As well as posting content on the things that Inspired me past-tense while I was writing No More Heroes, I'm also going to be posting some of the things that I come across as I continue planning and writing more stories from the Vigilante universe. I haven't touched my second book draft since the end of NaNoWriMo last year, but the ideas have definitely still been flowing, moreso recently as I push my way through some plot issues I've been having. I've been gradually filling up the pages in the notebook I use to slam out ideas, and I'm feeling hype and hoping to be able to get back to writing proper soon!
In any case, onto the point of this post. I first listened to Lauren Shippen's The Bright Sessions a couple of months ago at the recommendation of a friend and (to use a Night Vale-ism) I fell in love instantly. Framed as a series of recordings largely from the office of the enigmatic Dr. Bright, it follows the lives and therapy sessions of a number of youths with unusual abilities. Not only is it a thoroughly engaging and all around damn-well produced podcast, but the youths-with-abilities aspect is particularly neat for me, as the writer of a story about youths-with-abilities myself! It's always awesome seeing how other creators with similar-yet-different ideas shape their stories and characters, and the way they choose to utilise, treat and describe superpowers within their respective universes.
For example – in the universe of The Bright Sessions, people with unusual powers are classed as Atypicals; in the universe of No More Heroes, those with Abilities (capital A), and specifically ones who choose to take to the night with them, are called Vigilantes. The Bright Sessions focuses on the influence of these abilities on the personal, day-to-day lives of its principle characters; No More Heroes focuses on the cast's use of their talents in the concrete jungle at night. But similarly, The Bright Sessions and No More Heroes both look at the way that the possession of these abilities/Abilities can affect the characters' psyche/mental wellbeing and personal principles, and both deal with the theme of learning to control one's powers and learning more about yourself as a person. Sure, No More Heroes might have a lot more parkour and punching, but in some aspects (even if they are small) there are some parallels, haha.
Real talk though, even if I had chosen to write a completely different novel (ie. sans the inclusion of superpowers), I'm honestly just really glad that this series exists. It's well-written, well-acted and my god if Lauren Shippen doesn't know how to craft tension and a good cliffhanger. If you haven't listened to it, here's the playlist for Season 1 below – you can also listen to them all on YouTube. And hey, if you already know and like The Bright Sessions and are looking for more youths-with-abilities content, then think about checking out No More Heroes – you can buy print or digital editions through this website (and get some bonus wallpapers with your purchase), or you can buy it from Amazon or Kobo.
In any case, onto the point of this post. I first listened to Lauren Shippen's The Bright Sessions a couple of months ago at the recommendation of a friend and (to use a Night Vale-ism) I fell in love instantly. Framed as a series of recordings largely from the office of the enigmatic Dr. Bright, it follows the lives and therapy sessions of a number of youths with unusual abilities. Not only is it a thoroughly engaging and all around damn-well produced podcast, but the youths-with-abilities aspect is particularly neat for me, as the writer of a story about youths-with-abilities myself! It's always awesome seeing how other creators with similar-yet-different ideas shape their stories and characters, and the way they choose to utilise, treat and describe superpowers within their respective universes.
For example – in the universe of The Bright Sessions, people with unusual powers are classed as Atypicals; in the universe of No More Heroes, those with Abilities (capital A), and specifically ones who choose to take to the night with them, are called Vigilantes. The Bright Sessions focuses on the influence of these abilities on the personal, day-to-day lives of its principle characters; No More Heroes focuses on the cast's use of their talents in the concrete jungle at night. But similarly, The Bright Sessions and No More Heroes both look at the way that the possession of these abilities/Abilities can affect the characters' psyche/mental wellbeing and personal principles, and both deal with the theme of learning to control one's powers and learning more about yourself as a person. Sure, No More Heroes might have a lot more parkour and punching, but in some aspects (even if they are small) there are some parallels, haha.
Real talk though, even if I had chosen to write a completely different novel (ie. sans the inclusion of superpowers), I'm honestly just really glad that this series exists. It's well-written, well-acted and my god if Lauren Shippen doesn't know how to craft tension and a good cliffhanger. If you haven't listened to it, here's the playlist for Season 1 below – you can also listen to them all on YouTube. And hey, if you already know and like The Bright Sessions and are looking for more youths-with-abilities content, then think about checking out No More Heroes – you can buy print or digital editions through this website (and get some bonus wallpapers with your purchase), or you can buy it from Amazon or Kobo.