband has often called my affinity with animals my superpower 🙂
Hi Marcy,
Yeah, I’m like that about my toe too. I don’t bother having the doctor wrap it, as I can immobilize it just as well myself.
Ooo, love your animal whisperer talent. That’s awesome and useful! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
You know, I seriously just remembered… I’m another cousin in the repeat-injury department. I’m actually prone to cracking my wrists, hairline fractures—or so I believe, because I’ve only had them diagnosed twice (different wrists), but I’ve gotten the same sensation a good half-dozen times since.
I just put a splint on them. *shrug* That was what the doctor did.
But I also heal insanely fast. Kinda awkward when scheduling stitch removal. I had an allergy test Friday morning, and you know those shot things they put on your arms? They’re supposed to take 1-2 weeks to heal. Mine are already almost gone.
Hi Carradee,
Exactly–that’s the same shrug reaction I have for my toe now. 🙂 Eh, keep it constrained, elevate it when you can, blah, blah, blah. LOL!
Good for you on healing fast. I used to, but I think I’m getting too old for that now. 😉 Thanks for the comment!
I have the inane ability to recall the most unnecessary pieces of information (usually pertaining to pop culture and/or entertainment.) Need to know a random factoid about the snowglobe scene in Citizen Kane? I’m your girl! The subject matter of U2’s song “Running to Stand Still”? I can totally tell you that. Need to know what 7 times 4 is? Ask someone else; I can’t do it without a calculator.
Stay off your feet, Jami! Hope your toe heals quick!
Hi Amanda,
LOL! Yes, I have a photographic-type memory, so if I can remember what I was looking at, I can recall conversations, background information, etc. It was great for studying for finals (just memorize all my notes), but it makes getting enough distance from my writing to do good edits difficult. 🙂
And I’m totally with you on the math weakness. 🙂 Thanks for sharing and for the comment!
You are so freaking hilarious.
I’m sorry to hear about your toe.
But you clearly have mad skillz.
Hi Renee,
Yes, I have mad skillz to be the problem child. 🙂 Don’t get me started on my bizarre tales of woe. At least they’re usually amusing…for others. LOL! Thanks for the comment!
My kids would be impressed.
My superpower is the ability to know which lane will take the longest at a store. Unfortunately, it always turns out to be the one I’m in.
Hi Cindy,
LOL! Oh yeah, I’ve had glimpses of what that superpower would be like. I think I’ll happily stick to Clementine peeling. 🙂 Thanks for the laugh and the comment!
I have broken a few bones – thigh, nose x 2, and my ankle. OUCH! Poor you… I’ve stubbed my toe many times (my middle toe sticks out a lot. I do wonder how it hasn’t broken already, but it’s bound to one day.
I freak peeps out with my Super-tongue! I touch my nose and the tip of my pointy chin with it – seems quite normal to me, but I actually made my father-in-law heave a few days ago? *Evil grin* Not sure it’ll help me succeed in anything other than freak peeps out, but hey, it’s me: Odd.
Get well soon. And have you considered a pin in that vulnerable toe? 🙂
Hi Shah,
LOL! Exactly–I embrace my oddness (hence the tag “Jami is insane” on this post) because what’s the alternative? 🙂 And hee, I can imagine how people might freak at that visual of your tongue. Thanks for sharing and for the comment!
Hey Jami, It’s a good idea, thinking about our story characters’ unique superpowers/ flaws. When you gave examples of general traits, like “she’s arrogant”, that reminded me of what I’m studying right now in my Intro to Personality (psychology) course. (I’m going to revise this material for the exam while I explain this!) According to the course, we can understand a person’s personality/ individuality through 3 levels. Level 1 is the broadest TRAIT level. So we’re talking about the Big 5 traits, Extraversion-introversion, Neuroticism-emotional stability, level of Openness to experience (receptiveness to new things/ experiences, preferring more complex experiences or forms of art, having intellectual and / or aesthetic interests, etc.), level of Agreeableness (not just being friendly and pleasant, but also about being altruistic, sympathetic, warm, generous, kind, etc.), and level of Conscientiousness (being diligent, organized, punctual, responsible, perseverant, disciplined, etc.) This level 1 is the “fuzzy outline” of one’s personality. We can even categorize strangers or people we don’t know very well into all or some of these Big 5 traits. Level 2 is the CHARACTERISTIC ADAPTATIONS. These are basically things that people use to adapt to certain challenges in their lives. This includes a person’s specific motivations (e.g. whether you’re highest on “achievement”—want to keep improving and achieve goals, “power”—want to be noticed and make an impact on others, or intimacy—want to understand and have warm and meaningful relationships with others—motivation; you can be high on more than one or even low on all motivations), their specific… — Read More »
Hi Serena,
Ooo, very cool! You know I have a fondness for all things psychology, especially as we can apply it to our characters. I’m tempted to see if I can turn your notes from this comment into a character worksheet. 🙂 Have you tried that yet? Thanks for the comment!
I actually haven’t tried it yet. It should be helpful though. But I do have some conceptualizations in my head about attachment styles. For example for this sci fi story with 6 protagonists, 2 of them are definitely avoidant, but the rest are secure. But there’s this girl who’s their friend who seems anxious-ambivalent.
Also, I’m the kind of person who thinks making a character sheet would be fabulous and useful, but…for some reason I’m incapable of making this. I.e. I want to know all about their backstory, likes, dislikes, greatest fears and dreams, etc etc, but–these details just don’t come to me until I reach a certain point in the story where my character is forced to reveal it. I mean, my characters refuse to tell me ANYTHING until they are compelled to do so XD Ever had that problem of not being able to squeeze anything out of your characters?
Hi Serena,
Ha! I sure have. My very first protagonist was like this, in fact, and it wasn’t until I started another story that I realized they wouldn’t all be that difficult. 🙂 I learned to ask the other characters to tattle on her, and then she’d relent because she wanted to correct my impression. LOL!
If I take a stab at a character sheet with all that information, I’ll let you know! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Haha getting other characters to tattle on her! Maybe I should try that 😉
Hi Serena,
It won’t hurt to try. 🙂 For this character, it was the breakthrough I needed to get her to talk. Thanks for the comment!
It’s me again! So I thought my last post was WAY too off topic after all, so here’s a proper post, lol. Some of my “superpowers”: I have NO PMS symptoms. : ) (Yes, be jealous XD) My voice is uber low that people on the phone always call me “sir” or “Monsieur”. So I could easily pass off as a MAN (not even a boy) if people can’t see what I look like. XD By the way, I sing Tenor. Alto is too hard for me, lol. I’m VERY short (5’ 1”) -_- which is bad, but occasionally this confers some advantages, like not bumping my head on low ceilings, and my legs aren’t in too much agony when I’m forced to sit in a lecture hall for a long time—I keep seeing those poor tall people writhe in their seats as they try their best to stretch their legs in that cramped space! Lol. Hmm, wonder if this counts…I’m a very lucky person and good things happen to me all the time. : ) I’m also one of those lucky people who KNOW they’re lucky; and I’m very good at noticing the good and happy things in my life/ seeing the bright side of life or the silver linings. Not sure if this counts either or if it’s too common: I’m able to get extremely, heads-over-heels obsessed with something, e.g. writing, or pokemon, or psychology, that I can keep talking about this same topic for a VERY long… — Read More »
Sorry for posting again—just wanted to share one more superpower:
I have the ability to dream about my story characters very often, and I write down all these dreams. In fact, for my favorite story character, I’ve dreamed about him at least 47 times in these past 2 years, lol. (Yes, I counted, because I jot down all these dreams)
Reading other people’s stories intensely may make me dream about their characters too. During the time when I read all three Hunger Games books, I dreamed about Peeta Mellark 3 times. And when I was reading through the whole Artemis Fowl series, I dreamed about Artemis 3 times as well. Now during the week where I read the five “The Mortal Instruments” books, I dreamed about Jace 5 times! (5 times in 6-7 days!)
You can tell I’m very proud of this particular superpower of mine, lol.
Hi Serena,
Oh yes, that’s cool! I don’t write down my dreams, but some of them I should. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
Hi Serena,
LOL! And yes, I am jealous at your lack of PMS symptoms, but that reminded me of something I’ve said about my hair. I have naturally curly hair (now…pre-hormones, it was completely straight!), and I joke that sometimes my hair is so awesome it makes me jealous. 🙂
Oh, your comment about whether a trait was a superpower or a super weakness gave me an idea for a blog post. Look for it tomorrow. 😉
And I’m totally with you on talking to my characters and having them talk back. LOL! Thanks for the comment!
About the hair, interestingly in Hong Kong, people tend to have straight hair, so some people endeavor to curl it. But here in Canada, it seems like my friends have curly hair and they have to use hair straighteners. The idea of hair straighteners is ridiculous to me because in the place where I lived most of my life, everybody’s hair was straight! So my friends here were jealous of my naturally straight hair. XD
But I’m glad you’re happy with your curly hair. 🙂 It also all depends on your hair type preference.
Hi Serena,
Yes, I know some people who sometimes use hair straighteners, but most of them have told me that it’s because they don’t like the kind of curly hair they have (too curly, too frizzy, etc.). My hair is now exactly like I used to perm it to be like when I was younger (a spiral perm style), and I don’t have to perm anymore, so I’m happy. LOL! Thanks for the comment!
That’s gotta hurt, Jami. I broke my pinkie toe just once, and I was amazed how much it threw off my balance. Best wishes for quick (and permanent) healing!
And my superpower is…silly songs. At least for the moment, that’s what I came up with. I have a tendency to get people laughing by coming up with ridiculous lyrics and tunes. Even better if I can sing them to my kids (or–why not?–adults) in a silly voice.
I try to give my fictional characters their own delightful quirks as well.
Hi Julie,
Ouch! Yes, in that way, the middle toe might be better because it’s not handling balance at the edge.
LOL! Love that superpower! Thanks for sharing and for the comment. 🙂
[…] Writing Stuff Last time I asked you to share your superpower, that trait—useful or not—that makes you unique. Everyone shared some great stories, although […]
I’m so sorry about your toe. I hope you let it heal faster this time!
My superpower is being able to write and read backwards. I can also read upside-down writing. The second one is more useful sometimes.
Hi Diana,
Ooo, yes, I can do that a bit as well, at least the reading upside-down part. You’re right–that is useful sometimes. 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
[…] of thinking of some as “being gifted” and others not, I believe we all have special talents and skills. That means we all have something we should consider gifting or sharing with the […]
I can purr like a cat, and people start wondering how a cat got in the room, and where it is. It’s quite funny 🙂
LOL! Thanks for sharing, Ava. 🙂
[…] Despite being a klutz my entire life, I’m still not careful enough with my movements to avoid issues. As I mentioned a year ago, I’ve broken the same toe three times. […]